Soṇasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.191

Numbered Discourses 5.191

20. Brāhmaṇavagga

20. Brahmins

Soṇasutta

Hounds

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, porāṇā brāhmaṇadhammā etarahi sunakhesu sandissanti, no brāhmaṇesu.

“Mendicants, these five traditional principles of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁyeva gacchanti, no abrāhmaṇiṁ.

In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women, not with others.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇimpi gacchanti, abrāhmaṇimpi gacchanti.

These days brahmins have sex with both brahmin women and others.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁyeva gacchanti, no asunakhiṁ.

But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds, not with other species.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

This is the first ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ utuniṁyeva gacchanti, no anutuniṁ.

In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, not at other times.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ utunimpi gacchanti, anutunimpi gacchanti.

These days brahmins have sex with brahmin women both in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle and at other times.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁ utuniṁyeva gacchanti, no anutuniṁ.

But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds when they are in heat, not at other times.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

This is the second ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ neva kiṇanti no vikkiṇanti, sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti.

In the past brahmins neither bought nor sold brahmin women. They lived together because they loved each other and wanted their family line to continue.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ kiṇantipi vikkiṇantipi, sampiyenapi saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti.

These days brahmins both buy and sell brahmin women. They live together whether they love each other or not and they want their family line to continue.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁ neva kiṇanti no vikkiṇanti, sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti.

But these days hounds neither buy nor sell female hounds. They live together because they’re attracted to each other and want their family line to continue.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

This is the third ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā na sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi.

In the past brahmins did not store up money, grain, silver, or gold.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi.

These days brahmins do store up money, grain, silver, and gold.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā na sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi.

But these days hounds don’t store up money, grain, silver, or gold.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

This is the fourth ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā sāyaṁ sāyamāsāya pāto pātarāsāya bhikkhaṁ pariyesanti.

In the past brahmins went looking for almsfood for dinner at dusk, and for breakfast at daybreak.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā avasesaṁ ādāya pakkamanti.

These days brahmins eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then take away the leftovers.

Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sāyaṁ sāyamāsāya pāto pātarāsāya bhikkhaṁ pariyesanti.

But these days hounds go looking for dinner at dusk, and for breakfast at daybreak.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

This is the fifth ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca porāṇā brāhmaṇadhammā etarahi sunakhesu sandissanti, no brāhmaṇesū”ti.

These five ancient principles of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.”

Paṭhamaṁ.