Esukārīsutta

Majjhima Nikāya 96

With Esukārī · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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from a menial familySuddakulā if evencepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa, from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajito ishoti, heso andca proclaimed by the Tathāgatatathāgatappaveditaṁ the teaching and trainingdhammavinayaṁ relying onāgamma from killing living beingspāṇātipātā refrainingpaṭivirato ishoti …pe……pe… one of right viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, one who succeedsārādhako ishoti the systemñāyaṁ the teachingdhammaṁ skillfulkusalaṁ.

menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

thatTaṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, brahminbrāhmaṇa,
only a brahminbrāhmaṇova indeednu indeedkho is capablepahoti in thisasmiṁ regionpadese free of enmityaveraṁ free of ill willabyābajjhaṁ heart of lovemettacittaṁ to developbhāvetuṁ, notno an aristocratkhattiyo notno a peasantvesso notno a menial?suddo”ti?
No“No indeed herehidaṁ, worthybho Gotama.gotama.
an aristocrat tooKhattiyopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotama,gotama, is capablepahoti in thisasmiṁ regionpadese free of enmityaveraṁ free of ill willabyābajjhaṁ heart of lovemettacittaṁ to develop;bhāvetuṁ;
a brahmin toobrāhmaṇopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
a peasant toovessopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
a menial toosuddopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
all toosabbepi indeedhi, worthybho Gotama,gotama, fourcattāro classesvaṇṇā are capablepahonti in thisasmiṁ regionpadese free of enmityaveraṁ free of ill willabyābajjhaṁ heart of lovemettacittaṁ to develop.”bhāvetun”ti.
In the same way“Evameva indeedkho, brahmin,brāhmaṇa, from a family of aristocratskhattiyakulā ifcepi from homeagārasmā into homelessnessanagāriyaṁ has gone forthpabbajito ishoti, heso andca proclaimed by the Tathāgatatathāgatappaveditaṁ Dhamma and Vinayadhammavinayaṁ having come toāgamma from killing living beingspāṇātipātā abstainspaṭivirato ishoti ……pe… right viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, an accomplisherārādhako ishoti the trueñāyaṁ dhammadhammaṁ wholesome.kusalaṁ.
from a family of brahminsBrāhmaṇakulā ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa ……
from a family of peasantsvessakulā ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa ……

What do you think, brahmin? Is only a brahmin capable of developing a heart of love free of enmity and ill will for this region, and not an aristocrat, peasant, or menial?” “No, worthy Gotama. Aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials can all do so. For all four classes are capable of developing a heart of love free of enmity and ill will for this region.” “In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants,

from a low familysuddakulā even ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa, from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajito ishoti, heso andca proclaimed by the Realized Onetathāgatappaveditaṁ teaching and trainingdhammavinayaṁ relying onāgamma from killing living beingspāṇātipātā abstainedpaṭivirato ishoti …pe……pe… of right viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, one who succeedsārādhako ishoti in the systemñāyaṁ of the teachingdhammaṁ skillfulkusalaṁ.

or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

thatTaṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, brahminbrāhmaṇa,
a brahmin indeedbrāhmaṇova is itnu indeedkho is capablepahoti bathing cleansersottisināniṁ having takenādāya to the rivernadiṁ having gonegantvā dust and dirtrajojallaṁ to rinse offpavāhetuṁ, notno an aristocratkhattiyo notno a peasantvesso notno a menial?suddo”ti?
No“No indeedhidaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama.
an aristocrat tooKhattiyopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama, is capablepahoti bathing cleansersottisināniṁ having takenādāya to the rivernadiṁ having gonegantvā dust and dirtrajojallaṁ to rinse offpavāhetuṁ;
a brahmin toobrāhmaṇopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
a peasant toovessopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
a menial toosuddopi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama ……
all toosabbepi indeedhi, worthybho Gotamagotama, fourcattāro classesvaṇṇā are capablepahonti bathing cleansersottisināniṁ having takenādāya to the rivernadiṁ having gonegantvā dust and dirtrajojallaṁ to rinse offpavāhetun”ti.
In the same way“Evameva indeedkho, brahminbrāhmaṇa, from a family of aristocratskhattiyakulā ifcepi from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajito ishoti, heso andca proclaimed by the Tathāgatatathāgatappaveditaṁ teaching and disciplinedhammavinayaṁ having approachedāgamma from killing living beingspāṇātipātā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti …pe……pe… right viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, accomplisherārādhako ishoti the right wayñāyaṁ dhammadhammaṁ wholesomekusalaṁ.
from a family of brahminsBrāhmaṇakulā ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa ……
from a family of peasantsvessakulā ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa ……

What do you think, brahmin? Is only a brahmin capable of taking some bathing cleanser, going to the river, and rinsing off dust and dirt, and not an aristocrat, peasant, or menial?” “No, worthy Gotama. All four classes are capable of doing this.” “In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants,

from a low-class familysuddakulā even ifcepi, brahminbrāhmaṇa, from the homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajito ishoti, heso andca proclaimed by the Realized Onetathāgatappaveditaṁ teaching and trainingdhammavinayaṁ relying onāgamma from killing living beingspāṇātipātā refrainedpaṭivirato ishoti …pe……pe… of right viewsammādiṭṭhi ishoti, one who succeedsārādhako ishoti in the systemñāyaṁ of the teachingdhammaṁ skillfulkusalaṁ.

or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

thatTaṁ what?kiṁ do you think,maññasi, brahmin,brāhmaṇa,
hereidha a kingrājā an aristocratkhattiyo anointedmuddhāvasitto of various birthsnānājaccānaṁ of peoplepurisānaṁ a hundred peoplepurisasataṁ should gathersannipāteyya:
let them come‘āyantu gentlemenbhonto whoye theretattha from a family of aristocratskhattiyakulā from a family of brahminsbrāhmaṇakulā from a family of chieftainsrājaññakulā bornuppannā of teaksākassa orvā of salsālassa orvā of salaḷasalaḷassa orvā of sandalwoodcandanassa orvā of cherry woodpadumakassa orvā drill-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggiṁ let them produceabhinibbattentu, heattejo let them revealpātukarontu;
let them comeāyantu andpana gentlemenbhonto whoye theretattha from a family of corpse-workerscaṇḍālakulā from a family of huntersnesādakulā from a family of bamboo-workersvenakulā from a family of chariot-makersrathakārakulā from a family of scavengerspukkusakulā bornuppannā from a mutt's drinking troughsāpānadoṇiyā orvā from a pig's troughsūkaradoṇiyā orvā from a dustbinrajakadoṇiyā orvā of castor-oil wooderaṇḍakaṭṭhassa orvā drill-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggiṁ let them produceabhinibbattentu, heattejo let them reveal'?pātukarontū’”ti?
"That“Taṁ what?kiṁ do you think,maññasi, brahmin,brāhmaṇa,

What do you think, brahmin? Suppose an anointed aristocratic king were to gather a hundred people born in different classes and say to them: ‘Please gentlemen, let anyone here who was born in a family of aristocrats, brahmins, or chieftains take a drill-stick made of teak, sal, salaḷa, sandalwood, or cherry wood, light a fire and produce heat. And let anyone here who was born in a family of corpse-workers, hunters, bamboo-workers, chariot-makers, or scavengers take a drill-stick made from a mutt’s drinking trough, a pig’s trough, a dustbin, or castor-oil wood, light a fire and produce heat.’ What do you think, brahmin?

whichyo thusevaṁ indeednu trulykho thatso from a khattiya familykhattiyakulā from a brahmin familybrāhmaṇakulā from a royal familyrājaññakulā produceduppannehi of teaksākassa orvā of salsālassa orvā of salaḷasalaḷassa orvā of sandalwoodcandanassa orvā of lotuspadumakassa orvā the upper fire-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggi producedabhinibbatto heattejo manifestedpātukato thatso veryeva indeednu would itskhvāssa fireaggi having flamesaccimā and indeedceva having colorvaṇṇavā andca radiantpabhassaro andca with thattena andca possiblesakkā with fireagginā what can be done with fireaggikaraṇīyaṁ to dokātuṁ;
whichyo butpana thatso from an outcast familycaṇḍālakulā from a hunter familynesādakulā from a bamboo-worker familyvenakulā from a chariot-maker familyrathakārakulā from a scavenger familypukkusakulā produceduppannehi from a dog's troughsāpānadoṇiyā orvā from a pig's troughsūkaradoṇiyā orvā from a dyer's troughrajakadoṇiyā orvā of castor-oil plant wooderaṇḍakaṭṭhassa orvā the upper fire-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggi producedabhinibbatto heattejo manifestedpātukato would itssvāssa fireaggi notna and indeedceva having flamesaccimā notna andca having colorvaṇṇavā notna andca radiantpabhassaro notna andca with thattena possiblesakkā with fireagginā what can be done with fireaggikaraṇīyaṁ to dokātun”ti?
No“No indeed, thishidaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama.

Would only the fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire, and not the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood?” “No, worthy Gotama.

that tooYopi indeedhi thatso, sirbho Gotamagotama, from a khattiya familykhattiyakulā from a brahmin familybrāhmaṇakulā from a khattiya familyrājaññakulā by one arisenuppannehi of teaksākassa orvā of salsālassa orvā of salaḷasalaḷassa orvā of sandalwoodcandanassa orvā of lotuspadumakassa orvā upper fire-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggi producedabhinibbatto heattejo made manifestpātukato that firesvāssa fireaggi with flamesaccimā andceva with colorvaṇṇavā andca with radiancepabhassaro andca with thattena andca possiblesakkā with fireagginā fire-dutyaggikaraṇīyaṁ to dokātuṁ;
that tooyopi thatso from a caṇḍāla familycaṇḍālakulā from a hunter familynesādakulā from a basket-weaver familyvenakulā from a chariot-maker familyrathakārakulā from a refuse-scavenger familypukkusakulā by one arisenuppannehi from a dog troughsāpānadoṇiyā orvā from a pig troughsūkaradoṇiyā orvā from a washerman's troughrajakadoṇiyā orvā of castor-oil wooderaṇḍakaṭṭhassa orvā upper fire-stickuttarāraṇiṁ having takenādāya fireaggi producedabhinibbatto heattejo made manifestpātukato that firesvāssa fireaggi with flamesaccimā andceva with colorvaṇṇavā andca with radiancepabhassaro andca with thattena andca possiblesakkā with fireagginā fire-dutyaggikaraṇīyaṁ to dokātuṁ.
all tooSabbopi indeedhi, sirbho Gotamagotama, fireaggi with flamesaccimā andceva with colorvaṇṇavā andca with radiancepabhassaro andca with allsabbenapi possiblesakkā with fireagginā fire-dutyaggikaraṇīyaṁ to dokātun”ti.

The fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood would have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire, and so would the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood. For all fire has flames, color, and radiance, and is usable as fire.”

“In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One they refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, and sex. They refrain from using speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re content, kind-hearted, with right view. They succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”

thusEvaṁ when spokenvutte, Esukārīesukārī the brahminbrāhmaṇo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
excellent“abhikkantaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama, excellentabhikkantaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama ellipsis…pe…
as a lay followerupāsakaṁ memaṁ the worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo may he rememberdhāretu from this day forthajjatagge for lifepāṇupetaṁ as refugesaraṇaṁ who has gonegatan”ti.
the Esukārī SuttaEsukārīsuttaṁ is finishedniṭṭhitaṁ the sixthchaṭṭhaṁ.

When he had spoken, Esukārī said to him, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

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