SN 45.4 Regarding the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi – Jāṇussoṇibrāhmaṇasutta

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta >

SN 45.4 Regarding the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi – Jāṇussoṇibrāhmaṇasutta

Linked Discourses 45.4 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.4

1. Ignorance – 1. Avijjāvagga

SN 45.4 Regarding the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi – Jāṇussoṇibrāhmaṇasutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

He saw the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi driving out of Sāvatthī in a splendid all-white chariot drawn by mares.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ.

The yoked horses were pure white, as were the ornaments, chariot, upholstery, reins, goad, and canopy. And his turban, robes, sandals were white, as was the chowry fanning him.

Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati.

When people saw it they exclaimed,

Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha:

“Wow! That’s a Brahmā vehicle!

“brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ.

It’s a vehicle fit for Brahmā!”

Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho”ti.

Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding,

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ.

Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati.

Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha:

‘brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ.

Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho’ti.

“Sir, can you point out a Brahmā vehicle in this teaching and training?”

Sakkā nu kho, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmayānaṁ paññāpetun”ti?

“I can, Ānanda,” said the Buddha.

“Sakkā, ānandā”ti bhagavā avoca:

“These are all terms for the noble eightfold path:

“imasseva kho etaṁ, ānanda, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ:

‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.

‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipīti.

When right view is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

Sammādiṭṭhi, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosavinayapariyosānā hoti, mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.

When right thought …

Sammāsaṅkappo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosavinayapariyosāno hoti, mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

right speech …

Sammāvācā, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.

right action …

Sammākammanto, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

right livelihood …

Sammāājīvo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

right effort …

Sammāvāyāmo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

right mindfulness …

Sammāsati, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.

right samādhi is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

Sammāsamādhi, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

This is a way to understand how these are all terms for the noble eightfold path:

Iminā kho etaṁ, ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā imassevetaṁ ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ:

‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.”

‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Its qualities of faith and wisdom

“Yassa saddhā ca paññā ca,

are always yoked to the shaft.

Dhammā yuttā sadā dhuraṁ;

Conscience is its pole, mind its strap,

Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ,

and mindfulness its careful driver.

Sati ārakkhasārathi.

The chariot’s equipped with ethics,

Ratho sīlaparikkhāro,

its axle is absorption, and energy its wheel.

jhānakkho cakkavīriyo;

Equanimity and samādhi are the carriage-shaft,

Upekkhā dhurasamādhi,

and it’s upholstered with desirelessness.

anicchā parivāraṇaṁ.

Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion

Abyāpādo avihiṁsā,

are its weapons,

viveko yassa āvudhaṁ;

patience its shield and armor,

Titikkhā cammasannāho,

as it rolls on to sanctuary.

yogakkhemāya vattati.

This supreme Brahmā vehicle

Etadattani sambhūtaṁ,

arises in oneself.

brahmayānaṁ anuttaraṁ;

The wise leave the world in it,

Niyyanti dhīrā lokamhā,

sure of winning the victory.”

aññadatthu jayaṁ jayan”ti.