Mahāsālasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.14

Linked Discourses 7.14

2. Upāsakavagga

2. Lay Followers

Mahāsālasutta

A well-to-do brahmin

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Idha me, bho gotama, cattāro puttā.

“Worthy Gotama, I have four sons.

Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha gharā nikkhāmentī”ti.

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

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

“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.

‘Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,

‘I was overjoyed when they were born,

yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;

and wished prosperity for them.

Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,

But at their wives’ bidding they chased me out,

sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.

like hounds after hogs.

Asantā kira maṁ jammā,

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

tāta tātāti bhāsare;

though they called me their dear old Dad.

Rakkhasā puttarūpena,

They’re monsters in the shape of sons,

te jahanti vayogataṁ.

throwing me out as I’ve grown old.

Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,

Like an old, useless horse

khādanā apanīyati;

led away from its fodder,

Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,

the elderly father of those kids

parāgāresu bhikkhati.

begs for alms at others’ homes.

Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,

Even my staff is better

yañce puttā anassavā;

than those disobedient sons,

Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,

for it wards off a wild bull,

atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.

and even a wild dog.

Andhakāre pure hoti,

It goes before me in the dark;

gambhīre gādhamedhati;

in deep waters it finds a footing.

Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,

By the wonderful power of this staff,

khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī’”ti.

when I stumble, I stand firm again.’”

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

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. …

“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.

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

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

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

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

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

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

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

“Worthy Gotama, we brahmins seek a fee for our tutor.

Paṭiggaṇhatu me bhavaṁ gotamo ācariyadhanan”ti.

May the worthy Gotama please accept my tutor’s fee!”

Paṭiggahesi bhagavā anukampaṁ upādāya.

So the Buddha accepted it out of sympathy.

Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

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

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama …

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

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