1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Atha kho sambahulā kosalakā brāhmaṇamahāsālā jiṇṇā vuḍḍhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.Then several old and well-to-do brahmins of Kosala—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.1.4Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:1.5“sandissanti nu kho, bho gotama, etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti?“Worthy Gotama, are the ancient principles of the brahmins exhibited these days among brahmins?”1.6“Na kho, brāhmaṇā, sandissanti etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti.“No, brahmins, they are not.”1.7“Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhammaṁ bhāsatu, sace bhoto gotamassa agarū”ti.“If you wouldn’t mind, Worthy Gotama, please teach us the ancient principles of the brahmins.”1.8“Tena hi, brāhmaṇā, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.“Well then, brahmins, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”1.9“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied.1.10Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

2.1“Isayo pubbakā āsuṁ,“The ancient seers used to be2.2saññatattā tapassino;restrained and austere.2.3Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,Having given up the five sensual stimuli,2.4attadatthamacārisuṁ.they lived for their own true good.

3.1Na pasū brāhmaṇānāsuṁ,Brahmins used to own no cattle,3.2na hiraññaṁ na dhāniyaṁ;nor gold coin or grain.3.3Sajjhāyadhanadhaññāsuṁ,Chanting was their money and grain,3.4brahmaṁ nidhimapālayuṁ.which they guarded as a gift from god.

4.1Yaṁ nesaṁ pakataṁ āsi,Food was prepared for them4.2dvārabhattaṁ upaṭṭhitaṁ;and left beside their doors.4.3Saddhāpakatamesānaṁ,People believed that food prepared in faith4.4dātave tadamaññisuṁ.should be given to them.

5.1Nānārattehi vatthehi,With colorful clothes,5.2sayanehāvasathehi ca;lodgings and houses,5.3Phītā janapadā raṭṭhā,prosperous nations and countries5.4te namassiṁsu brāhmaṇe.honored those brahmins.

6.1Avajjhā brāhmaṇā āsuṁ,Brahmins used to be inviolable and6.2ajeyyā dhammarakkhitā;invincible, protected by principle.6.3Na ne koci nivāresi,No one ever turned them away6.4kuladvāresu sabbaso.from the doors of families.

7.1Aṭṭhacattālīsaṁ vassāni,For forty-eight years¹7.2(komāra) Brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te;they led the spiritual life.²7.3Vijjācaraṇapariyeṭṭhiṁ,The brahmins of old pursued7.4Acaruṁ brāhmaṇā pure.their quest for knowledge and conduct.

8.1Na brāhmaṇā aññamagamuṁ,Brahmins never transgressed with another,³8.2napi bhariyaṁ kiṇiṁsu te;nor did they purchase a wife.8.3Sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ,They lived together in love,8.4saṅgantvā samarocayuṁ.joining together by mutual consent.

9.1Aññatra tamhā samayā,Brahmins never approached their wives for sex9.2utuveramaṇiṁ pati;during the time outside9.3Antarā methunaṁ dhammaṁ,the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle9.4nāssu gacchanti brāhmaṇā.after menstruation.

10.1Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,They praised chastity and morality,10.2ajjavaṁ maddavaṁ tapaṁ;integrity, tenderness, and fervor,10.3Soraccaṁ avihiṁsañca,gentleness and harmlessness,10.4khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.and also patience.

11.1Yo nesaṁ paramo āsi,He who was supreme among them,11.2Brahmā daḷhaparakkamo;godlike, staunchly vigorous,11.3Sa vāpi methunaṁ dhammaṁ,did not engage in sex11.4Supinantepi nāgamā.even in a dream.

12.1Tassa vattamanusikkhantā,Training in line with their duties,12.2Idheke viññujātikā;many smart people here12.3Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,praised chastity and morality,12.4Khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.and also patience.

13.1Taṇḍulaṁ sayanaṁ vatthaṁ,They begged for rice,13.2Sappitelañca yāciya;bedding, clothes, ghee, and oil.13.3Dhammena samodhānetvā,Having collected them legitimately,13.4Tato yaññamakappayuṁ.they arranged a sacrifice.

14.1Upaṭṭhitasmiṁ yaññasmiṁ,But they slew no cows14.2Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te;while serving at the sacrifice.14.3Yathā mātā pitā bhātā,Like a mother, father, or brother,14.4Aññe vāpi ca ñātakā;or some other relative,14.5Gāvo no paramā mittā,cows are our best friends,14.6Yāsu jāyanti osadhā.the fonts of medicine.

15.1Annadā baladā cetā,They give food and strength,15.2Vaṇṇadā sukhadā tathā;and beauty and happiness.15.3Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,Knowing these benefits,15.4Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te.they slew no cows.

16.1Sukhumālā mahākāyā,The brahmins were delicate and tall,16.2Vaṇṇavanto yasassino;beautiful and glorious.16.3Brāhmaṇā sehi dhammehi,They were keen on all the duties16.4Kiccākiccesu ussukā;according to their teachings.⁴16.5Yāva loke avattiṁsu,So long as they continued in the world,16.6Sukhamedhitthayaṁ pajā.people flourished happily.

17.1Tesaṁ āsi vipallāso,But perversion crept into them17.2Disvāna aṇuto aṇuṁ;little by little when they saw17.3Rājino ca viyākāraṁ,the transformation of the king17.4Nāriyo samalaṅkatā.and the ladies in all their finery.

18.1Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,Their chariots were harnessed with thoroughbreds,18.2Sukate cittasibbane;well-made with bright canopies,18.3Nivesane nivese ca,and their homes and houses18.4Vibhatte bhāgaso mite.were neatly divided section by section.⁵

19.1Gomaṇḍalaparibyūḷhaṁ,They were lavished with herds of cattle,19.2Nārīvaragaṇāyutaṁ;and furnished with bevies of lovely ladies.19.3Uḷāraṁ mānusaṁ bhogaṁ,This extravagant human wealth19.4Abhijjhāyiṁsu brāhmaṇā.was coveted by the brahmins.

20.1Te tattha mante ganthetvā,They compiled hymns to that end,⁶20.2Okkākaṁ tadupāgamuṁ;approached King Okkāka and said,20.3Pahūtadhanadhaññosi,‘You have plenty of money and grain.20.4Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ;Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.20.5Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.Sacrifice! For you have much money.’

21.1Tato ca rājā saññatto,Persuaded by the brahmins,21.2Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;the king, chief of charioteers, performed21.3Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,21.4Sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ;the sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, <j>the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’.21.5Ete yāge yajitvāna,When he had carried out these sacrifices,21.6Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.he gave riches to the brahmins.

22.1Gāvo sayanañca vatthañca,There were cattle, bedding, and clothes,22.2Nāriyo samalaṅkatā;and ladies in all their finery;22.3Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,chariots harnessed with thoroughbreds,22.4Sukate cittasibbane.well-made with bright canopies;

23.1Nivesanāni rammāni,and lovely homes,23.2Suvibhattāni bhāgaso;nicely divided section by section.23.3Nānādhaññassa pūretvā,Having furnished them with different grains,23.4Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.he gave riches to the brahmins.

24.1Te ca tattha dhanaṁ laddhā,When they got hold of that wealth,24.2Sannidhiṁ samarocayuṁ;they arranged to store it up.24.3Tesaṁ icchāvatiṇṇānaṁ,Falling under the sway of desire,24.4Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhatha;their craving grew and grew.24.5Te tattha mante ganthetvā,They compiled hymns to that end,24.6Okkākaṁ puna mupāgamuṁ.approached King Okkāka once more and said,

25.1Yathā āpo ca pathavī ca,‘Like water and earth,25.2Hiraññaṁ dhanadhāniyaṁ;gold coin, riches, and grain,25.3Evaṁ gāvo manussānaṁ,are cows for humankind,25.4Parikkhāro so hi pāṇinaṁ;as they are essential for creatures.25.5Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ,Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.25.6Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.Sacrifice! For you have much money.’

26.1Tato ca rājā saññatto,Persuaded by the brahmins,26.2Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;the king, chief of charioteers,26.3Nekā satasahassiyo,had many hundred thousand cows⁷26.4Gāvo yaññe aghātayi.slain at the sacrifice.⁸

27.1Na pādā na visāṇena,Neither with feet nor with horns27.2Nāssu hiṁsanti kenaci;do cows harm anyone at all.27.3Gāvo eḷakasamānā,Cows meek as lambs27.4Soratā kumbhadūhanā;supply buckets of milk.27.5Tā visāṇe gahetvāna,But taking them by the horns,27.6Rājā satthena ghātayi.the king slew them with a sword.

28.1Tato devā pitaro ca,At that the gods and the ancestors,28.2Indo asurarakkhasā;with Indra, the titans and monsters,28.3Adhammo iti pakkanduṁ,roared out: ‘This is a crime against nature!’28.4Yaṁ satthaṁ nipatī gave.as the sword fell on the cows.⁹

29.1Tayo rogā pure āsuṁ,There used to be three kinds of illness:29.2Icchā anasanaṁ jarā;greed, starvation, and old age.29.3Pasūnañca samārambhā,But due to the slaughter of cows,29.4Aṭṭhānavutimāgamuṁ.this grew to be ninety-eight.

30.1Eso adhammo daṇḍānaṁ,This crime of the rods¹⁰30.2Okkanto purāṇo ahu;is of ancient descent.¹¹30.3Adūsikāyo haññanti,Killing innocent creatures,30.4Dhammā dhaṁsanti yājakā.the sacrificers forsake righteousness.

31.1Evameso aṇudhammo,And that is how this mean old practice31.2Porāṇo viññugarahito;was criticized by sensible people.31.3Yattha edisakaṁ passati,Wherever they see such a thing,31.4Yājakaṁ garahatī jano.folk criticize the sacrificer.

32.1Evaṁ dhamme viyāpanne,With righteousness gone,32.2Vibhinnā suddavessikā;peasants and menials were split,32.3Puthū vibhinnā khattiyā,as were many aristocrats,32.4Patiṁ bhariyāvamaññatha.and wives looked down on their husbands.

33.1Khattiyā brahmabandhū ca,Aristocrats and brahmins only by kin,33.2Ye caññe gottarakkhitā;and others protected by their clan,33.3Jātivādaṁ nirākatvā,neglecting their genealogy,33.4Kāmānaṁ vasamanvagun”ti.fell under the sway of sensual pleasures.”

34.1Evaṁ vutte, te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:When he had spoken, those well-to-do brahmins said to the Buddha,34.2“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …34.3upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”

34.4Brāhmaṇadhammikasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.