Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.1.7 Jāṇussoṇibrāhmaṇasuttaṃ

Sāvatthinidānaṃ. Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho āyasmā ānando jāṇussoṇiṃ brāhmaṇaṃ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṃ. Setā sudaṃ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi. Setaṃ chattaṃ, setaṃ uṇhīsaṃ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṃ vālabījaniyā bījīyati. Tamenaṃ jano disvā evamāha – ‘‘brahmaṃ vata, bho, yānaṃ! Brahmayānarūpaṃ vata, bho’’ti!!

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṃ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṃ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

‘‘Idhāhaṃ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya pāvisiṃ. Addasaṃ khvāhaṃ, bhante, jāṇussoṇiṃ brāhmaṇaṃ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṃ. Setā sudaṃ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi. Setaṃ chattaṃ, setaṃ uṇhīsaṃ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṃ vālabījaniyā bījīyati. Tamenaṃ jano disvā evamāha: ‘brahmaṃ vata, bho, yānaṃ! Brahmayānarūpaṃ vata, bho’ti!! Sakkā nu kho, bhante, imasmiṃ dhammavinaye brahmayānaṃ paññāpetu’’nti?

‘‘Sakkā, ānandā’’ti bhagavā avoca: ‘‘Imasseva kho etaṃ, ānanda, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṃ – ‘brahmayānaṃ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṃ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī’’ti.

‘‘Sammādiṭṭhi, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosavinayapariyosānā hoti, mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsaṅkappo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosavinayapariyosāno hoti, mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvācā, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa…pe… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammākammanto, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāājīvo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvāyāmo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāsati, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsamādhi, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

‘‘Iminā kho etaṃ, ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṃ yathā imassevetaṃ ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṃ – ‘brahmayānaṃ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṃ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī’’ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṃ vatvāna sugato athāparaṃ etadavoca satthā:

‘‘Yassa saddhā ca paññā ca, dhammā yuttā sadā dhuraṃ;

Hirī īsā mano yottaṃ, sati ārakkhasārathi.

Ratho sīlaparikkhāro, jhānakkho cakkavīriyo;

Upekkhā dhurasamādhi, anicchā parivāraṇaṃ.

Abyāpādo avihiṃsā, viveko yassa āvudhaṃ;

Titikkhā cammasannāho,¹ yogakkhemāya vattati.

Etadattani sambhūtaṃ, brahmayānaṃ anuttaraṃ;

Niyyanti dhīrā lokamhā, aññadatthu jayaṃ jaya’’nti.

Vocabulary

1. adhivacanaṃ - designation, name, appellation
2. aññadatthu – (adv.) certainly, truly
3. anicchā - [an + icchā ] not + desire, lust, covetousness
4. ārakkhasārathi - ārakkha + sārathi] guard + driver
5. āvudha - weapon
6. bījīyati – (pass.) being fanned
7. brahmayānarūpaṃ - [brahma + yāna + rūpaṃ] divine, brahmin-like + vehicle + form, body
8. cammasannāho - [camma + sannāho] leather, shield + fastening, armour
9. chattaṃ - parasol or umbrella, royal parasol
10. dhuraṃ - yoke, charge, trust
11. dosavinayapariyosānā - [dosa + vinaya + pariyosānā] ill will + driving away + termination
12. mohavinayapariyosāno - [moha + vinaya + pariyosāno] illusion + driving away + termination
13. paññāpetuṃ - paññāpeti (inf.) declare, proclaim, appoint
14. parikkhāro - decoration, furnishing, utensil,
15. parivāraṇa - surrounding, retinue
16. patodalaṭṭhi - [patoda + laṭṭhi] prick, driving stick, goad stick
17. rāgavinayapariyosānā - [rāga + vinaya + pariyosānā] greed + driving away + termination
18. sabbasetena - [sabba + seto] all + white
19. saṅgāmavijayo - [saṅgāmo + vijayo ] battle + triumph, victory
20. setaparivāro - [seta + parivāro] white + retinue, following
21. titikkhā - patience, endurance, forbearance
22. uṇhīsaṃ - diadem, crown; a turban
23. upāhanā - shoes, sandals
24. vālabījaniyā vālabījaniyā - a chowrie, fan made of a yak's tail
25. vaḷavābhirathena - [vaḷavā + abhi + rathena] mare + excellent + by chariot
26. yottaṃ - tie of the yoke