Skip to content
True DhammaLibrary · Community
AN 7.47PTS AN 4.41Aggi 25 min read

Fires (2nd)

Dutiyaaggisutta

The brahmin Uggatasarīra has arranged a great sacrifice. On Ānanda’s advice, he asks the Buddha how to make a sacrifice beneficial.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.47Numbered Discourses 7.47
  • 0.25. Mahāyaññavagga5. A Great Sacrifice

0.3DutiyaaggisuttaFires (2nd)

1.1Tena kho pana samayena uggatasarīrassa brāhmaṇassa mahāyañño upakkhaṭo hoti.Now at that time the brahmin Uggatasarīra had prepared a large sacrifice.1.2Pañca usabhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya, pañca vacchatarasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya, pañca vacchatarisatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya, pañca ajasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya, pañca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya.Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams—five hundred of each—had been led to the post for the sacrifice.

1.3Atha kho uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.Then the brahmin Uggatasarīra went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.1.4Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,2.1PTS 4.42“Sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, aggissa ādānaṁ yūpassa ussāpanaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti.“Worthy Gotama, I have heard that kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post is very fruitful and beneficial.”

2.2“Mayāpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sutaṁ aggissa ādānaṁ yūpassa ussāpanaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti.“I’ve also heard this, brahmin.”

2.3Dutiyampi kho uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo …pe…For a second time …2.4tatiyampi kho uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:and third time Uggatasarīra said to the Buddha,2.5“sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, aggissa ādānaṁ yūpassa ussāpanaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti.“Worthy Gotama, I have heard that kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post is very fruitful and beneficial.”

2.6“Mayāpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sutaṁ aggissa ādānaṁ yūpassa ussāpanaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan”ti.“I’ve also heard this, brahmin.”

2.7“Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, sameti bhoto ceva gotamassa amhākañca, yadidaṁ sabbena sabbaṁ”.“Then the worthy Gotama and I are in total agreement in this matter.”

3.1Evaṁ vutte āyasmā ānando uggatasarīraṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca:When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to Uggatasarīra,3.2“na kho, brāhmaṇa, tathāgatā evaṁ pucchitabbā:“Brahmin, you shouldn’t ask the Buddha in this way.3.3‘sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, aggissa ādānaṁ yūpassa ussāpanaṁ mahapphalaṁ hoti mahānisaṁsan’ti.3.4Evaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, tathāgatā pucchitabbā:You should ask in this way:3.5‘ahañhi, bhante, aggiṁ ādātukāmo, yūpaṁ ussāpetukāmo.‘Sir, I want to kindle the sacrificial fire and raise the sacrificial post.3.6Ovadatu maṁ, bhante, bhagavā.May the Buddha please advise3.7Anusāsatu maṁ, bhante, bhagavā yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā’”ti.and instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.’”

4.1Atha kho uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Uggatasarīra said to the Buddha,4.2“ahañhi, bho gotama, aggiṁ ādātukāmo yūpaṁ ussāpetukāmo.“Worthy Gotama, I want to kindle the sacrificial fire and raise the sacrificial post.4.3Ovadatu maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo.May the worthy Gotama please advise4.4Anusāsatu maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.and instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.”

5.1PTS 4.43“Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā tīṇi satthāni ussāpeti akusalāni dukkhudrayāni dukkhavipākāni.“Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises three unskillful knives which ripen and result in suffering.5.2Katamāni tīṇi?What three?5.3Kāyasatthaṁ, vacīsatthaṁ, manosatthaṁ.The knives of the body, speech, and mind.5.4Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā evaṁ cittaṁ uppādesi:Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one gives rise to the thought:5.5‘ettakā usabhā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā vacchatarā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā vacchatariyo haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā ajā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā urabbhā haññantu yaññatthāyā’ti.‘May this many bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice!’5.6So ‘puññaṁ karomī’ti apuññaṁ karoti, ‘kusalaṁ karomī’ti akusalaṁ karoti, ‘sugatiyā maggaṁ pariyesāmī’ti duggatiyā maggaṁ pariyesati.Thinking, ‘May I make goodness’, one makes wickedness. Thinking, ‘May I do good’, one does bad. Thinking, ‘May I seek the path to a good rebirth’, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth.5.7Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā idaṁ paṭhamaṁ manosatthaṁ ussāpeti akusalaṁ dukkhudrayaṁ dukkhavipākaṁ.Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one raises this first unskillful mental knife which ripens and results in suffering.

6.1Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, aggiṁ ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:Furthermore, even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one says such things as:6.2‘ettakā usabhā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā vacchatarā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā vacchatariyo haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā ajā haññantu yaññatthāya, ettakā urabbhā haññantu yaññatthāyā’ti.‘May this many bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice!’6.3So ‘puññaṁ karomī’ti apuññaṁ karoti, ‘kusalaṁ karomī’ti akusalaṁ karoti, ‘sugatiyā maggaṁ pariyesāmī’ti duggatiyā maggaṁ pariyesati.Thinking, ‘May I make goodness’, one makes wickedness. Thinking, ‘May I do good’, one does bad. Thinking, ‘May I seek the path to a good rebirth’, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth.6.4Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā idaṁ dutiyaṁ vacīsatthaṁ ussāpeti akusalaṁ dukkhudrayaṁ dukkhavipākaṁ.Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one raises this second unskillful verbal knife which ripens and results in suffering.

7.1Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, aggiṁ ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā sayaṁ paṭhamaṁ samārambhati usabhā hantuṁ yaññatthāya, sayaṁ paṭhamaṁ samārambhati vacchatarā hantuṁ yaññatthāya, sayaṁ paṭhamaṁ samārambhati vacchatariyo hantuṁ yaññatthāya, sayaṁ paṭhamaṁ samārambhati ajā hantuṁ yaññatthāya, sayaṁ paṭhamaṁ samārambhati urabbhā hantuṁ yaññatthāya.Furthermore, even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post one first personally undertakes preparations for the sacrificial slaughter of bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams.7.2So ‘puññaṁ karomī’ti apuññaṁ karoti, ‘kusalaṁ karomī’ti akusalaṁ karoti, ‘sugatiyā maggaṁ pariyesāmī’ti duggatiyā maggaṁ pariyesati.Thinking, ‘May I make goodness’, one makes wickedness. Thinking, ‘May I do good’, one does bad. Thinking, ‘May I seek the path to a good rebirth’, one seeks the path to a bad rebirth.7.3Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā idaṁ tatiyaṁ kāyasatthaṁ ussāpeti akusalaṁ dukkhudrayaṁ dukkhavipākaṁ.Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises this third unskillful bodily knife which ripens and results in suffering.7.4Aggiṁ, brāhmaṇa, ādento yūpaṁ ussāpento pubbeva yaññā imāni tīṇi satthāni ussāpeti akusalāni dukkhudrayāni dukkhavipākāni.Even before kindling the sacrificial fire and raising the sacrificial post, one raises these three unskillful knives which ripen and result in suffering.

8.1PTS 4.44Tayome, brāhmaṇa, aggī pahātabbā parivajjetabbā, na sevitabbā.Brahmin, these three fires should be given up and shunned, not cultivated.8.2Katame tayo?What three?8.3Rāgaggi, dosaggi, mohaggi.The fires of greed, hate, and delusion.

9.1Kasmā cāyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, rāgaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo?And why should the fire of greed be given up and shunned, not cultivated?9.2Ratto kho, brāhmaṇa, rāgena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.A greedy person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.9.3So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā, manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.9.4Tasmāyaṁ rāgaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo.That’s why the fire of greed should be given up and shunned, not cultivated.

10.1Kasmā cāyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, dosaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo?And why should the fire of hate be given up and shunned, not cultivated?10.2Duṭṭho kho, brāhmaṇa, dosena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.A hateful person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.10.3So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā, manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.10.4Tasmāyaṁ dosaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo.That’s why the fire of hate should be given up and shunned, not cultivated.

11.1Kasmā cāyaṁ, brāhmaṇa, mohaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo?And why should the fire of delusion be given up and shunned, not cultivated?11.2Mūḷho kho, brāhmaṇa, mohena abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati.A deluded person does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.11.3So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā, manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.11.4Tasmāyaṁ mohaggi pahātabbo parivajjetabbo, na sevitabbo.That’s why the fire of delusion should be given up and shunned, not cultivated.11.5Ime kho tayo, brāhmaṇa, aggī pahātabbā parivajjetabbā, na sevitabbā.These three fires should be given up and shunned, not cultivated.

12.1PTS 4.45Tayo kho, brāhmaṇa, aggī sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā sammā sukhaṁ parihātabbā.Brahmin, you should properly and happily take care of three fires, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating them.12.2Katame tayo?What three?12.3Āhuneyyaggi, gahapataggi, dakkhiṇeyyaggi.The fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods. The fire of a householder. And the fire of those worthy of a religious donation.

13.1Katamo ca, brāhmaṇa, āhuneyyaggi?And what is the fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods?13.2Idha, brāhmaṇa, yassa te honti mātāti vā pitāti vā, ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, āhuneyyaggi.Your mother and father are called the fire of those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.13.3Taṁ kissa hetu?Why is that?13.4Atohayaṁ, brāhmaṇa, āhuto sambhūto, tasmāyaṁ āhuneyyaggi sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā sammā sukhaṁ parihātabbo.Since it is from them that you’ve been incubated and produced. So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it.

14.1Katamo ca, brāhmaṇa, gahapataggi?And what is the fire of a householder?14.2Idha, brāhmaṇa, yassa te honti puttāti vā dārāti vā dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, gahapataggi.Your children, partners, bondservants, servants, and workers are called a householder’s fire.14.3Tasmāyaṁ gahapataggi sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā sammā sukhaṁ parihātabbo.So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it.

15.1Katamo ca, brāhmaṇa, dakkhiṇeyyaggi?And what is the fire of those worthy of a religious donation?15.2Idha, brāhmaṇa, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā parappavādā paṭiviratā khantisoracce niviṭṭhā ekamattānaṁ damenti, ekamattānaṁ samenti, ekamattānaṁ parinibbāpenti, ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, dakkhiṇeyyaggi.The ascetics and brahmins who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves are called the fire of those worthy of a religious donation.15.3Tasmāyaṁ dakkhiṇeyyaggi sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā sammā sukhaṁ parihātabbo.So you should properly and happily take care of this fire, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating it.15.4Ime kho, brāhmaṇa, tayo aggī sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā sammā sukhaṁ parihātabbā.You should properly and happily take care of these three fires, honoring, respecting, esteeming, and venerating them.

16.1Ayaṁ kho pana, brāhmaṇa, kaṭṭhaggi kālena kālaṁ ujjaletabbo, kālena kālaṁ ajjhupekkhitabbo, kālena kālaṁ nibbāpetabbo, kālena kālaṁ nikkhipitabbo”ti.But the wood fire, brahmin, should, from time to time, be fanned, watched over with equanimity, extinguished, or put aside.”

17.1PTS 4.46Evaṁ vutte, uggatasarīro brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When he said this, the brahmin Uggatasarīra said to the Buddha,17.2“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …17.3upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatanti.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.17.4Esāhaṁ, bho gotama, pañca usabhasatāni muñcāmi jīvitaṁ demi, pañca vacchatarasatāni muñcāmi jīvitaṁ demi, pañca vacchatarisatāni muñcāmi jīvitaṁ demi, pañca ajasatāni muñcāmi jīvitaṁ demi, pañca urabbhasatāni muñcāmi jīvitaṁ demi.Worthy Gotama, I now set free these five hundred bulls, five hundred bullocks, five hundred heifers, five hundred goats, and five hundred rams. I give them life!17.5Haritāni ceva tiṇāni khādantu, sītāni ca pānīyāni pivantu, sīto ca nesaṁ vāto upavāyatan”ti.May they eat grass and drink cool water and enjoy a cool breeze!”

17.6Catutthaṁ.