Assalāyanasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 93

With Assalāyana · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā at Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati Jeta·grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

at that timeTena indeedkho nowpana at the timesamayena various·regionnānāverajjakānaṁ of brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ five·measurepañcamattāni brahmin·hundredbrāhmaṇasatāni in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ against·dwellpaṭivasanti some·justkenacideva businesskaraṇīyena.
thenAtha indeedkho of thosetesaṁ of brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ this occurredetadahosi:
this“ayaṁ indeedkho asceticsamaṇo Gotamagotamo four·classcātuvaṇṇiṁ purificationsuddhiṁ advocatespaññapeti.
whoKo nownu indeedkho is ablepahoti with the asceticsamaṇena Gotamagotamena withsaddhiṁ in thisasmiṁ statementvacane to debatepaṭimantetun”ti?

Now at that time around five hundred brahmins from abroad were residing in Sāvatthī on some business. Then those brahmins thought, “This ascetic Gotama advocates purification for all four classes. Who is capable of debating with him about this?”

by thisTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena Assalāyanaassalāyano namednāma studentmāṇavo in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ down·dwellpaṭivasati youngdaharo, tonsuredvuttasiro, sixteen years oldsoḷasavassuddesiko by birthjātiyā, of the threetiṇṇaṁ Vedasvedānaṁ far shore·gonepāragū with·vocabulary·ritualsanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ with phonology and word classificationsākkharappabhedānaṁ with testaments as fifthitihāsapañcamānaṁ, word-by-word knowerpadako, grammarianveyyākaraṇo, in cosmology and the marks of a great manlokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu well versedanavayo.
thenAtha indeedkho of thosetesaṁ brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ this·occurredetadahosi:
this“ayaṁ indeedkho Assalāyanaassalāyano studentmāṇavo in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ down·dwellpaṭivasati youngdaharo, tonsuredvuttasiro, sixteen years oldsoḷasavassuddesiko by birthjātiyā, of the threetiṇṇaṁ Vedasvedānaṁ far shore·gonepāragū ellipsis…pe… well versedanavayo.
heSo indeedkho is capablepahoti with the asceticsamaṇena Gotamagotamena together withsaddhiṁ in thisasmiṁ regarding the speechvacane against·debatepaṭimantetun”ti.

Now at that time the student Assalāyana was residing in Sāvatthī. He was young, tonsured, and sixteen years old. 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. Then those brahmins thought, “This Assalāyana is capable of debating with the ascetic Gotama about this.”

So they approached Assalāyana and said to him, “This ascetic Gotama advocates purification for all four classes. Please, worthy Assalāyana, debate with the ascetic Gotama about this.” When they said this, Assalāyana said to them, “They say that the ascetic Gotama is a speaker of principle. But speakers of principle are hard to debate. I’m not capable of debating with the ascetic Gotama about this.” For a second time, those brahmins said to him “This ascetic Gotama advocates purification for all four classes. Please, worthy Assalāyana, debate with the ascetic Gotama about this. For you have lived as a wanderer.” And for a second time, Assalāyana refused.

principle·speakdhammavādino andca butpana hard to debateduppaṭimantiyā they arebhavanti.
I am notNāhaṁ I am ablesakkomi with the asceticsamaṇena Gotamagotamena togethersaddhiṁ about thisasmiṁ statementvacane to debatepaṭimantetun”ti.
for a third timeTatiyampi indeedkho thosete brahminsbrāhmaṇā Assalāyanaassalāyanaṁ studentmāṇavaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
this“ayaṁ, worthybho Assalāyanaassalāyana, asceticsamaṇo Gotamagotamo four·classcātuvaṇṇiṁ purificationsuddhiṁ advocatespaññapeti.
let him comeEtu worthybhavaṁ Assalāyanaassalāyano with the asceticsamaṇena Gotamagotamena togethersaddhiṁ about thisasmiṁ statementvacane let him debatepaṭimantetu.
you have livedCaritaṁ indeedkho butpana by the worthybhotā Assalāyanaassalāyanena as a wandererparibbājakaṁ.
don'tMā worthybhavaṁ Assalāyanaassalāyano battle + defeatayuddhaparājitaṁ admitparājayī”ti.
thusEvaṁ when this was saidvutte, Assalāyanaassalāyano studentmāṇavo thosete brahminsbrāhmaṇe said thisetadavoca:
clearly“addhā indeedkho Iahaṁ worthy sirsbhavanto notna I am getting throughlabhāmi.
asceticSamaṇo they saykhalu, worthybho, Gotamagotamo speaker of principledhammavādī;
principle·speakdhammavādino andca butpana hard to debateduppaṭimantiyā they arebhavanti.
I am notNāhaṁ I am ablesakkomi with the asceticsamaṇena Gotamagotamena togethersaddhiṁ about thisasmiṁ statementvacane to debatepaṭimantetunti.
neverthelessApi Icāhaṁ of the worthy sirsbhavantānaṁ at the biddingvacanena I shall gogamissāmī”ti.

For a third time, those brahmins said to him, “This ascetic Gotama advocates purification for all four classes. Please, worthy Assalāyana, debate with the ascetic Gotama about this. For you have lived as a wanderer. Don’t admit defeat before going into battle!” When they said this, Assalāyana said to them, “Clearly, worthy sirs, I’m not getting through to you when I say: ‘They say that the ascetic Gotama is a speaker of principle. But speakers of principle are hard to debate. I’m not capable of debating with the ascetic Gotama about this.’ Nevertheless, I shall go at your bidding.”

thenAtha indeedkho Assalāyanaassalāyano the brahmin studentmāṇavo with a largemahatā brahmin·groupbrāhmaṇagaṇena together withsaddhiṁ whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā he approached himtenupasaṅkami; near·goupasaṅkamitvā with the Blessed Onebhagavatā together withsaddhiṁ together·rejoicesammodi.
greetingSammodanīyaṁ conversationkathaṁ politesāraṇīyaṁ apart·caused to passvītisāretvā one·sideekamantaṁ down·sitnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ down·seatednisinno indeedkho Assalāyanaassalāyano the brahmin studentmāṇavo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this·saidetadavoca:
brahmins“brāhmaṇā, worthybho Gotamagotama, thus·they saidevamāhaṁsu:
only brahmins‘brāhmaṇova the bestseṭṭho classvaṇṇo, inferiorhīno otherañño classvaṇṇo;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇova the lightsukko classvaṇṇo, darkkaṇho otherañño classvaṇṇo;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇova are purifiedsujjhanti, notno not·brahminabrāhmaṇā;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇāva of the Divinitybrahmuno sonsputtā bosomorasā from the mouthmukhato bornjātā Divinity·bornbrahmajā Divinity·createdbrahmanimmitā heirs of the Divinitybrahmadāyādā’ti.
hereIdha worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo what does he saykimāhā”ti?
are seen“Dissanti indeedkho butpana, Assalāyanaassalāyana, of brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ brahmin womenbrāhmaṇiyo menstruatingutuniyopi being pregnantgabbhiniyopi forth·being bornvijāyamānāpi breastfeedingpāyamānāpi.
theyTe andca brahmin womb·bornbrāhmaṇiyonijāva beingsamānā thus·they saidevamāhaṁsu:
only brahmins‘brāhmaṇova the bestseṭṭho classvaṇṇo, inferiorhīno otherañño classvaṇṇo;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇova the lightsukko classvaṇṇo, darkkaṇho otherañño classvaṇṇo;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇāva are purifiedsujjhanti, notno not·brahminabrāhmaṇā;
only brahminsbrāhmaṇāva of the Divinitybrahmuno sonsputtā bosomorasā from the mouthmukhato bornjātā Divinity·bornbrahmajā Divinity·createdbrahmanimmitā heirs of the Divinitybrahmadāyādā’”ti.

Then Assalāyana together with a large group of brahmins went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Worthy Gotama, the brahmins say: ‘Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are the Divinity’s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.’ What do you say about this?” “But Assalāyana, brahmin women are seen menstruating, being pregnant, giving birth, and breastfeeding. Yet even though they’re born from a brahmin womb they say: ‘Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are the Divinity’s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.’”

even though“Kiñcāpi sirbhavaṁ Gotamagotamo thus·speaksevamāha, thenatha yet·herekhvettha brahminsbrāhmaṇā indeed·thisevametaṁ they thinkmaññanti:
the brahmin is the best‘brāhmaṇova bestseṭṭho classvaṇṇo, lowhīno otherañño classvaṇṇo …pe……pe…
Brahmā·heirsbrahmadāyādā’”ti.
that“Taṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, Assalāyanaassalāyana,
heardsutaṁ by youte: among the Greeks and Kambojans‘yonakambojesu otheraññesu andca borderlandpaccantimesu countriesjanapadesu two·onlydveva classes·noblevaṇṇā—ayyo indeedceva servantdāso andca; nobleayyo having becomehutvā servantdāso becomeshoti, servantdāso having becomehutvā nobleayyo becomeshotī’”ti?
yes“Evaṁ, sirbho, heardsutaṁ thattaṁ by meme: among the Greeks and Kambojans‘yonakambojesu otheraññesu andca borderlandpaccantimesu countriesjanapadesu two·onlydveva classes·noblevaṇṇā—ayyo indeedceva servantdāso andca; nobleayyo having becomehutvā servantdāso becomeshoti, servantdāso having becomehutvā nobleayyo becomeshotī’”ti.
here“Ettha, Assalāyanaassalāyana, of the brahminsbrāhmaṇānaṁ whatkiṁ strengthbalaṁ, whatko assuranceassāso that + hereyadettha brahminsbrāhmaṇā thus·spokeevamāhaṁsu:
the brahmin is the best‘brāhmaṇova bestseṭṭho classvaṇṇo, lowhīno otherañño classvaṇṇo …pe……pe…
Brahmā·heirsbrahmadāyādā’”ti?

“Even though you say this, still the brahmins maintain their belief.” “What do you think, Assalāyana? Have you heard that in Greece and Persia and other foreign lands there are only two classes, masters and bonded servants; and that masters may become servants, and servants masters?” “Yes, I have heard that.” “Then what is the source of the brahmins’ certainty and forcefulness in this matter that they make this claim?”

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