长部第 3 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Ambaṭṭha · 2/4

So the Buddha said to Ambaṭṭha,So the Buddha said to Ambaṭṭha,“Well, Ambaṭṭha, there’s a legitimate question that comes up. You won’t like it, but you ought to answer anyway.“Well, Ambaṭṭha, there’s a legitimate question that comes up. You won’t like it, but you ought to answer anyway.If you fail to answer—by dodging the issue, remaining silent, or leaving—your head will explode into seven pieces right here.If you fail to answer—by dodging the issue, remaining silent, or leaving—your head will explode into seven pieces right here.

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?”According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?”When he said this, Ambaṭṭha kept silent.When he said this, Ambaṭṭha kept silent.

For a second time, the Buddha put the question,For a second time, the Buddha put the question,and for a second time Ambaṭṭha kept silent.and for a second time Ambaṭṭha kept silent.So the Buddha said to him,So the Buddha said to him,

“Answer now, Ambaṭṭha. Now is not the time for silence.“Answer now, Ambaṭṭha. Now is not the time for silence.If someone fails to answer a legitimate question when asked three times by the Buddha, their head explodes into seven pieces there and then.”If someone fails to answer a legitimate question when asked three times by the Buddha, their head explodes into seven pieces there and then.”Now at that time the spirit Vajirapāṇī, holding a massive iron spear, burning, blazing, and glowing, stood in the air above Ambaṭṭha, thinking,Now at that time the spirit Vajirapāṇī, holding a massive iron spear, burning, blazing, and glowing, stood in the air above Ambaṭṭha, thinking,

“If this Ambaṭṭha doesn’t answer when asked a third time, I’ll blow his head into seven pieces there and then!”“If this Ambaṭṭha doesn’t answer when asked a third time, I’ll blow his head into seven pieces there and then!”And both the Buddha and Ambaṭṭha could see Vajirapāṇī.And both the Buddha and Ambaṭṭha could see Vajirapāṇī.Ambaṭṭha was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Looking to the Buddha for shelter, asylum, and refuge, he sat down close by the Buddha and said,Ambaṭṭha was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Looking to the Buddha for shelter, asylum, and refuge, he sat down close by the Buddha and said,

“What did you say?“What did you say?Please repeat the question.”Please repeat the question.”“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?

According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?”According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?”“I have heard, worthy Gotama, that it is just as you say.“I have heard, worthy Gotama, that it is just as you say.That’s the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas,That’s the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas,

and that’s who their founder is.”and that’s who their founder is.”

2.5. The Discussion of Ambaṭṭha’s Heritage2.5. The Discussion of Ambaṭṭha’s Heritage

When he said this, those young students made an uproar,When he said this, those young students made an uproar,“It turns out Ambaṭṭha is ill-born, not a gentleman, son of a Sakyan slavegirl, and that the Sakyans are sons of his masters!“It turns out Ambaṭṭha is ill-born, not a gentleman, son of a Sakyan slavegirl, and that the Sakyans are sons of his masters!And it seems that the ascetic Gotama spoke only the truth, though we presumed to rebuke him!”And it seems that the ascetic Gotama spoke only the truth, though we presumed to rebuke him!”

Then it occurred to the Buddha,Then it occurred to the Buddha,“These young students put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. Why don’t I get him out of this?”“These young students put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. Why don’t I get him out of this?”So the Buddha said to the young students,So the Buddha said to the young students,

“Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl.“Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl.That Black Boy was an eminent seer.That Black Boy was an eminent seer.He went to a southern country and memorized the Divine Spell. Then he approached King Okkāka and asked for the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī.He went to a southern country and memorized the Divine Spell. Then he approached King Okkāka and asked for the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī.

The king said to him,The king said to him,‘Who the hell is this son of a slavegirl to ask for the hand of my daughter!’ Angry and upset he fastened a razor-tipped arrow.‘Who the hell is this son of a slavegirl to ask for the hand of my daughter!’ Angry and upset he fastened a razor-tipped arrow.But he wasn’t able to either shoot it or to relax it.But he wasn’t able to either shoot it or to relax it.

Then the ministers and councillors approached the seer Black Boy and said:Then the ministers and councillors approached the seer Black Boy and said:‘Spare the king, sir,‘Spare the king, sir,spare him!’spare him!’

‘The king will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow downwards, there will be an earthquake across the entire realm.’‘The king will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow downwards, there will be an earthquake across the entire realm.’‘Spare the king, sir, and spare the country!’‘Spare the king, sir, and spare the country!’‘Both king and country will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow upwards, the heavens will not rain in the entire realm for seven years.’‘Both king and country will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow upwards, the heavens will not rain in the entire realm for seven years.’

‘Spare the king, sir, spare the country, and let the heavens rain!’‘Spare the king, sir, spare the country, and let the heavens rain!’‘Both king and country will be safe, and the heavens rain will rain. And if the king shoots the crown prince with an arrow, he will be safe and unruffled.’‘Both king and country will be safe, and the heavens rain will rain. And if the king shoots the crown prince with an arrow, he will be safe and unruffled.’So the ministers said to Okkāka:So the ministers said to Okkāka:

‘Okkāka must shoot the crown prince with an arrow. He will be safe and unruffled.’‘Okkāka must shoot the crown prince with an arrow. He will be safe and unruffled.’So King Okkāka shot the crown prince with an arrow. And he was safe and unruffled.So King Okkāka shot the crown prince with an arrow. And he was safe and unruffled.Then the king was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Scared by the divine punishment, he gave the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī.Then the king was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Scared by the divine punishment, he gave the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī.

Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. That Black Boy was an eminent seer.”Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. That Black Boy was an eminent seer.”

3. The Supremacy of the Aristocrats3. The Supremacy of the Aristocrats

Then the Buddha addressed Ambaṭṭha,Then the Buddha addressed Ambaṭṭha,“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?Suppose an aristocrat boy was to sleep with a brahmin girl, and they had a son.Suppose an aristocrat boy was to sleep with a brahmin girl, and they had a son.

Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”“He would, worthy Gotama.”“He would, worthy Gotama.”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”

“They would.”“They would.”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“They would.”“They would.”

“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“He would not.”“He would not.”“And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?”“And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?”

“No, worthy Gotama.“No, worthy Gotama.Why is that?Why is that?Because his maternity is unsuitable.”Because his maternity is unsuitable.”

“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?Suppose a brahmin boy was to sleep with an aristocrat girl, and they had a son.Suppose a brahmin boy was to sleep with an aristocrat girl, and they had a son.Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”

“He would, worthy Gotama.”“He would, worthy Gotama.”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“They would.”“They would.”

“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“They would.”“They would.”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”

“He would not.”“He would not.”“And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?”“And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?”“No, worthy Gotama.“No, worthy Gotama.

Why is that?Why is that?Because his paternity is unsuitable.”Because his paternity is unsuitable.”“And so, Ambaṭṭha, the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior, whether comparing women with women or men with men.“And so, Ambaṭṭha, the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior, whether comparing women with women or men with men.

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?Suppose the brahmins for some reason were to shave a brahmin’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city.Suppose the brahmins for some reason were to shave a brahmin’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city.Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”

“No, worthy Gotama.”“No, worthy Gotama.”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“No, worthy Gotama.”“No, worthy Gotama.”

“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“No, worthy Gotama.”“No, worthy Gotama.”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”

“He would be.”“He would be.”“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?Suppose the aristocrats for some reason were to shave an aristocrat’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city.Suppose the aristocrats for some reason were to shave an aristocrat’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city.

Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?”“He would, worthy Gotama.”“He would, worthy Gotama.”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”“And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?”

“They would.”“They would.”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?”“They would.”“They would.”

“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“And would he be kept from the women or not?”“He would not.”“He would not.”“At this point, Ambaṭṭha, that aristocrat has reached rock bottom, with head shaven, inflicted with a sack of ashes, and banished from city or nation.“At this point, Ambaṭṭha, that aristocrat has reached rock bottom, with head shaven, inflicted with a sack of ashes, and banished from city or nation.

Yet still the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior.Yet still the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior.The divinity Sanaṅkumāra also spoke this verse:The divinity Sanaṅkumāra also spoke this verse:‘The aristocrat is best among people‘The aristocrat is best among people

who take clan as the standard.who take clan as the standard.But one accomplished in knowledge and conductBut one accomplished in knowledge and conductis first among gods and humans.’is first among gods and humans.’

That verse was well sung by the Divinity Sanaṅkumāra, not poorly sung; well spoken, not poorly spoken, beneficial, not harmful, and it was approved by me.That verse was well sung by the Divinity Sanaṅkumāra, not poorly sung; well spoken, not poorly spoken, beneficial, not harmful, and it was approved by me.For I also say this:For I also say this:The aristocrat is best among peopleThe aristocrat is best among people

who take clan as the standard.who take clan as the standard.But one accomplished in knowledge and conductBut one accomplished in knowledge and conductis first among gods and humans.”is first among gods and humans.”

The first recitation section.The first recitation section.

4. Knowledge and Conduct4. Knowledge and Conduct

“But what, worthy Gotama, is that conduct, and what is that knowledge?”“But what, worthy Gotama, is that conduct, and what is that knowledge?”“Ambaṭṭha, in the supreme knowledge and conduct there is no discussion of genealogy or clan or pride—“Ambaṭṭha, in the supreme knowledge and conduct there is no discussion of genealogy or clan or pride—‘You deserve me’ or ‘You don’t deserve me.’‘You deserve me’ or ‘You don’t deserve me.’

Wherever there is giving and taking in marriage there is such discussion.Wherever there is giving and taking in marriage there is such discussion.Whoever is shackled to questions of genealogy or clan or pride, or to giving and taking in marriage, is far from the supreme knowledge and conduct.Whoever is shackled to questions of genealogy or clan or pride, or to giving and taking in marriage, is far from the supreme knowledge and conduct.The realization of supreme knowledge and conduct occurs when you’ve given up such things.”The realization of supreme knowledge and conduct occurs when you’ve given up such things.”