MN84: Madhurasutta - At Madhurā
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the venerable Mahā Kaccāna was living at Madhurā in the Gundā Grove.[n.814] Ven. Mahā Kaccāna was declared by the Buddha to be the most eminent disciple in expounding the detailed meaning of a brief saying. MN 133 and MN 138 were also spoken by him under similar circumstances.
King Avantiputta of Madhurā heard: "The recluse Kaccāna is living at Madhurā in the Gundā Grove. Now a good report of Master Kaccāna has been spread to this effect: ‘He is wise, discerning, sagacious, learned, articulate, and perspicacious; he is aged and he is an arahant. It is good to see such arahants.’"
Then King Avantiputta of Madhurā had a number of state carriages made ready, and mounting a state carriage, he drove out from Madhurā with the full pomp of royalty in order to see the venerable Mahā Kaccāna. He went thus as far as the road was passable for carriages, and then he got down from his carriage and went forward on foot to the venerable Mahā Kaccāna. He exchanged greetings with him, and when this courteous and amiable talk was finished, he sat down at one side and said:
"Master Kaccāna, the brahmins say thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste, those of any other caste are inferior; brahmins are the fairest caste, those of any other caste are dark; only brahmins are purified, not non-brahmins; brahmins alone are the sons of Brahmā, the offspring of Brahmā, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā.’ What does Master Kaccāna say about that?"
"It is just a saying in the world, great king, that ‘Brahmins are the highest caste … heirs of Brahmā.’ And there is a way whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world.
2"What do you think, great king? If a noble prospers in wealth, grain, silver, or gold, will there be nobles who rise before him and retire after him, who are eager to serve him, who seek to please him and speak sweetly to him, and will there also be brahmins, merchants, and workers who do likewise?"
"There will be, Master Kaccāna."
3"What do you think, great king? If a brahmin prospers in wealth, grain, silver, or gold, will there be brahmins who rise before him and retire after him, who are eager to serve him, who seek to please him and speak sweetly to him, and will there also be merchants, workers, and nobles who do likewise?"
"There will be, Master Kaccāna."
4"What do you think, great king? If a merchant prospers in wealth, grain, silver, or gold, will there be merchants who rise before him and retire after him, who are eager to serve him, who seek to please him and speak sweetly to him, and will there also be workers, nobles, and brahmins who do likewise?"
"There will be, Master Kaccāna."
5"What do you think, great king? If a worker prospers in wealth, grain, silver, or gold, will there be workers who rise before him and retire after him, who are eager to serve him, who seek to please him and speak sweetly to him, and will there also be nobles, brahmins, and merchants who do likewise?"[n.815] From this passage it seems that despite a tendency to rigidification, the Indian class system was at the time considerably more elastic than the later caste system that evolved from it.
"There will be, Master Kaccāna."
6"What do you think, great king? If that is so, then are these four castes all the same, or are they not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"Surely if that is so, Master Kaccāna, then these four castes are all the same: there is no difference between them at all that I see."
"That is a way, great king, whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world.
7"What do you think, great king? Suppose a noble were to kill living beings, take what is not given, misconduct himself in sensual pleasures, speak falsely, speak maliciously, speak harshly, gossip, be covetous, have a mind of ill will, and hold wrong view. On the dissolution of the body, after death, would he be likely to reappear in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell, or not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"If a noble were such, Master Kaccāna, he would be likely to reappear in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell. That is how it appears to me in this case, and thus I have heard from the arahants."
8"Good, good, great king! What you think is good, great king, and what you have heard from the arahants is good. What do you think, great king? Suppose a brahmin … a merchant … a worker were to kill living beings … and hold wrong view. On the dissolution of the body, after death, would he be likely to reappear in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell, or not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"If a brahmin … a merchant … a worker were such, Master Kaccāna, he would be likely to reappear in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell. That is how it appears to me in this case, and thus I have heard from the arahants."
9"Good, good, great king! What you think is good, great king, and what you have heard from the arahants is good. What do you think, great king? If that is so, then are these four castes all the same, or are they not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"Surely if that is so, Master Kaccāna, then these four castes are all the same: there is no difference between them at all that I see."
"That is also a way, great king, whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world.
10"What do you think, great king? Suppose a noble were to abstain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, from misconduct in sensual pleasures, from false speech, from malicious speech, from harsh speech, and from gossip, and were to be uncovetous, to have a mind without ill will, and to hold right view. On the dissolution of the body,ill after death, would he be likely to reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world, or not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"If a noble were such, Master Kaccāna, he would be likely to reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world. That is how it appears to me in this case, and thus I have heard from the arahants."
11"Good, good, great king! What you think is good, great king, and what you have heard from the arahants is good. What do you think, great king? Suppose a brahmin … a merchant … a worker were to abstain from killing living beings … and to hold right view. On the dissolution of the body, after death, would he be likely to reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world, or not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"If a brahmin … a merchant … a worker were such, Master Kaccāna, he would be likely to reappear in a happy destination, even in the heavenly world. That is how it appears to me in this case, and thus I have heard from the arahants."
12"Good, good, great king! What you think is good, great king, and what you have heard from the arahants is good. What do you think, great king? If that is so, then are these four castes all the same, or are they not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"Surely if that is so, Master Kaccāna, then these four castes are all the same: there is no difference between them at all that I see."
"That is also a way, great king, whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world.
13"What do you think, great king? Suppose a noble were to break into houses, plunder wealth, commit banditry, ambush highways, or seduce another's wife, and if your men arrested him and produced him, saying: ‘Sire, this is the culprit; command what punishment for him you wish,’ how would you treat him?"
"We would have him executed, Master Kaccāna, or we would have him fined, or we would have him exiled, or we would do with him as he deserved. Why is that? Because he has lost his former status of a noble, and is simply reckoned as a robber."
14"What do you think, great king? Suppose a brahmin … a merchant … a worker were to break into houses … or seduce another's wife, and if your men arrested him and produced him, saying: ‘Sire, this is the culprit; command what punishment for him you wish,’ how would you treat him?"
"We would have him executed, Master Kaccāna, or we would have him fined, or we would have him exiled, or we would do with him as he deserved. Why is that? Because he has lost his former status of a brahmin … a merchant … a worker, and is simply reckoned as a robber."
15"What do you think, great king? If that is so, then are these four castes all the same, or are they not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"Surely if that is so, Master Kaccāna, then these four castes are all the same; there is no difference between them at all that I see."
"That is also a way, great king, whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world.
16"What do you think, great king? Suppose a noble, having shaved off his hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and gone forth from the home life into homelessness, were to abstain from killing living beings, from taking what is not given, and from false speech. Refraining from eating at night, he would eat only in one part of the day, and would be celibate, virtuous, of good character. How would you treat him?"
"We would pay homage to him, Master Kaccāna, or we would rise up for him, or invite him to be seated; or we would invite him to accept robes, almsfood, resting place, and medicinal requisites; or we would arrange for him lawful guarding, defence, and protection. Why is that? Because he has lost his former status of a noble, and is simply reckoned as a recluse."
17"What do you think, great king? Suppose a brahmin … a merchant … a worker, having shaved off his hair and beard … and would be celibate, virtuous, of good character. How would you treat him?"
"We would pay homage to him, Master Kaccāna, or rise up for him, or invite him to be seated; or we would invite him to accept robes, almsfood, resting place, and medicinal requisites; or we would arrange for him lawful guarding, defence, and protection. Why is that? Because he has lost his former status of a brahmin … a merchant … a worker, and is simply reckoned as a recluse."
18"What do you think, great king? If that is so, then are these four castes all the same, or are they not, or how does it appear to you in this case?"
"Surely if that is so, Master Kaccāna, then these four castes are all the same; there is no difference between them at all that I see."
"That is also a way, great king, whereby it can be understood how that statement of the brahmins is just a saying in the world."
19When this was said, King Avantiputta of Madhurā said to the venerable Mahā Kaccāna: "Magnificent, Master Kaccāna! Magnificent, Master Kaccāna! Master Kaccāna has made the Dhamma clear in many ways, as though he were turning upright what had been overthrown, revealing what was hidden, showing the way to one who is lost, or holding up a lamp in the dark for those with eyesight to see forms. I go to Master Kaccāna for refuge and to the Dhamma and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. From today let Master Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone to him for refuge for life."
"Do not go to me for refuge, great king. Go for refuge to that same Blessed One to whom I have gone for refuge."
"Where is he living now, Master Kaccāna, that Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened?"
"That Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened, has attained to final Nibbāna, great king."
"If we heard that that Blessed One was within ten leagues, we would go ten leagues in order to see that Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened. If we heard that that Blessed One was within twenty leagues … thirty leagues … forty leagues … fifty leagues … a hundred leagues, we would go a hundred leagues in order to see that Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened. But since that Blessed One has attained to final Nibbāna, we go to that Blessed One for refuge and to the Dhamma and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. From today let Master Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life."
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā mahākaccāno madhurāyaṁ viharati gundāvane.
Assosi kho rājā mādhuro avantiputto: "Samaṇo khalu, bho, kaccāno madhurāyaṁ viharati gundāvane. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ kaccānaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī bahussuto cittakathī kalyāṇapaṭibhāno vuddho ceva arahā ca’. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī"ti.
Atha kho rājā mādhuro avantiputto bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi madhurāya niyyāsi mahaccarājānubhāvena āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ dassanāya. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā mādhuro avantiputto āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca:
"brāhmaṇā, bho kaccāna, evamāhaṁsu: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇova sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇho añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇāva sujjhanti, no abrāhmaṇā; brāhmaṇāva brahmuno puttā orasā mukhato jātā brahmajā brahmanimmitā brahmadāyādā’ti. Idha bhavaṁ kaccāno kimakkhāyī"ti? "Ghosoyeva kho eso, mahārāja, lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇova sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇho añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇāva sujjhanti, no abrāhmaṇā; brāhmaṇāva brahmuno puttā orasā mukhato jātā brahmajā brahmanimmitā brahmadāyādā’ti.
Tadamināpetaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo … pe … brahmadāyādā’ti.
2Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, khattiyassa cepi ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā khattiyopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … brāhmaṇopissāssa … vessopissāssa … suddopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti?
"Khattiyassa cepi, bho kaccāna, ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā khattiyopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … brāhmaṇopissāssa … vessopissāssa … suddopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti.
3"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, brāhmaṇassa cepi ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā brāhmaṇopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … vessopissāssa … suddopissāssa … khattiyopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti?
"Brāhmaṇassa cepi, bho kaccāna, ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā brāhmaṇopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … vessopissāssa … suddopissāssa … khattiyopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti.
4"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vessassa cepi ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā vessopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … suddopissāssa … khattiyopissāssa … brāhmaṇopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti?
"Vessassa cepi, bho kaccāna, ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā vessopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … suddopissāssa … khattiyopissāssa … brāhmaṇopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti.
5"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, suddassa cepi ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā suddopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī … khattiyopissāssa … brāhmaṇopissāssa … vessopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti?
"Suddassa cepi, bho kaccāna, ijjheyya dhanena vā dhaññena vā rajatena vā jātarūpena vā suddopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādīti … khattiyopissāssa … brāhmaṇopissāssa … vessopissāssa pubbuṭṭhāyī pacchānipātī kiṅkārapaṭissāvī manāpacārī piyavādī"ti.
6"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yadi evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Addhā kho, bho kaccāna, evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti. Nesaṁ ettha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Imināpi kho etaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo … pe … brahmadāyādā’ti.
7Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idhassa khattiyo pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī pisuṇavāco pharusavāco samphappalāpī abhijjhālu byāpannacitto micchādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyya no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Khattiyopi hi, bho kaccāna, pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī kāmesumicchācārī musāvādī pisuṇavāco pharusavāco samphappalāpī abhijjhālu byāpannacitto micchādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyya. Evaṁ me ettha hoti, evañca pana me etaṁ arahataṁ sutan"ti.
8"Sādhu sādhu, mahārāja. Sādhu kho te etaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ hoti, sādhu ca pana te etaṁ arahataṁ sutaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idhassa brāhmaṇo … pe … idhassa vesso … pe … idhassa suddo pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī … pe … micchādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyya no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Suddopi hi, bho kaccāna, pāṇātipātī adinnādāyī … pe … micchādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyya. Evaṁ me ettha hoti, evañca pana me etaṁ arahataṁ sutan"ti.
9"Sādhu sādhu, mahārāja. Sādhu kho te etaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ hoti, sādhu ca pana te etaṁ arahataṁ sutaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yadi evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Addhā kho, bho kaccāna, evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti. Nesaṁ ettha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Imināpi kho etaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo … pe … brahmadāyādā’"ti.
10"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idhassa khattiyo pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato, samphappalāpā paṭivirato, anabhijjhālu abyāpannacitto sammādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Khattiyopi hi, bho kaccāna, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato, samphappalāpā paṭivirato, anabhijjhālu abyāpannacitto sammādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya. Evaṁ me ettha hoti, evañca pana me etaṁ arahataṁ sutan"ti.
11"Sādhu sādhu, mahārāja. Sādhu kho te etaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ hoti, sādhu ca pana te etaṁ arahataṁ sutaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idhassa brāhmaṇo, idhassa vesso, idhassa suddo pāṇātipātā paṭivirato adinnādānā paṭivirato … pe … sammādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Suddopi hi, bho kaccāna, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato … pe … sammādiṭṭhi kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya. Evaṁ me ettha hoti, evañca pana me etaṁ arahataṁ sutan"ti.
12"Sādhu sādhu, mahārāja. Sādhu kho te etaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ hoti, sādhu ca pana te etaṁ arahataṁ sutaṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yadi evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Addhā kho, bho kaccāna, evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti. Nesaṁ ettha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Imināpi kho etaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo … pe … brahmadāyādā’"ti.
13"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idha khattiyo sandhiṁ vā chindeyya, nillopaṁ vā hareyya, ekāgārikaṁ vā kareyya, paripanthe vā tiṭṭheyya, paradāraṁ vā gaccheyya, tañce te purisā gahetvā dasseyyuṁ: ‘Ayaṁ te, deva, coro āgucārī. Imassa yaṁ icchasi taṁ daṇḍaṁ paṇehī’ti. Kinti naṁ kareyyāsī"ti?
"Ghāteyyāma vā, bho kaccāna, jāpeyyāma vā pabbājeyyāma vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā kareyyāma. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yā hissa, bho kaccāna, pubbe ‘khattiyo’ti samaññā sāssa antarahitā; corotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī"ti.
14"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idha brāhmaṇo, idha vesso, idha suddo sandhiṁ vā chindeyya, nillopaṁ vā hareyya, ekāgārikaṁ vā kareyya, paripanthe vā tiṭṭheyya, paradāraṁ vā gaccheyya, tañce te purisā gahetvā dasseyyuṁ: ‘Ayaṁ te, deva, coro āgucārī. Imassa yaṁ icchasi taṁ daṇḍaṁ paṇehī’ti. Kinti naṁ kareyyāsī"ti?
"Ghāteyyāma vā, bho kaccāna, jāpeyyāma vā pabbājeyyāma vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā kareyyāma. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yā hissa, bho kaccāna, pubbe ‘suddo’ti samaññā sāssa antarahitā; corotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī"ti.
15"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yadi evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Addhā kho, bho kaccāna, evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti. Nesaṁ ettha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Imināpi kho etaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo … pe … brahmadāyādā’"ti.
16"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idha khattiyo kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito assa virato pāṇātipātā, virato adinnādānā, virato musāvādā, rattūparato, ekabhattiko, brahmacārī, sīlavā, kalyāṇadhammo. Kinti naṁ kareyyāsī"ti?
"Abhivādeyyāma vā, bho kaccāna, paccuṭṭheyyāma vā āsanena vā nimanteyyāma abhinimanteyyāma vā naṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārehi dhammikaṁ vā assa rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṁ saṁvidaheyyāma. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yā hissa, bho kaccāna, pubbe ‘khattiyo’ti samaññā sāssa antarahitā; samaṇotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī"ti.
17"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, idha brāhmaṇo, idha vesso, idha suddo kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito assa virato pāṇātipātā, virato adinnādānā virato musāvādā, rattūparato, ekabhattiko, brahmacārī, sīlavā, kalyāṇadhammo. Kinti naṁ kareyyāsī"ti?
"Abhivādeyyāma vā, bho kaccāna, paccuṭṭheyyāma vā āsanena vā nimanteyyāma abhinimanteyyāma vā naṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārehi dhammikaṁ vā assa rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṁ saṁvidaheyyāma. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yā hissa, bho kaccāna, pubbe ‘suddo’ti samaññā sāssa antarahitā; samaṇotveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchatī"ti.
18"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, yadi evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī"ti?
"Addhā kho, bho kaccāna, evaṁ sante, ime cattāro vaṇṇā samasamā honti. Nesaṁ ettha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Imināpi kho etaṁ, mahārāja, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ghosoyeveso lokasmiṁ: ‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīno añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇova sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇho añño vaṇṇo; brāhmaṇāva sujjhanti, no abrāhmaṇā; brāhmaṇāva brahmuno puttā orasā mukhato jātā brahmajā brahmanimmitā brahmadāyādā’"ti.
19Evaṁ vutte, rājā mādhuro avantiputto āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho kaccāna, abhikkantaṁ, bho kaccāna. Seyyathāpi, bho kaccāna, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā kaccānena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ kaccānaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ kaccāno dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.
"Mā kho maṁ tvaṁ, mahārāja, saraṇaṁ agamāsi. Tameva tvaṁ bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gaccha yamahaṁ saraṇaṁ gato"ti.
"Kahaṁ pana, bho kaccāna, etarahi so bhagavā viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho"ti?
"Parinibbuto kho, mahārāja, etarahi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho"ti.
"Sacepi mayaṁ, bho kaccāna, suṇeyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ dasasu yojanesu, dasapi mayaṁ yojanāni gaccheyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ. Sacepi mayaṁ, bho kaccāna, suṇeyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ vīsatiyā yojanesu, tiṁsāya yojanesu, cattārīsāya yojanesu, paññāsāya yojanesu, paññāsampi mayaṁ yojanāni gaccheyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ. Yojanasate cepi mayaṁ bho kaccāna, suṇeyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ, yojanasatampi mayaṁ gaccheyyāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ. Yato ca, bho kaccāna, parinibbuto so bhagavā, parinibbutampi mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ kaccāno dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.
Madhurasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.