Other Translations: Deutsch , Srpski
From: , ,
27. VasalasuttaṁThe Discourse on the Outcastes
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—Thus I have heard:I have heard thatSo I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī at Anāthapiṇḍika’s grounds in Jeta’s Wood. on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Then the Fortunate One, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.Then, in the early morning, after adjusting his lower robe and carrying his bowl & outer robe, he entered Sāvatthī for alms.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
Tena kho pana samayena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesane aggi pajjalito hoti āhuti paggahitā. Then at that time in the brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja’s residence the (sacrificial) fire was burning, and the offering had been taken up.Now at that time, in the house of the brahman Aggika Bhāradvāja, a (sacrificial) fire was burning and an offering was lifted up.Now at that time in the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s home the sacred flame had been kindled and the oblation prepared.
Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Then, as the Fortunate One was going from house to house for alms in Sāvatthī, he approached the brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja’s residence.Then the Blessed One, going through Sāvatthī on a methodical almsround,1 approached the house of Aggika Bhāradvāja.Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, the Buddha approached Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s house.
Addasā kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. The brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja saw the Fortunate One coming from afar,Aggika Bhāradvāja saw the Blessed One coming from afarBhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper saw the Buddha coming off in the distance
Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: and having seen him, he said this to the Fortunate One:and, on seeing him, said to him:and said to him,
“tatreva, muṇḍaka; “Right there, shaveling!“Stop right there, you little shaveling!“Stop right there, shaveling!
tatreva, samaṇaka; Right there, little ascetic!Right there, you little contemplative!Right there, fake ascetic!
tatreva, vasalaka, tiṭṭhāhī”ti. Right there, outcaste! Halt!”Right there, you little outcaste!”Right there, lowlife!”
Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā aggikabhāradvājaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca: After this was said, the Fortunate One said this to the brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja:When this was said, the Blessed One said to the brahman Aggika Bhāradvāja,When he said this, the Buddha said to him,
“jānāsi pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti? “But do you know, brahmin, what an outcaste is, or what things make one an outcaste?”“But do you know, brahman, what an outcaste is, or the actions that make one an outcaste?”“But brahmin, do you know what is a lowlife or what are the qualities that make you a lowlife?”
“Na khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, jānāmi vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme; “I certainly do not know, reverend Gotama, what an outcaste is, or what things make one an outcaste.“No, in fact, Master Gotama, I don’t know what an outcaste is, or the actions that make one an outcaste.“No I do not, worthy Gotama.
sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo tathā dhammaṁ desetu, yathāhaṁ jāneyyaṁ vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti. It would be good for me if the reverend Gotama would preach the Dhamma so that I may know what an outcaste is, and what things make one an outcaste.”It would be good if Master Gotama taught me the Dhamma so that I would know what an outcaste is and the actions that make one an outcaste.”Please, worthy Gotama, teach me this matter so I can understand what is a lowlife or what are the qualities that make you a lowlife.”
“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti. “Then listen, brahmin, apply your mind well, and I will speak.”“In that case, brahman, listen and pay close attention. I will speak.”“Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”
“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi. “Yes, reverend,” the brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja replied to the Fortunate One,“As you say, master,” the brahman Aggika Bhāradvāja responded to the Blessed One.“Yes, worthy sir,” Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper replied.
Bhagavā etadavoca: and the Fortunate One said this:The Blessed One said:The Buddha said this:
“Kodhano upanāhī ca, “That man who is angry, who has enmity,“Whatever man is angry, resentful,“Irritable and acrimonious,
pāpamakkhī ca yo naro; is bad, and insolent,evil, merciless,wicked and offensive,
Vipannadiṭṭhi māyāvī, who has wrong views, and is deceitful,deceitful, and defective in his views:a man deficient in view, deceitful:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Ekajaṁ vā dvijaṁ vāpi, Whether once born, or twice born,Once-born or twice-born,2He harms living creatures
yodha pāṇaṁ vihiṁsati; he who is violent to creatures here,whoever here harms a living being,born of womb or of egg,
Yassa pāṇe dayā natthi, who has no sympathy with creatures,who has no sympathy for a living being:and has no kindness for creatures:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo hanti parirundhati, He who beseiges and destroysWhoever destroys or besiegesHe destroys and devastates
gāmāni nigamāni ca; villages and market towns,villages or towns,villages and towns,
Niggāhako samaññāto, who is well known as an oppressor,a notorious oppressor:a notorious oppressor:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Gāme vā yadi vā raññe, ° (He who), whether in the village or the wilderness,Whoever, from village or wilderness,Whether in village or wilderness,
yaṁ paresaṁ mamāyitaṁ; takes by theft what is not given,what others claim as ‘mine’—he steals what belongs to others,
Theyyā adinnamādeti, those things loved by others,takes in a manner of theft:taking what has not been given:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo have iṇamādāya, He who has taken on a debt,Whoever, actually incurring a debt,Having fallen into debt,
cujjamāno palāyati; and when pressed (to pay it) runs away,when pressed to pay, evades,when pressed to pay up he flees, saying
Na hi te iṇamatthīti, saying: “There is no debt due to you,”(saying,) ‘I’m in no debt to you’:‘I don’t owe you anything!’:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo ve kiñcikkhakamyatā, ° He who desiring a trifle,Whoever, desiring whatever-the-thing,Wanting some item or other,
panthasmiṁ vajantaṁ janaṁ; after slaying a person goingstrikes a person going along a road,he attacks a person in the street
Hantvā kiñcikkhamādeti, along the path, takes that trifle,to take whatever-the-thing:and takes it:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Attahetu parahetu, That man who, for his own sake,Whatever man, for his own sake, the sake of another,For his own sake or the sake of another,
dhanahetu ca yo naro; for the sake of others, or for wealth,or the sake of wealth,or for the sake of wealth, a man
Sakkhipuṭṭho musā brūti, when asked to bear witness, speaks falsely,tells a lie when asked to bear witness:tells a lie when asked to bear witness:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo ñātīnaṁ sakhīnaṁ vā, He who is seen (misbehaving)Whoever, with the wives of relatives or friends,He is spied among the partners
dāresu paṭidissati; with the wives of friends or relatives,misbehaves,of relatives and friends,
Sāhasā sampiyena vā, whether forcibly, or with consent,by force or with their consent:by force or seduction:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā, He who, when his mother or father has grown old,Whoever his mother or father,Though able, he does not look after
jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ; with their youth gone,old, their youth over & done,his mother and father
Pahu santo na bharati, though having much, does not support them,though capable, doesn’t support:when elderly, past their prime:
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā, ° He who strikes, or annoys with words,Whoever strikes mother or father,He hits or verbally abuses
Bhātaraṁ bhaginiṁ sasuṁ; his mother or father,sister or brother, or mother-in-law,his mother or father,
Hanti roseti vācāya, brother or sister, or mother-in-law,and reviles them with his speech:brother, sister, or mother-in-law:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo atthaṁ pucchito santo, He who, when he is asked what is good,Whoever, asked about what’s beneficial,When asked about the good,
Anatthamanusāsati; teaches that which is not good,teaches what’s nothe teaches what is bad,
Paṭicchannena manteti, who conceals things when he gives advice,and gives counsel concealing some points:giving secretive advice:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo katvā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ, He who, having done a bad deed,Whoever, doing an evil deed,Having done a bad deed, he wishes,
Mā maṁ jaññāti icchati; longs thus: “May they not know about me,”wishes, ‘May I not be known,’‘May no one find me out!’
Yo paṭicchannakammanto, he who conceals what he is doing,acting in hiding:His deeds are underhand:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo ve parakulaṁ gantvā, He who, having gone to another’s family,Whoever, having gone to another’s house,When visiting another family
Bhutvāna sucibhojanaṁ; and eaten good food,being offered pure food,he eats their delicious food,
Āgataṁ nappaṭipūjeti, does not return the honour when (his benefactor) comes,doesn’t honor (the host) in return when he comes (to one’s house):but does not return the honor:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā, ° He who deceives a brahmin, or an ascetic,A brahman, contemplative,He deceives with lies
Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ; or another mendicantor other mendicant,ascetics and brahmins
Musāvādena vañceti, with words that are false,whoever deceives with a lie:and other supplicants:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā, ° He who annoys with words a brahmin, or an ascetic,Whoever, when a brahman or contemplativeWhen time comes to offer a meal
Bhattakāle upaṭṭhite; when mealtime is at hand,appears at mealtime,to brahmins or ascetics,
Roseti vācā na ca deti, and does not give (him food),reviles him with speech and doesn’t give:3he abuses them and does not give:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Asataṁ yodha pabrūti, He who speaks to those who are bad here,Whoever here speaks what is untrue,He talks about what never happened,
Mohena paliguṇṭhito; being entangled by delusion,wrapped in delusion,being wrapped up in delusion,
Kiñcikkhaṁ nijigīsāno, (because of) coveting a trifle,greedy for whatever-the-thing:chasing after some item or other:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo cattānaṁ samukkaṁse, He who (speaks and) extols himself,Whoever exalts himselfHe extols himself
Pare ca mavajānāti; and yet despises another,and disparages others,4and disparages others,
Nihīno sena mānena, who is debased through his own conceit,debased by his own pride:brought down by his pride:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Rosako kadariyo ca, (He who) is annoying, stingy,Angry, mean,He’s a bully and a miser,
Pāpiccho maccharī saṭho; who has bad longings, is selfish, crafty,evil in his desires, miserly, dishonest,of corrupt wishes, stingy, and devious,
Ahiriko anottappī, unconscientious, and shameless,devoid of shame & compunction:shameless, imprudent:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo buddhaṁ paribhāsati, He who abuses a Buddha,Whoever heaps verbal abuse on an Awakened OneHe insults the Buddha
Atha vā tassa sāvakaṁ; or else one of his disciples,or his disciple,or his disciple,
Paribbājaṁ gahaṭṭhaṁ vā, a wanderer, or a householder,wanderer or householder:whether lay or renunciate:
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti. he one should know as an outcaste.He should be known as ‘outcaste.’know him as a lowlife.
Yo ve anarahaṁ santo, He who, not being a Worthy OneWhoever, though not an arahant,He claims to be a perfected one,
Arahaṁ paṭijānāti; claims that he is a Worthy One,claims to be an arahant:when he really is no such thing.
Coro sabrahmake loke, is a thief in the world with its brahmās,He is the thief in this world with its Brahmās.5In the world with its divinities,
Eso kho vasalādhamo; he is the worst of the outcastes.He is the vilest of outcastes.that crook is truly the lowest lowlife.
Ete kho vasalā vuttā, These, indeed, are said to be outcastes,These are said to be outcastes,These who are called lowlifes
Mayā yete pakāsitā. those whom I have explained to you.as I have proclaimed them to you.I have revealed to you.
Na jaccā vasalo hoti, One is not an outcaste by birth,Not by birth is one an outcaste,You’re not a lowlife by birth,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; by birth one is not a brahmin,not by birth a brahman.nor by birth are you a brahmin.
Kammunā vasalo hoti, by deeds one becomes an outcaste,By action one is an outcaste.You’re a lowlife by your deeds,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo. one becomes a brahmin by deeds.By action is one a brahman.6by deeds you’re a brahmin.
Tadamināpi jānātha, You can know it also by this,Know, too, by this,And also you should know
Yathāmedaṁ nidassanaṁ; as I (give you) this example:as I give an example:according to this example.
Caṇḍālaputto sopāko, Sopaka, an untouchable’s son,Sopāka, the son of an outcaste,A corpse-worker’s son of the dog-eating caste
Mātaṅgo iti vissuto. was renowned as Mātaṅga.was well-known as Mātaṅga:became renowned as Mātaṅga.
So yasaṁ paramaṁ patto, This Mātaṅga attained the highest repute,He attained the highest prestige,Mātaṅga achieved the highest fame
Mātaṅgo yaṁ sudullabhaṁ; which was very hard to obtain,Mātaṅga, hard to gain.so very hard to find.
Āgacchuṁ tassupaṭṭhānaṁ, and many nobles and brahminsThey came into his service,Lots of aristocrats and brahmins
Khattiyā brāhmaṇā bahū. came to attend on him.many noble warriors & brahmans.came to serve him.
Devayānaṁ abhiruyha, He ascended the way going to the gods,Mounting the divine chariot,7He ascended the stainless highway
Virajaṁ so mahāpathaṁ; that dust-free great path,and the great, stainless road,that leads to the heavens;
Kāmarāgaṁ virājetvā, and having put away sensual desire,dispassioned for sensual passion,having discarded sensual desire,
Brahmalokūpago ahu; he went to the brahma worlds.he reached the world of the Brahmās.he was reborn in a realm of divinity.
Na naṁ jāti nivāresi, Birth did not prevent himHis birth didn’t prevent himHis birth did not prevent him
Brahmalokūpapattiyā. from being reborn in the brahma worlds.from reaching the world of the Brahmās.from rebirth in the realm of divinity.
Ajjhāyakakule jātā, Brahmins, though born in a family of scholars,Though born into a family of scholars,Those born in a brahmin family
Brāhmaṇā mantabandhavā; and acquainted with the lore,brahmans, with chants as their kinsmen,who recite as kinsmen of the hymns,
Te ca pāpesu kammesu, are continuously to be seenyet with evil deedsare often discovered
Abhiṇhamupadissare. (doing) deeds that are bad.are repeatedly seen:in the midst of wicked deeds.
Diṭṭheva dhamme gārayhā, Reproachable in this life,blameworthy in the here-&-now,Blameworthy in this very life,
Samparāye ca duggati; in the next life they have an unhappy destiny.with a bad destination in the afterlife.and in lives to come, a bad destination.
Na ne jāti nivāreti, Birth does not prevent reproachTheir birth doesn’t prevent themTheir birth does not prevent them
Duggatyā garahāya vā. or an unhappy destiny.from blame & a bad destination.from blame or bad destiny.
Na jaccā vasalo hoti, One is not an outcaste by birth,Not by birth is one an outcaste,You’re not a lowlife by birth,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; by birth one is not a brahmin,not by birth a brahman.nor by birth are you a brahmin.
Kammunā vasalo hoti, by deeds one becomes an outcaste,By action one is an outcaste.You’re a lowlife by your deeds,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo”ti. one becomes a brahmin by deeds.”By action is one a brahman.”by deeds you’re a brahmin.”
Evaṁ vutte, aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: After this was said, the brahmin Aggikabhāradvāja said this to the Fortunate One:When this was said, the brahman Aggika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One:When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper said to the Buddha,
“Abhikkantaṁ bho Gotama! Abhikkantaṁ bho Gotama!“Excellent, reverend Gotama! Excellent, reverend Gotama!
Seyyathā pi bho Gotama nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya,Just as, reverend Gotama, one might set upright what has been overturned,
paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya,or open up what has been closed, or show a path to one who is lost,
andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhintī ti,or bear an oil lamp in the darkness so that one who has eyes can see forms,
evam-evaṁ bhotā Gotamena anekapariyāyena Dhammo pakāsito.just so has the Dhamma been made clear by reverend Gotama in more than one way.
Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ Gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi,I go to the reverend Gotama for refuge,
Dhammañ-ca bhikkhusaṅghañ-ca.and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of monks.
upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti. Please bear it in mind, reverend Gotama, that I am a lay disciple who has gone for refuge from today forward for as long as I have the breath of life.”I go to Master Gotama for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the Saṅgha of monks. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forward, for life.”From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”