中部第 93 经（Sujato 英译）第 2 阅读页 · With Assalāyana · 2/2

“Firstly you relied on birth, Assalāyana,“Firstly you relied on birth, Assalāyana,then you switched to education,then you switched to education,then you switched to abstemious behavior.then you switched to abstemious behavior.

Now you’ve come around to believing in purification for the four classes, just as I advocate.”Now you’ve come around to believing in purification for the four classes, just as I advocate.”When he said this, Assalāyana sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.When he said this, Assalāyana sat silent, dismayed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.Knowing this, the Buddha said to him:Knowing this, the Buddha said to him:

“Once upon a time, Assalāyana, seven brahmin seers settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region. They had the following harmful misconception:“Once upon a time, Assalāyana, seven brahmin seers settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region. They had the following harmful misconception:‘Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior.‘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 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.’Only brahmins are the Divinity’s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.’The seer Devala the Dark heard about this.The seer Devala the Dark heard about this.So he did up his hair and beard, dressed in magenta robes, put on his lined sandals, grasped a golden staff, and appeared in the courtyard of the seven brahmin seers.So he did up his hair and beard, dressed in magenta robes, put on his lined sandals, grasped a golden staff, and appeared in the courtyard of the seven brahmin seers.

Then he wandered about the yard saying,Then he wandered about the yard saying,‘Where, oh where have those brahmin seers gone?‘Where, oh where have those brahmin seers gone?Where, oh where have those brahmin seers gone?’Where, oh where have those brahmin seers gone?’

Then those brahmin seers said,Then those brahmin seers said,‘Who’s this wandering about our courtyard like a village lout?‘Who’s this wandering about our courtyard like a village lout?Let’s curse him!’Let’s curse him!’

So they cursed Devala the Dark,So they cursed Devala the Dark,‘Be ashes, lowlife!‘Be ashes, lowlife!Be ashes, lowlife!’Be ashes, lowlife!’

But the more the seers cursed him, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely Devala the Dark became.But the more the seers cursed him, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely Devala the Dark became.Then those brahmin seers said,Then those brahmin seers said,‘Our fervor is in vain! Our spiritual path is fruitless!‘Our fervor is in vain! Our spiritual path is fruitless!

For when we used to curse someoneFor when we used to curse someoneto become ashes,to become ashes,ashes they became.ashes they became.

But the more we curse this one, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely he becomes.’But the more we curse this one, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely he becomes.’‘Worthy sirs, your fervor is not in vain; your spiritual path is not fruitless.‘Worthy sirs, your fervor is not in vain; your spiritual path is not fruitless.Please let go of your malevolence toward me.’Please let go of your malevolence toward me.’

‘We let go of our malevolence toward you.‘We let go of our malevolence toward you.But who are you, worthy sir?’But who are you, worthy sir?’‘Have you heard of‘Have you heard of

the seer Devala the Dark?’the seer Devala the Dark?’‘Yes, worthy sir.’‘Yes, worthy sir.’‘I am he, worthy sir.’‘I am he, worthy sir.’

Then they approached Devala and bowed to him.Then they approached Devala and bowed to him.Devala said to them,Devala said to them,‘I heard that when the seven brahmin seers had settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region, they had the following harmful misconception:‘I heard that when the seven brahmin seers had settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region, they had the following harmful misconception:

“Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior.“Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior.Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark.Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark.Only brahmins are purified, not others.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.”’Only brahmins are the Divinity’s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.”’‘That’s right, worthy sir.’‘That’s right, worthy sir.’‘But do you know‘But do you know

whether your birth mother only had relations with a brahmin and not with a non-brahmin?’whether your birth mother only had relations with a brahmin and not with a non-brahmin?’‘We don’t know that.’‘We don’t know that.’‘But do you know‘But do you know

whether your birth mother’s mothers back to the seventh generation only had relations with brahmins and not with non-brahmins?’whether your birth mother’s mothers back to the seventh generation only had relations with brahmins and not with non-brahmins?’‘We don’t know that.’‘We don’t know that.’‘But do you know‘But do you know

whether your birth father only had relations with a brahmin woman and not with a non-brahmin?’whether your birth father only had relations with a brahmin woman and not with a non-brahmin?’‘We don’t know that.’‘We don’t know that.’‘But do you know‘But do you know

whether your birth father’s fathers back to the seventh generation only had relations with brahmins and not with non-brahmins?’whether your birth father’s fathers back to the seventh generation only had relations with brahmins and not with non-brahmins?’‘We don’t know that.’‘We don’t know that.’‘But do you know‘But do you know

how an embryo is conceived?’how an embryo is conceived?’‘We do know that, worthy sir.‘We do know that, worthy sir.An embryo is conceived when these three things come together—the mother and father come together, the mother is in the fertile phase of her menstrual cycle, and the virile spirit is ready.’An embryo is conceived when these three things come together—the mother and father come together, the mother is in the fertile phase of her menstrual cycle, and the virile spirit is ready.’

‘But do you know‘But do you knowfor sure whether that virile spirit is an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’for sure whether that virile spirit is an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’‘We don’t know that.’‘We don’t know that.’

‘In that case, worthy sir, don’t you know‘In that case, worthy sir, don’t you knowwhat you are?’what you are?’‘In that case, worthy sir, we don’t know‘In that case, worthy sir, we don’t know

what we are.’what we are.’Given that even those seven brahmin seers could not prevail when pursued, pressed, and grilled by the seer Devala on their own genealogy,Given that even those seven brahmin seers could not prevail when pursued, pressed, and grilled by the seer Devala on their own genealogy,how could you prevail now being grilled by me on your own genealogy when you and your denomination do not so much as pick up the last spoonful?”how could you prevail now being grilled by me on your own genealogy when you and your denomination do not so much as pick up the last spoonful?”

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