SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 7 Connected Discourses with Brahmins – Brāhmaṇasaṁyutta > SN 7.14 A well-to-do brahmin

Linked Discourses 7.14 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.14

2. Lay Followers – 2. Upāsakavagga

SN 7.14 A well-to-do brahmin – Mahāsālasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then a certain well-to-do brahmin, shabby, wearing a shabby cloak, went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇamahāsālo lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

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

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Brahmin, why are you so shabby, wearing a shabby cloak?”

“kiṁ nu tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo”ti?

“Master Gotama, I have four sons.

“Idha me, bho gotama, cattāro puttā.

At their wives’ bidding they expelled me from my house.”

Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha gharā nikkhāmentī”ti.

“Well then, brahmin, memorize these verses and recite them to your sons when you are all seated in the council hall with a large crowd.

“Tena hi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu bhāsassu:

‘I was overjoyed when they were born,

‘Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,

and wished for them the very best.

yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;

But at their wives’ bidding they chased me out,

Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,

like hounds after hogs.

sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.

It turns out they’re wicked, those nasty men,

Asantā kira maṁ jammā,

though they called me their dear old Dad.

tāta tātāti bhāsare;

They’re monsters in the shape of sons,

Rakkhasā puttarūpena,

throwing me out as I’ve grown old.

te jahanti vayogataṁ.

Like an old, useless horse

Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,

led away from its fodder,

khādanā apanīyati;

the elderly father of those kids

Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,

begs for alms at others’ homes.

parāgāresu bhikkhati.

Even my staff is better

Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,

than those disobedient sons,

yañce puttā anassavā;

for it wards off a wild bull,

Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,

and even a wild dog.

atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.

It goes before me in the dark;

Andhakāre pure hoti,

in deep waters it supports me.

gambhīre gādhamedhati;

By the wonderful power of this staff,

Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,

when I stumble, I stand firm again.’”

khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī’”ti.

Having memorized those verses in the Buddha’s presence, the brahmin recited them to his sons when they were all seated in the council hall with a large crowd. …

Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu abhāsi:

“Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,

yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;

Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,

sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.

Asantā kira maṁ jammā,

tāta tātāti bhāsare;

Rakkhasā puttarūpena,

te jahanti vayogataṁ.

Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,

khādanā apanīyati;

Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,

parāgāresu bhikkhati.

Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,

yañce puttā anassavā;

Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,

atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.

Andhakāre pure hoti,

gambhīre gādhamedhati;

Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,

khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī”ti.

Then the brahmin’s sons led him back home, bathed him, and each clothed him with a fine pair of garments.

Atha kho naṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ puttā gharaṁ netvā nhāpetvā paccekaṁ dussayugena acchādesuṁ.

Then the brahmin, taking one pair of garments, went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo ekaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

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 brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Master Gotama, we brahmins seek a fee for our teacher.

“mayaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nāma ācariyassa ācariyadhanaṁ pariyesāma.

May Master Gotama please accept my teacher’s fee!”

Paṭiggaṇhatu me bhavaṁ gotamo ācariyadhanan”ti.

So the Buddha accepted it out of compassion.

Paṭiggahesi bhagavā anukampaṁ upādāya.

Then the well-to-do brahmin said to the Buddha,

Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Excellent, Master Gotama …

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.