AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.39 With Ujjaya

Numbered Discourses 4.39 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.39

4. Situations – 4. Cakkavagga

AN 4.39 With Ujjaya – Ujjayasutta

1.1

Then Ujjaya the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho ujjayo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

1.2

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho ujjayo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.3

“Does Master Gotama praise sacrifice?”

“bhavampi no gotamo yaññaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

1.4

“Brahmin, I don’t praise all sacrifices.

“Na kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi;

1.5

Nor do I criticize all sacrifices.

na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

1.6

Take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of creatures are slaughtered.

Yathārūpe kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe gāvo haññanti, ajeḷakā haññanti, kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti;

1.7

I criticize that kind of violent sacrifice.

evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

1.8

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

1.9

Because neither perfected ones nor those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a violent sacrifice.

Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na upasaṅkamanti arahanto vā arahattamaggaṁ vā samāpannā.

2.1

But take the kind of sacrifice where cattle, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, and various kinds of creatures are not slaughtered.

Yathārūpe ca kho, brāhmaṇa, yaññe neva gāvo haññanti, na ajeḷakā haññanti, na kukkuṭasūkarā haññanti, na vividhā pāṇā saṅghātaṁ āpajjanti;

2.2

I praise that kind of non-violent sacrifice; for example, a regular gift as an ongoing family sacrifice.

evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi, yadidaṁ niccadānaṁ anukulayaññaṁ.

2.3

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

2.4

Because perfected ones and those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a non-violent sacrifice.

Evarūpañhi, brāhmaṇa, nirārambhaṁ yaññaṁ upasaṅkamanti arahanto vā arahattamaggaṁ vā samāpannāti.

3.1

Horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,

Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,

3.2

the sacrifices of the ‘stick-casting’,

Sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ;

3.3

the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unbarred’—

Mahāyaññā mahārambhā,

3.4

these huge violent sacrifices yield no great fruit.

Na te honti mahapphalā.

4.1

The great sages of good conduct

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,

4.2

don’t attend sacrifices

vividhā yattha haññare;

4.3

where goats, sheep, and cattle,

Na taṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,

4.4

and various creatures are killed.

upayanti mahesino.

5.1

But the great sages of good conduct

Ye ca yaññā nirārambhā,

5.2

do attend non-violent sacrifices

yajanti anukulaṁ sadā;

5.3

of regular family tradition,

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,

5.4

where goats, sheep, and cattle,

vividhā nettha haññare;

5.5

and various creatures aren’t killed.

Tañca sammaggatā yaññaṁ,

5.6

upayanti mahesino.

6.1

An intelligent person should sacrifice like this,

Etaṁ yajetha medhāvī,

6.2

for this sacrifice is very fruitful.

eso yañño mahapphalo;

6.3

For a sponsor of sacrifices like this,

Etaṁ hi yajamānassa,

6.4

things get better, not worse.

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo;

6.5

Such a sacrifice is truly abundant,

Yañño ca vipulo hoti,

6.6

and even the deities are pleased.”

pasīdanti ca devatā”ti.

6.7

Navamaṁ.