SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 3 Connected Discourses With King Pasenadi of Kosala – Kosalasaṁyutta > SN 3.11 Seven Matted-Hair Ascetics

Linked Discourses 3.11 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.11

2. Childless – 2. Dutiyavagga

SN 3.11 Seven Matted-Hair Ascetics – Sattajaṭilasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and sat outside the gate.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito bahidvārakoṭṭhake nisinno hoti.

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Now at that time seven matted-hair ascetics, seven Jain ascetics, seven naked ascetics, seven one-cloth ascetics, and seven wanderers passed by not far from the Buddha. Their armpits and bodies were hairy, and their nails were long; and they carried their stuff with shoulder-poles.

Tena kho pana samayena satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā parūḷhakacchanakhalomā khārivividhamādāya bhagavato avidūre atikkamanti.

Then King Pasenadi got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, raised his joined palms toward those various ascetics, and pronounced his name three times:

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā dakkhiṇajāṇumaṇḍalaṁ pathaviyaṁ nihantvā yena te satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ nāmaṁ sāvesi:

“Sirs, I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala! …

“rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo …pe…

I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala!”

rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo”ti.

Then, soon after those ascetics had left, King Pasenadi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo acirapakkantesu tesu sattasu ca jaṭilesu sattasu ca nigaṇṭhesu sattasu ca acelakesu sattasu ca ekasāṭakesu sattasu ca paribbājakesu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, are they among those in the world who are perfected ones or who are on the path to perfection?”

“ye te, bhante, loke arahanto vā arahattamaggaṁ vā samāpannā ete tesaṁ aññatarā”ti.

“Great king, as a layman enjoying sensual pleasures, living at home with your children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, perfumes, and makeup, and accepting gold and money, it’s hard for you to know who is perfected or on the path to perfection.

“Dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena: ‘ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā’ti.

You can get to know a person’s ethics by living with them. But only after a long time, not casually; only when paying attention, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.

Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

You can get to know a person’s purity by dealing with them. …

Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

You can get to know a person’s resilience in times of trouble. …

Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

You can get to know a person’s wisdom by discussion. But only after a long time, not casually; only when paying attention, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.”

Sākacchāya, kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā”ti.

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

how well said this was by the Buddha. …

Yāva subhāsitamidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā:

‘dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena:

“ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā”ti.

Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.

Sākacchāya kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā’ti.

Sir, these are my spies, my undercover agents returning after spying on the country.

Ete, bhante, mama purisā carā ocarakā janapadaṁ ocaritvā āgacchanti.

First they go undercover, then I have them report to me.

Tehi paṭhamaṁ ociṇṇaṁ ahaṁ pacchā osāpayissāmi.

And now—when they have washed off the dust and dirt, and are nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, and dressed in white—they will amuse themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.”

Idāni te, bhante, taṁ rajojallaṁ pavāhetvā sunhātā suvilittā kappitakesamassū odātavatthā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricāressantī”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“It’s not easy to know a man by his appearance.

“Na vaṇṇarūpena naro sujāno,

You shouldn’t trust them at first sight.

Na vissase ittaradassanena;

For undisciplined men live in this world

Susaññatānañhi viyañjanena,

disguised as the disciplined.

Asaññatā lokamimaṁ caranti.

Like a fake earring made of clay,

Patirūpako mattikākuṇḍalova,

like a copper penny coated with gold,

Lohaḍḍhamāsova suvaṇṇachanno;

they live hidden in the world,

Caranti loke parivārachannā,

corrupt inside but impressive outside.”

Anto asuddhā bahi sobhamānā”ti.