经集（Sujato 英译）第 22 阅读页 · SNP2.7 · Brahmanical Principles · 1/2

Anthology of Discourses 2.7Anthology of Discourses 2.7Brahmanical PrinciplesBrahmanical Principles

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha 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.Then several old and well-to-do brahmins of Kosala—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.Then several old and well-to-do brahmins of Kosala—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:“Worthy Gotama, are the ancient principles of the brahmins exhibited these days among brahmins?”“Worthy Gotama, are the ancient principles of the brahmins exhibited these days among brahmins?”“No, brahmins, they are not.”“No, brahmins, they are not.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, Worthy Gotama, please teach us the ancient principles of the brahmins.”“If you wouldn’t mind, Worthy Gotama, please teach us the ancient principles of the brahmins.”“Well then, brahmins, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Well then, brahmins, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied.“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:“The ancient seers used to be“The ancient seers used to berestrained and austere.restrained and austere.

Having given up the five sensual stimuli,Having given up the five sensual stimuli,they lived for their own true good.they lived for their own true good.Brahmins used to own no cattle,Brahmins used to own no cattle,

nor gold coin or grain.nor gold coin or grain.Chanting was their money and grain,Chanting was their money and grain,which they guarded as a gift from god.which they guarded as a gift from god.

Food was prepared for themFood was prepared for themand left beside their doors.and left beside their doors.People believed that food prepared in faithPeople believed that food prepared in faith

should be given to them.should be given to them.With colorful clothes,With colorful clothes,lodgings and houses,lodgings and houses,

prosperous nations and countriesprosperous nations and countrieshonored those brahmins.honored those brahmins.Brahmins used to be inviolable andBrahmins used to be inviolable and

invincible, protected by principle.invincible, protected by principle.No one ever turned them awayNo one ever turned them awayfrom the doors of families.from the doors of families.

For forty-eight yearsFor forty-eight yearsthey led the spiritual life.they led the spiritual life.The brahmins of old pursuedThe brahmins of old pursued

their quest for knowledge and conduct.their quest for knowledge and conduct.Brahmins never transgressed with another,Brahmins never transgressed with another,nor did they purchase a wife.nor did they purchase a wife.

They lived together in love,They lived together in love,joining together by mutual consent.joining together by mutual consent.Brahmins never approached their wives for sexBrahmins never approached their wives for sex

during the time outsideduring the time outsidethe fertile phase of the menstrual cyclethe fertile phase of the menstrual cycleafter menstruation.after menstruation.

They praised chastity and morality,They praised chastity and morality,integrity, tenderness, and fervor,integrity, tenderness, and fervor,gentleness and harmlessness,gentleness and harmlessness,

and also patience.and also patience.He who was supreme among them,He who was supreme among them,godlike, staunchly vigorous,godlike, staunchly vigorous,

did not engage in sexdid not engage in sexeven in a dream.even in a dream.Training in line with their duties,Training in line with their duties,

many smart people heremany smart people herepraised chastity and morality,praised chastity and morality,and also patience.and also patience.

They begged for rice,They begged for rice,bedding, clothes, ghee, and oil.bedding, clothes, ghee, and oil.Having collected them legitimately,Having collected them legitimately,

they arranged a sacrifice.they arranged a sacrifice.But they slew no cowsBut they slew no cowswhile serving at the sacrifice.while serving at the sacrifice.

Like a mother, father, or brother,Like a mother, father, or brother,or some other relative,or some other relative,cows are our best friends,cows are our best friends,

the fonts of medicine.the fonts of medicine.They give food and strength,They give food and strength,and beauty and happiness.and beauty and happiness.

Knowing these benefits,Knowing these benefits,they slew no cows.they slew no cows.The brahmins were delicate and tall,The brahmins were delicate and tall,

beautiful and glorious.beautiful and glorious.They were keen on all the dutiesThey were keen on all the dutiesaccording to their teachings.according to their teachings.

So long as they continued in the world,So long as they continued in the world,people flourished happily.people flourished happily.But perversion crept into themBut perversion crept into them

little by little when they sawlittle by little when they sawthe transformation of the kingthe transformation of the kingand the ladies in all their finery.and the ladies in all their finery.

Their chariots were harnessed with thoroughbreds,Their chariots were harnessed with thoroughbreds,well-made with bright canopies,well-made with bright canopies,and their homes and housesand their homes and houses

were neatly divided section by section.were neatly divided section by section.They were lavished with herds of cattle,They were lavished with herds of cattle,and furnished with bevies of lovely ladies.and furnished with bevies of lovely ladies.

This extravagant human wealthThis extravagant human wealthwas coveted by the brahmins.was coveted by the brahmins.They compiled hymns to that end,They compiled hymns to that end,

approached King Okkāka and said,approached King Okkāka and said,‘You have plenty of money and grain.‘You have plenty of money and grain.Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.

Sacrifice! For you have much money.’Sacrifice! For you have much money.’Persuaded by the brahmins,Persuaded by the brahmins,the king, chief of charioteers, performedthe king, chief of charioteers, performed

horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,the sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’.the sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’.When he had carried out these sacrifices,When he had carried out these sacrifices,

he gave riches to the brahmins.he gave riches to the brahmins.There were cattle, bedding, and clothes,There were cattle, bedding, and clothes,and ladies in all their finery;and ladies in all their finery;

chariots harnessed with thoroughbreds,chariots harnessed with thoroughbreds,well-made with bright canopies;well-made with bright canopies;and lovely homes,and lovely homes,

nicely divided section by section.nicely divided section by section.Having furnished them with different grains,Having furnished them with different grains,he gave riches to the brahmins.he gave riches to the brahmins.

When they got hold of that wealth,When they got hold of that wealth,they arranged to store it up.they arranged to store it up.Falling under the sway of desire,Falling under the sway of desire,

their craving grew and grew.their craving grew and grew.They compiled hymns to that end,They compiled hymns to that end,approached King Okkāka once more and said,approached King Okkāka once more and said,

‘Like water and earth,‘Like water and earth,gold coin, riches, and grain,gold coin, riches, and grain,are cows for humankind,are cows for humankind,

as they are essential for creatures.as they are essential for creatures.Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.Sacrifice! For you have much money.’Sacrifice! For you have much money.’

Persuaded by the brahmins,Persuaded by the brahmins,