1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

1.3Tena kho pana samayena sarabho nāma paribbājako acirapakkanto hoti imasmā dhammavinayā.Now at that time a wanderer named Sarabha had recently left this teaching and training.1.4So rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:He was telling a crowd in Rājagaha,1.5“aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.“I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,1.6Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto”ti.then I left their teaching and training.”

1.7Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Rājagaha for alms.1.8Assosuṁ kho te bhikkhū sarabhassa paribbājakassa rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsamānassa:They heard what Sarabha was saying.1.9“aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.1.10Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto”ti.

2.1Atha kho te bhikkhū rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,2.2“sarabho nāma, bhante, paribbājako acirapakkanto imasmā dhammavinayā.“The wanderer named Sarabha has recently left this teaching and training.2.3So rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:He was telling a crowd in Rājagaha:2.4‘aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.‘I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,2.5Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto’ti.then I left their teaching and training.’2.6Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena sippinikātīraṁ paribbājakārāmo yena sarabho paribbājako tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.Worthy sir, please go to the wanderers’ monastery on the bank of the Serpentine River to see Sarabha the wanderer out of sympathy.”2.7Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.The Buddha consented with silence.

3.1PTS 1.186Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena sippinikātīraṁ paribbājakārāmo yena sarabho paribbājako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the wanderers’ monastery on the bank of the Serpentine River to visit Sarabha the wanderer. He sat down on the seat spread out and said to the wanderer Sarabha,3.2“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, sarabha, evaṁ vadesi:“Is it really true, Sarabha, that you’ve been saying:3.3‘aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.‘I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,3.4Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto’”ti?then I left their teaching and training.’”3.5Evaṁ vutte, sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.When he said this, Sarabha kept silent.

4.1Dutiyampi kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:For a second time, the Buddha said to Sarabha,4.2“vadehi, sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?“Tell me, Sarabha, what exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?4.3Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ paripūressāmi.If you’ve not learned it fully, I’ll fill you in.4.4Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ anumodissāmī”ti.But if you have learned it fully, I’ll agree.”4.5Dutiyampi kho sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.For a second time, Sarabha kept silent.

5.1Tatiyampi kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:For a third time, the Buddha said to Sarabha,5.2“yo kho, sarabha, paññāyati samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo vadehi, sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?“Sarabha, the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan are clear to me. What exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?5.3Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ paripūressāmi.If you’ve not learned it fully, I’ll fill you in.5.4Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ anumodissāmī”ti.But if you have learned it fully, I’ll agree.”5.5Tatiyampi kho sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.For a third time, Sarabha kept silent.

6.1Atha kho te paribbājakā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavocuṁ:Then those wanderers said to Sarabha,6.2“yadeva kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ yāceyyāsi tadeva te samaṇo gotamo pavāreti.“The ascetic Gotama has offered to tell you anything you ask for.6.3Vadehāvuso sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?Speak, reverend Sarabha, what exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?6.4Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, samaṇo gotamo paripūressati.If you’ve not learned it fully, he’ll fill you in.6.5Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, samaṇo gotamo anumodissatī”ti.But if you have learned it fully, he’ll agree.”6.6Evaṁ vutte, sarabho paribbājako tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdi.When this was said, Sarabha sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.

7.1Atha kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ maṅkubhūtaṁ pattakkhandhaṁ adhomukhaṁ pajjhāyantaṁ appaṭibhānaṁ viditvā te paribbājake etadavoca:Knowing this, the Buddha said to the wanderers:

8.1PTS 1.187“Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:“Wanderers, someone might say to me:8.2‘sammāsambuddhassa te paṭijānato ime dhammā anabhisambuddhā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.‘You claim to be a fully awakened Buddha, but you don’t understand these things.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.8.3So vata mayā sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjiyamāno samanugāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno aṭṭhānametaṁ anavakāso yaṁ so tiṇṇaṁ ṭhānānaṁ nāññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ nigaccheyya, aññena vā aññaṁ paṭicarissati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmessati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukarissati, tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdissati, seyyathāpi sarabho paribbājako.When grilled by me, they would, without a doubt, fall into one of these three categories. They’d dodge the issue, distracting the discussion with irrelevant points. They’d display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Or they’d sit silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, like Sarabha.

9.1Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:Wanderers, someone might say to me:9.2‘khīṇāsavassa te paṭijānato ime āsavā aparikkhīṇā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.‘You claim to have ended all defilements, but you still have these defilements.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.9.3So vata mayā sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjiyamāno samanugāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno aṭṭhānametaṁ anavakāso yaṁ so tiṇṇaṁ ṭhānānaṁ nāññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ nigaccheyya, aññena vā aññaṁ paṭicarissati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmessati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukarissati, tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdissati, seyyathāpi sarabho paribbājako.When grilled by me, they would, without a doubt, fall into one of these three categories. They’d dodge the issue, distracting the discussion with irrelevant points. They’d display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Or they’d sit silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, like Sarabha.

10.1Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:Wanderers, someone might say to me:10.2‘yassa kho pana te atthāya dhammo desito, so na niyyāti takkarassa sammā dukkhakkhayāyā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.‘Regardless of your goal in teaching the Dhamma, it does not deliver one who applies it to the complete ending of suffering.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.10.3So vata mayā sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjiyamāno samanugāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno aṭṭhānametaṁ anavakāso yaṁ so tiṇṇaṁ ṭhānānaṁ nāññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ nigaccheyya, aññena vā aññaṁ paṭicarissati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmessati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukarissati, tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdissati, seyyathāpi sarabho paribbājako”ti.When grilled by me, they would, without a doubt, fall into one of these three categories. They’d dodge the issue, distracting the discussion with irrelevant points. They’d display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Or they’d sit silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, like Sarabha.”

10.4Atha kho bhagavā sippinikātīre paribbājakārāme tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ naditvā vehāsaṁ pakkāmi.Then the Buddha, having roared his lion’s roar three times in the monastery for the wanderers on the bank of the Serpentine River, rose into the air and flew away.

11.1PTS 1.188Atha kho te paribbājakā acirapakkantassa bhagavato sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ samantato vācāyasannitodakena sañjambharimakaṁsu:Soon after the Buddha left, those wanderers beset Sarabha on all sides with sneering and jeering.11.2“seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, brahāraññe jarasiṅgālo ‘sīhanādaṁ nadissāmī’ti siṅgālakaṁyeva nadati, bheraṇḍakaṁyeva nadati;“Reverend Sarabha, you’re just like an old jackal in the formidable wilderness who thinks, ‘I’ll roar a lion’s roar!’ but they still only manage to squeal and yelp like a jackal.11.3evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena ‘sīhanādaṁ nadissāmī’ti siṅgālakaṁyeva nadasi bheraṇḍakaṁyeva nadasi.In the same way, when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here you said ‘I’ll roar a lion’s roar!’ but you only managed to squeal and yelp like a jackal.

11.4Seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, ambukasañcarī ‘purisakaravitaṁ ravissāmī’ti ambukasañcariravitaṁyeva ravati;You’re just like a marsh hen who thinks, ‘I’ll cry like a cuckoo!’ but they still only manage to cry like a marsh hen.11.5evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena ‘purisakaravitaṁ ravissāmī’ti, ambukasañcariravitaṁyeva ravasi.In the same way, when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here you said ‘I’ll cry like a cuckoo!’ but you still only managed to cry like a marsh hen.

11.6Seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, usabho suññāya gosālāya gambhīraṁ naditabbaṁ maññati;You’re just like a bull that thinks to bellow only when the cowstall is empty.11.7evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena gambhīraṁ naditabbaṁ maññasī”ti.In the same way, you only thought to bellow when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here.”11.8Atha kho te paribbājakā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ samantato vācāyasannitodakena sañjambharimakaṁsūti.That’s how those wanderers beset Sarabha on all sides with sneering and jeering.

11.9Catutthaṁ.