AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.40 With Udāyī

Numbered Discourses 4.40 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.40

4. Situations – 4. Cakkavagga

AN 4.40 With Udāyī – Udāyīsutta

1.1

Then Udāyī the brahmin went up to the Buddha, … and asked him,

Atha kho udāyī brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho udāyī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.2

“Does Master Gotama praise sacrifice?”

“bhavampi no gotamo yaññaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

1.3

“Brahmin, I don’t praise all sacrifices.

“Na kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ vaṇṇemi;

1.4

Nor do I criticize all sacrifices. …

na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sabbaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

1.5

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

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

1.6

I don’t praise that kind of violent sacrifice.

evarūpaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sārambhaṁ yaññaṁ na vaṇṇemi.

1.7

Taṁ kissa hetu?

1.8

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 animals 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 do 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

Taṁ kissa hetu?

2.4

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

3.1

The kind of sacrifice that’s allowable and timely,

Abhisaṅkhataṁ nirārambhaṁ,

3.2

well prepared and non-violent,

yaññaṁ kālena kappiyaṁ;

3.3

is attended by

Tādisaṁ upasaṁyanti,

3.4

disciplined spiritual practitioners.

saññatā brahmacārayo.

4.1

The Buddhas—who have drawn back the veil from the world,

Vivaṭacchadā ye loke,

4.2

transcending time and rebirth—

vītivattā kulaṁ gatiṁ;

4.3

praise this sacrifice,

Yaññametaṁ pasaṁsanti,

4.4

as they are expert in sacrifice.

buddhā yaññassa kovidā.

5.1

When you’ve prepared a suitable offering,

Yaññe vā yadi vā saddhe,

5.2

whether as sacrifice or for ancestors,

habyaṁ katvā yathārahaṁ;

5.3

sacrifice it with confident heart,

Pasannacitto yajati,

5.4

in the fertile field of spiritual practitioners.

sukhette brahmacārisu.

6.1

When it’s well-gotten, well-offered, and well-sacrificed,

Suhutaṁ suyiṭṭhaṁ suppattaṁ,

6.2

to those worthy of a religious donation,

Dakkhiṇeyyesu yaṁ kataṁ;

6.3

a sacrifice is truly abundant,

Yañño ca vipulo hoti,

6.4

and even the deities are pleased.

Pasīdanti ca devatā.

7.1

When an intelligent, faithful person,

Evaṁ yajitvā medhāvī,

7.2

sacrifices like this, with a mind of letting go,

saddho muttena cetasā;

7.3

that astute one is reborn

Abyābajjhaṁ sukhaṁ lokaṁ,

7.4

in a happy, pleasing world.”

paṇḍito upapajjatī”ti.

7.5

Dasamaṁ.

7.6

Cakkavaggo catuttho.

8.0

Tassuddānaṁ

8.1

Cakko saṅgaho sīho,

8.2

Pasādo vassakārena pañcamaṁ;

8.3

Doṇo aparihāniyo patilīno,

8.4

Ujjayo udāyinā te dasāti.