Selasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 92

With Sela · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā among the Aṅguttarāpansaṅguttarāpesu walking tourcārikaṁ wanderingcaramāno largemahatā with a Saṅgha of mendicantsbhikkhusaṅghena together withsaddhiṁ twelve and a halfaḍḍhateḷasehi hundred mendicantsbhikkhusatehi whereyena Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ namednāma of the Aṅguttarāpansaṅguttarāpānaṁ townnigamo he arrived attadavasari.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants in the land of the Aṅguttarāpans when he arrived at a town of theirs named Āpaṇa.

heardAssosi indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo matted-hair asceticjaṭilo:
ascetic“samaṇo it seemskhalu, sirbho, Gotamagotamo a Sakyan sonsakyaputto from a Sakyan familysakyakulā gone forthpabbajito among the Aṅguttarāpasaṅguttarāpesu on walking tourcārikaṁ wanderingcaramāno with a largemahatā with a Saṅgha of mendicantsbhikkhusaṅghena togethersaddhiṁ with 1,250aḍḍhateḷasehi mendicantsbhikkhusatehi at Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ arrivedanuppatto.
himTaṁ indeedkho furthermorepana blessedbhavantaṁ Gotamagotamaṁ thusevaṁ goodkalyāṇo reputationkittisaddo spreadabbhuggato:
thus indeed‘itipi heso the Blessed Onebhagavā perfectedarahaṁ fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho accomplished in knowledge and conductvijjācaraṇasampanno holysugato knower of the worldlokavidū supremeanuttaro guide for those fit for trainingpurisadammasārathi teachersatthā of gods and humansdevamanussānaṁ awakenedbuddho blessedbhagavā’ti.
heSo thisimaṁ worldlokaṁ with its godssadevakaṁ with its Mārassamārakaṁ with its divinitiessabrahmakaṁ with its ascetics and brahminssassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ populationpajaṁ gods and humanssadevamanussaṁ with his own insightsayaṁ by direct knowledgeabhiññā having realizedsacchikatvā makes knownpavedeti.
heSo a teachingdhammaṁ proclaimsdeseti good in the beginningādikalyāṇaṁ good in the middlemajjhekalyāṇaṁ good in the endpariyosānakalyāṇaṁ meaningfulsātthaṁ well-phrasedsabyañjanaṁ, entirely fullkevalaparipuṇṇaṁ pureparisuddhaṁ spiritual practicebrahmacariyaṁ revealspakāseti.
goodSādhu indeedkho furthermorepana of suchtathārūpānaṁ perfected onesarahataṁ seeingdassanaṁ it ishotī”ti.

The matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Āpaṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He proclaims a teaching that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

thenAtha indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo to whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā he approached himtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā with the Blessed Onebhagavatā together withsaddhiṁ he exchanged greetingssammodi.
the courteousSammodanīyaṁ talkkathaṁ the politesāraṇīyaṁ having exchangedvītisāretvā to one sideekamantaṁ he sat downnisīdi.
to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinnaṁ indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyaṁ the matted-hair asceticjaṭilaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā with a Dhammadhammiyā talkkathāya he educatedsandassesi he encouragedsamādapesi he fired upsamuttejesi he inspiredsampahaṁsesi.
thenAtha indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo by the Blessed Onebhagavatā with a Dhammadhammiyā talkkathāya educatedsandassito encouragedsamādapito fired upsamuttejito inspiredsampahaṁsito to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ he said thisetadavoca:
let him accept“adhivāsetu from meme worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.
thusEvaṁ when this was saidvutte, the Blessed Onebhagavā to Keṇiyakeṇiyaṁ the matted-hair asceticjaṭilaṁ he said thisetadavoca:
large“mahā indeedkho, Keṇiyakeṇiya, the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅgho twelve and a halfaḍḍhateḷasāni hundred mendicantsbhikkhusatāni, and youtvañca toward the brahminsbrāhmaṇesu you are devotedabhippasanno”ti.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ he said thisetadavoca:
even though“kiñcāpi indeedkho, sirbho Gotamagotama, largemahā the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅgho twelve and a halfaḍḍhateḷasāni hundred mendicantsbhikkhusatāni, and Iahañca toward the brahminsbrāhmaṇesu I am devotedabhippasanno;
let him acceptadhivāsetu from meme worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā to Keṇiyakeṇiyaṁ the matted-hair asceticjaṭilaṁ he said thisetadavoca:

So Keṇiya approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk. Then he said to the Buddha, “Would Worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” When he said this, the Buddha said to him, “The Saṅgha is large, Keṇiya; there are 1,250 mendicants. And you are devoted to the brahmins.” For a second time, Keṇiya asked the Buddha to accept a meal offering. “Never mind that the Saṅgha is large, with 1,250 mendicants, and that I am devoted to the brahmins. Would Worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” And for a second time, the Buddha gave the same reply.

large“mahā indeedkho, Keṇiyakeṇiya, mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅgho twelve and a half hundredaḍḍhateḷasāni mendicant hundredsbhikkhusatāni, and youtvañca in brahminsbrāhmaṇesu devotedabhippasanno”ti.
for a third time alsoTatiyampi indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo matted-hair asceticjaṭilo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
although“kiñcāpi indeedkho, sirbho Gotamagotama, largemahā mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅgho twelve and a half hundredaḍḍhateḷasāni mendicant hundredsbhikkhusatāni, and Iahañca in brahminsbrāhmaṇesu devotedabhippasanno;
may he consentadhivāsetu for meme Worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.
consentedAdhivāsesi the Blessed Onebhagavā by silencetuṇhībhāvena.

For a third time, Keṇiya asked the Buddha to accept a meal offering. “Never mind that the Saṅgha is large, with 1,250 mendicants, and that I am devoted to the brahmins. Would Worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” The Buddha consented with silence.

thenAtha indeedkho Keṇiyakeṇiyo the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo of the Blessed Onebhagavato consentadhivāsanaṁ having knownviditvā rose from his seatuṭṭhāyāsanā whereyena his ownsako hermitageassamo there he approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā friends and colleaguesmittāmacce relatives and kinñātisālohite he addressedāmantesi:
let them listen“suṇantu to meme worthy sirsbhonto, friends and colleaguesmittāmaccā relatives and kinñātisālohitā;
the asceticsamaṇo by meme Gotamagotamo invitednimantito for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghena.
with whichYena meme manual preparationskāyaveyyāvaṭikaṁ you should dokareyyāthā”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, worthy sirbho”ti indeedkho of Keṇiyakeṇiyassa the matted-hair asceticjaṭilassa friends and colleaguesmittāmaccā relatives and kinñātisālohitā of Keṇiyakeṇiyassa the matted-hair asceticjaṭilassa having promisedpaṭissutvā someappekacce ovensuddhanāni they digkhaṇanti, someappekacce woodkaṭṭhāni they chopphālenti, someappekacce dishesbhājanāni they washdhovanti, someappekacce a water jarudakamaṇikaṁ they set uppatiṭṭhāpenti, someappekacce seatsāsanāni they spread outpaññapenti.
KeṇiyaKeṇiyo meanwhilepana the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo himselfsāmaṁyeva the pavilionmaṇḍalamālaṁ he preparespaṭiyādeti.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Keṇiya rose from his seat and went to his own hermitage. There he addressed his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin, “My friends and colleagues, relatives and kin: please listen! The ascetic Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha has been invited by me for tomorrow’s meal. Please help me out with the manual preparations.” “Yes, worthy sir,” they replied. Some dug ovens, some chopped wood, some washed dishes, some set up a water jar, and some spread out seats. Meanwhile, Keṇiya set up the pavilion himself.

by thatTena indeedkho nowpana at the timesamayena Selaselo brahminbrāhmaṇo in Āpaṇaāpaṇe was residingpaṭivasati of the threetiṇṇaṁ of the Vedasvedānaṁ masteredpāragū with the vocabularies and ritual performancesanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ with phonology and word classificationsākkharappabhedānaṁ with the testaments as fifthitihāsapañcamānaṁ, knew word-by-wordpadako, grammarianveyyākaraṇo, in cosmology and the marks of a great manlokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu well versedanavayo, threetīṇi andca hundreds of young studentsmāṇavakasatāni the hymnsmante was teaching to recitevāceti.

Now at that time the brahmin Sela was residing in Āpaṇa. He had mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. And he was teaching three hundred young students to recite the hymns.

at thatTena indeedkho nowpana at the timesamayena Keṇiyakeṇiyo the matted-hair asceticjaṭilo toward Selasele the brahminbrāhmaṇe was devotedabhippasanno he washoti.
thenAtha indeedkho Selaselo the brahminbrāhmaṇo by threetīhi hundred young studentsmāṇavakasatehi escortedparivuto for a walkjaṅghāvihāraṁ while going back and forthanucaṅkamamāno while wandering aboutanuvicaramāno whereyena of Keṇiyakeṇiyassa of the matted-hair asceticjaṭilassa the hermitageassamo there he approachedtenupasaṅkami.
he sawAddasā indeedkho Selaselo the brahminbrāhmaṇo of Keṇiyakeṇiyassa of the matted-hair asceticjaṭilassa in the hermitageassame someappekacce fireplacesuddhanāni diggingkhaṇante, someappekacce stickskaṭṭhāni splittingphālente, someappekacce vesselsbhājanāni washingdhovante, someappekacce a water-potudakamaṇikaṁ setting uppatiṭṭhāpente, someappekacce seatsāsanāni preparingpaññapente, Keṇiyakeṇiyaṁ nowpana the matted-hair asceticjaṭilaṁ himselfsāmaṁyeva a pavilionmaṇḍalamālaṁ preparingpaṭiyādentaṁ.

And at that time Keṇiya was devoted to Sela. Then Sela, while going for a walk escorted by the three hundred young students, approached Keṇiya’s hermitage. He saw the preparations going on,

having seenDisvāna Keṇiyakeṇiyaṁ matted-hair asceticjaṭilaṁ said thisetadavoca:
what“kiṁ nownu for the worthy onebhoto of Keṇiyakeṇiyassa son's weddingāvāho orvā will bebhavissati daughter's weddingvivāho orvā will bebhavissati grand sacrificemahāyañño orvā preparedpaccupaṭṭhito, kingrājā orvā of Magadhamāgadho Seniyaseniyo Bimbisārabimbisāro invitednimantito for tomorrowsvātanāya together withsaddhiṁ with his armybalakāyenā”ti?

and said to Keṇiya, “Worthy Keṇiya, is your son or daughter being married? Or are you setting up a grand sacrifice? Or has King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha been invited for tomorrow’s meal?”

not“Na for meme, worthybho Selasela, marriageāvāho will bebhavissati and notnapi marriagevivāho will bebhavissati and notnapi kingrājā of Magadhamāgadho Seniyaseniyo Bimbisārabimbisāro invitednimantito for tomorrowsvātanāya together withsaddhiṁ with the armybalakāyena;
butapi ratherca indeedkho for meme great sacrificemahāyañño is preparedpaccupaṭṭhito.
there isAtthi, worthybho, asceticsamaṇo Gotamagotamo son of the Sakyanssakyaputto from the Sakyan clansakyakulā gone forthpabbajito among the Aṅguttarāpasaṅguttarāpesu wandering tourcārikaṁ wanderingcaramāno with a largemahatā with the Saṅgha of mendicantsbhikkhusaṅghena together withsaddhiṁ with 1,250aḍḍhateḷasehi with mendicantsbhikkhusatehi at Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ arrivedanuppatto.
thatTaṁ indeedkho thenpana the venerablebhavantaṁ Gotamagotamaṁ thusevaṁ goodkalyāṇo reputationkittisaddo arisenabbhuggato:
thus indeed‘itipi heso the Blessed Onebhagavā perfectedarahaṁ fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho accomplished in knowledge and conductvijjācaraṇasampanno holysugato knower of the worldlokavidū supremeanuttaro guide for those fit for trainingpurisadammasārathi teachersatthā of gods and humansdevamanussānaṁ awakenedbuddho blessedbhagavā’ti.
heSo by meme invitednimantito for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.

“There is no marriage, Worthy Sela, and the king is not coming. Rather, I am setting up a grand sacrifice. The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Āpaṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has been invited by me for tomorrow’s meal together with the mendicant Saṅgha.”

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