MN90: Kaṇṇakatthalasutta - At Kaṇṇakatthala
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Ujuññā, in the Kaṇṇakatthala Deer Park.
Now on that occasion King Pasenadi of Kosala had arrived at Ujuññā for some business or other. Then he told a man: "Come, good man, go to the Blessed One and pay homage in my name with your head at his feet, and ask whether he is free from illness and affliction, and is healthy, strong, and abiding in comfort, saying: ‘Venerable sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala pays homage with his head at the Blessed One's feet, and he asks whether the Blessed One is free from illness … and abiding in comfort.’ And say this: ‘Venerable sir, today King Pasenadi of Kosala will come to see the Blessed One after he has had his breakfast.’"
"Yes, sire," the man replied, and he went to the Blessed One, and after paying homage to him, he sat down at one side and delivered his message.
2The sisters Somā and Sakulā[n.845] MA: These two sisters are the king's wives not his sisters!. heard: "Today King Pasenadi of Kosala will go to see the Blessed One after he has had his breakfast."
Then, while the meal was being served, the two sisters went to the king and said: "Sire, pay homage in our name with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask whether he is free from illness … and abiding in comfort, saying: ‘Venerable sir, the sisters Somā and Sakulā pay homage with their heads at the Blessed One's feet, and they ask whether he is free from illness … and abiding in comfort.’"
3Then, when he had finished his breakfast, King Pasenadi of Kosala went to the Blessed One, and after paying homage to him, he sat down at one side and delivered the message of the sisters Somā and Sakulā.
"But, great king, could the sisters Somā and Sakulā find no other messenger?"
"Venerable sir, the sisters Somā and Sakulā heard: ‘Today King Pasenadi of Kosala will go to see the Blessed One after he has had his breakfast.’ Then, while the meal was being served, the sisters Somā and Sakulā came to me and said: ‘Sire, pay homage in our names with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask whether he is free from illness … and abiding in comfort.’"
"May the sisters Somā and Sakulā be happy, great king."
4Then King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I have heard this: ‘The recluse Gotama says: "There is no recluse or brahmin who is omniscient and all-seeing, who can claim to have complete knowledge and vision; that is not possible."’ Venerable sir, do those who speak thus say what has been said by the Blessed One, and not misrepresent him with what is contrary to fact? Do they explain in accordance with the Dhamma in such a way that nothing that provides a ground for censure can be legitimately deduced from their assertions?"
"Great King, those who speak thus do not say what has been said by me, but misrepresent me with what is untrue and contrary to fact."
5Then King Pasenadi of Kosala addressed General Viḍūḍabha: "General, who introduced this story into the palace?" "It was Sañjaya, sire, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala told a man: "Come, good man, in my name tell Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan: ‘Venerable sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala calls you.’"
"Yes, sire," the man replied. He went to Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan, and told him: "Venerable sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala calls you."
Meanwhile King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, could something else have been said by the Blessed One referring to that, and the person understood it wrongly? In what way does the Blessed One recall making that utterance?"
"I recall having actually made the utterance in this way, great king: ‘There is no recluse or brahmin who knows all, who sees all, simultaneously; that is not possible.’"[n.846] MA: There is no one who can know and see all — past, present, and future — with one act of mental adverting, with one act of consciousness; thus this problem is discussed in terms of a single act of consciousness (ekacitta). On the question of the kind of omniscience the Theravāda tradition attributes to the Buddha, see n.714.
"What the Blessed One has said appears reasonable, what the Blessed One has said appears to be supported by reason: ‘There is no recluse or brahmin who knows all, who sees all, simultaneously; that is not possible.’"
"There are these four castes, venerable sir: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Is there any distinction or difference among them?"
"There are these four castes, great king: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Two of them, that is, the nobles and the brahmins, are held to be superior since men pay homage to them, rise up for them, and accord them reverential salutation and polite services."
"Venerable sir, I was not asking about this present life; I was asking about the life to come.[n.847] That is, he is not inquiring about their social status but about their prospects for spiritual progress and attainment. There are these four castes, venerable sir: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Is there any distinction or difference among them?"
6"Great king, there are these five factors of striving.[n.848] As at MN 85.58. What five? Here a bhikkhu has faith, he places his faith in the Tathāgata's enlightenment thus: ‘The Blessed One is accomplished, fully enlightened, perfect in true knowledge and conduct, sublime, knower of worlds, incomparable leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened, blessed.’ Then he is free from illness and affliction, possessing a good digestion that is neither too cool nor too warm but medium and able to bear the strain of striving. Then he is honest and sincere, and shows himself as he actually is to his teacher and his companions in the holy life. Then he is energetic in abandoning unwholesome states and in undertaking wholesome states, steadfast, launching his effort with firmness and persevering in cultivating wholesome states. Then he is wise; he possesses wisdom regarding rise and disappearance that is noble and penetrative and leads to the complete destruction of suffering. These are the five factors of striving.
"There are these four castes, great king: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Now if they possessed these five factors of striving, it would lead to their welfare and happiness for a long time."
"Venerable sir, there are these four castes: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Now if they possessed these five factors of striving, would there be any difference among them here in that respect?"
"Here, great king, I say that the difference among them would lie in the diversity of their striving. Suppose there were two tamable elephants or tamable horses or tamable oxen that were well tamed and well disciplined, and two tamable elephants or tamable horses or tamable oxen that were untamed and undisciplined. What do you think, great king? Would the two tamable elephants or tamable horses or tamable oxen that were well tamed and well disciplined, being tamed, acquire the behaviour of the tamed, would they arrive at the grade of the tamed?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"And would the two tamable elephants or tamable horses or tamable oxen that were untamed and undisciplined, being untamed, acquire the behaviour of the tamed, would they arrive at the grade of the tamed, like the two elephants or horses or oxen that were well tamed and well disciplined?"
"No, venerable sir."
"So too, great king, it is not possible that what can be achieved by one who has faith, who is free from illness, who is honest and sincere, who is energetic, and who is wise, can be achieved by one who has no faith, who has much illness, who is fraudulent and deceitful, who is lazy, and who is not wise."
7"What the Blessed One has said appears reasonable, what the Blessed One has said appears to be supported by reason.
"There are these four castes, venerable sir: the nobles, the brahmins, the merchants, and the workers. Now if they possessed these five factors of striving, and if their striving was right, would there be any difference among them in that respect?"
"Here, great king, in this respect I say that among them there is no difference, that is, between the deliverance of one and the deliverance of the others. Suppose a man took dry sāka wood, lit a fire, and produced heat; and then another man took dry sāla wood, lit a fire, and produced heat; and then another man took dry mango wood, lit a fire, and produced heat; and then another man took dry fig wood, lit a fire, and produced heat. What do you think, great king? Would there be any difference among these fires lit with different kinds of wood, that is, between the flame of one and the flames of the others, or between the colour of one and the colours of the others, or between the radiance of one and the radiances of the others?"
"No, venerable sir."
"So too, great king, when spiritual fire is kindled by energy, lit by striving, there is, I say, no difference, that is, between the deliverance of one and the deliverance of the others."
"What the Blessed One has said appears reasonable, what the Blessed One has said appears to be supported by reason. But, venerable sir, how is it: are there gods?"
"Why do you ask that, great king?"
"Venerable sir, I was asking whether those gods come back to this human state or whether they do not."
"Great king, those gods who are still subject to ill will come back to this human state, those gods who are no longer subject to ill will do not come back to this human state."[n.849] MA explains coming back and not coming back as referring to rebirth, thus suggesting that gods who do not come back are non-returners, while those who do come back are still "worldlings." The same distinction would apply to the discussion on Brahmās in ¶12. The two key terms that here distinguish the two types of gods appear in the PTS ed. as savyāpajjhā and abyāpajjhā, "subject to ill will" and "free from ill will," respectively; in SBJ, as sabyāpajjhā and abyāpajjhā which is effectively the same in meaning: in BBS, they appear as sabyābajjhā and abyābajjhā, "subject to affliction" and "not subject to affliction." The latter reading has the support of MA, which explains the distinction by way of mental suffering. In earlier editions of this translation I translated in accordance with the BBS reading, but the PTS-SBJ reading now seems to me more probable. After all, it seems more likely that a prince would be concerned with the malevolence of the gods than with their experiences of suffering. Note that the word itthatta, which in the stock declaration of arahantship signifies any state of manifest existence, is here glossed by MA as manussaloka, the human world.
K.R. Norman, in an interesting paper, has proposed a radical re-editing of this portion of the sutta, which would entail important differences in translation, but as his proposals are not supported by any editions I hesitate to follow him. See Norman, Collected Papers, 2:162–71.
8When this was said, General Viḍūḍabha asked the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, can those gods who are still subject to ill will and who come back to this human state topple or banish from that place those gods who are no longer subject to ill will and who do not come back to this human state?"
9Then the venerable Ānanda thought: "This General Viḍūḍabha is the son of King Pasenadi of Kosala, and I am the son of the Blessed One. This is the time for one son to talk with the other." He said to General Viḍūḍabha: "General, I shall ask you a question in return. Answer it as you choose. General, what do you think? There is the whole extent of King Pasenadi of Kosala's realm, where he exercises lordship and sovereignty; now can King Pasenadi of Kosala topple or banish from that place any recluse or brahmin, irrespective of whether that recluse or brahmin has merit or not and whether he leads the holy life or not?"
"He can do so, sir."
10"What do you think, general? There is the whole extent that is not King Pasenadi of Kosala's realm, where he does not exercise lordship and sovereignty; now can King Pasenadi of Kosala topple or banish from that place any recluse or brahmin, irrespective of whether that recluse or brahmin has merit or not and whether he leads the holy life or not?"
"He cannot do so, sir."
11"General, what do you think? Have you heard of the gods of the Thirty-three?"
"Yes, sir, I have heard of them. And King Pasenadi of Kosala has heard of them too."
"General, what do you think? Can King Pasenadi of Kosala topple the gods of the Thirty-three or banish them from that place?"
"Sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala cannot even see the gods of the Thirty-three, so how could he topple them or banish them from that place?"
"So too, general, those gods who are still subject to ill will and who come back to this human state cannot even see those gods who are no longer subject to ill will and who do not come back to this human state; so how could they topple them or banish them from that place?"
12Then King Pasenadi of Kosala asked the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, what is this bhikkhu's name?"
"His name is Ānanda, great king."
"Ānanda joy he is indeed, venerable sir, and Ānanda he appears. What the venerable Ānanda has said appears reasonable, what he has said appears to be supported by reason. But, venerable sir, is there Brahmā?"
"Why do you ask that, great king?"
"Venerable sir, I was asking whether that Brahmā comes back to this human state or whether he does not."
"Great king, any Brahmā who is still subject to ill will comes back to this human state, any Brahmā who is no longer subject to ill will does not come back to this human state."
Then a man announced to King Pasenadi of Kosala: "Great king, Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan, has come."
King Pasenadi of Kosala asked Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan: "Brahmin, who introduced this story to the palace?"
"Sire, it was General Viḍūḍabha."
General Viḍūḍabha said: "Sire, it was Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan."
Then a man announced to King Pasenadi of Kosala: "Sire, it is time to depart."
13King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, we have asked the Blessed One about omniscience, and the Blessed One has answered about omniscience; we approve of and accept that answer, and so we are satisfied. We have asked the Blessed One about purification in the four castes, and the Blessed One has answered about purification in the four castes; we approve of and accept that answer, and so we are satisfied. We have asked the Blessed One about the gods, and the Blessed One has answered about the gods; we approve of and accept that answer, and so we are satisfied. We have asked the Blessed One about the Brahmās, and the Blessed One has answered about the Brahmās; we approve of and accept that answer, and so we are satisfied. Whatever we asked the Blessed One, that the Blessed One has answered; we approve of and accept those answers, and so we are satisfied. And now, venerable sir, we depart. We are busy and have much to do."
"You may go, great king, at your own convenience."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat, and after paying homage to the Blessed One, keeping him on his right, he departed.
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruññāyaṁ viharati kaṇṇakatthale migadāye.
Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo uruññaṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti; evañca vadehi: ‘ajja kira, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho so puriso rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so puriso bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati; evañca vadeti: ‘ajja kira, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’"ti.
2Assosuṁ kho somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī: "ajja kira rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī"ti.
Atha kho somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhattābhihāre upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: "Tena hi, mahārāja, amhākampi vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘somā ca, bhante, bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’"ti.
3Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "somā ca, bhante, bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī"ti.
"Kiṁ pana, mahārāja, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī aññaṁ dūtaṁ nālatthun"ti?
"Assosuṁ kho, bhante, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī: ‘ajja kira rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’ti. Atha kho, bhante, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī maṁ bhattābhihāre upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘tena hi, mahārāja, amhākampi vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha — somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’"ti.
"Sukhiniyo hontu tā, mahārāja, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī"ti.
4Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante, samaṇo gotamo evamāha: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti. Ye te, bhante, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha — natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti; kacci te, bhante, bhagavato vuttavādino, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhanti, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaronti, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī"ti?
"Ye te, mahārāja, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha — natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti; na me te vuttavādino, abbhācikkhanti ca pana maṁ te asatā abhūtenā"ti.
5Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo viṭaṭūbhaṁ senāpatiṁ āmantesi: "ko nu kho, senāpati, imaṁ kathāvatthuṁ rājantepure abbhudāhāsī"ti? "Sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, mama vacanena sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ āmantehi: ‘rājā taṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āmantetī’"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho so puriso rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā yena sañjayo brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ etadavoca: "rājā taṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āmantetī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "siyā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā aññadeva kiñci sandhāya bhāsitaṁ, tañca jano aññathāpi paccāgaccheyya. Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā abhijānāti vācaṁ bhāsitā"ti?
"Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, mahārāja, abhijānāmi vācaṁ bhāsitā: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sakideva sabbaṁ ñassati, sabbaṁ dakkhiti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’"ti.
"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sakideva sabbaṁ ñassati, sabbaṁ dakkhiti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.
Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Imesaṁ nu kho, bhante, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti? "Cattārome, mahārāja, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā.
Imesaṁ kho, mahārāja, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ dve vaṇṇā aggamakkhāyanti — khattiyā ca brāhmaṇā ca — yadidaṁ abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammānī"ti.
"Nāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ diṭṭhadhammikaṁ pucchāmi; samparāyikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pucchāmi. Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Imesaṁ nu kho, bhante, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
6"Pañcimāni, mahārāja, padhāniyaṅgāni. Katamāni pañca? Idha, mahārāja, bhikkhu saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti; appābādho hoti appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya; asaṭho hoti amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu; āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu; paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammādukkhakkhayagāminiyā — imāni kho, mahārāja, pañca padhāniyaṅgāni.
Cattārome, mahārāja, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā; ettha pana nesaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā"ti.
"Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā; ettha pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
"Ettha kho nesāhaṁ, mahārāja, padhānavemattataṁ vadāmi. Seyyathāpissu, mahārāja, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, ye te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, api nu te dantāva dantakāraṇaṁ gaccheyyuṁ, dantāva dantabhūmiṁ sampāpuṇeyyun"ti?
"Evaṁ, bhante".
"Ye pana te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā, api nu te adantāva dantakāraṇaṁ gaccheyyuṁ, adantāva dantabhūmiṁ sampāpuṇeyyuṁ, seyyathāpi te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Evameva kho, mahārāja, yaṁ taṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ appābādhena asaṭhena amāyāvinā āraddhavīriyena paññavatā, taṁ vata assaddho bahvābādho saṭho māyāvī kusīto duppañño pāpuṇissatīti — netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī"ti.
7"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha.
Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā te cassu sammappadhānā; ettha pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
"Ettha kho nesāhaṁ, mahārāja, na kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ vadāmi — yadidaṁ vimuttiyā vimuttiṁ. Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso sukkhaṁ sākakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ sālakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ ambakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ udumbarakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, siyā nu kho tesaṁ aggīnaṁ nānādāruto abhinibbattānaṁ kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ acciyā vā acciṁ, vaṇṇena vā vaṇṇaṁ, ābhāya vā ābhan"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Evameva kho, mahārāja, yaṁ taṁ tejaṁ vīriyā nimmathitaṁ padhānābhinibbattaṁ, nāhaṁ tattha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ vadāmi — yadidaṁ vimuttiyā vimuttin"ti.
"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha. Kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi devā"ti?
"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ vadesi: ‘kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi devā’"ti?
"Yadi vā te, bhante, devā āgantāro itthattaṁ yadi vā anāgantāro itthattaṁ"?
"Ye te, mahārāja, devā sabyābajjhā te devā āgantāro itthattaṁ, ye te devā abyābajjhā te devā anāgantāro itthattan"ti.
8Evaṁ vutte, viṭaṭūbho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ye te, bhante, devā sabyābajjhā āgantāro itthattaṁ te devā, ye te devā abyābajjhā anāgantāro itthattaṁ te deve tamhā ṭhānā cāvessanti vā pabbājessanti vā"ti?
9Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho viṭaṭūbho senāpati rañño pasenadissa kosalassa putto; ahaṁ bhagavato putto. Ayaṁ kho kālo yaṁ putto puttena manteyyā"ti. Atha kho āyasmā ānando viṭaṭūbhaṁ senāpatiṁ āmantesi: "Tena hi, senāpati, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi; yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, yāvatā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa vijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, pahoti tattha rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Yāvatā, bho, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa vijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, pahoti tattha rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti.
10"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, yāvatā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa avijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo na issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tattha pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Yāvatā, bho, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa avijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo na issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, na tattha pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti.
11"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, sutā te devā tāvatiṁsā"ti?
"Evaṁ, bho. Sutā me devā tāvatiṁsā. Idhāpi bhotā raññā pasenadinā kosalena sutā devā tāvatiṁsā"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo deve tāvatiṁse tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Dassanampi, bho, rājā pasenadi kosalo deve tāvatiṁse nappahoti, kuto pana tamhā ṭhānā cāvessati vā pabbājessati vā"ti?
"Evameva kho, senāpati, ye te devā sabyābajjhā āgantāro itthattaṁ te devā, ye te devā abyābajjhā anāgantāro itthattaṁ te deve dassanāyapi nappahonti; kuto pana tamhā ṭhānā cāvessanti vā pabbājessanti vā"ti?
12Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "konāmo ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū"ti?
"Ānando nāma, mahārājā"ti.
"Ānando vata bho, ānandarūpo vata bho. Heturūpaṁ, bhante, āyasmā ānando āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, āyasmā ānando āha. Kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi brahmā"ti?
"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ vadesi: ‘kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi brahmā’"ti?
"Yadi vā so, bhante, brahmā āgantā itthattaṁ, yadi vā anāgantā itthattan"ti?
"Yo so, mahārāja, brahmā sabyābajjho so brahmā āgantā itthattaṁ, yo so brahmā abyābajjho so brahmā anāgantā itthattan"ti.
Atha kho aññataro puriso rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca: "sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto āgato"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ etadavoca: "ko nu kho, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ kathāvatthuṁ rājantepure abbhudāhāsī"ti?
"Viṭaṭūbho, mahārāja, senāpatī"ti.
Viṭaṭūbho senāpati evamāha: "sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto"ti.
Atha kho aññataro puriso rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca: "yānakālo, mahārājā"ti.
13Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "sabbaññutaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, sabbaññutaṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Cātuvaṇṇisuddhiṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, cātuvaṇṇisuddhiṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Adhideve mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, adhideve bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Adhibrahmānaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, adhibrahmānaṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Yaṁ yadeva ca mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā taṁ tadeva bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bhante, gacchāma; bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā"ti.
"Yassadāni tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālaṁ maññasī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmīti.
Kaṇṇakatthalasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.
Rājavaggo niṭṭhito catuttho.
14Ghaṭikāro raṭṭhapālo,
maghadevo madhuriyaṁ;
Bodhi aṅgulimālo ca,
piyajātaṁ bāhitikaṁ;
Dhammacetiyasuttañca,
dasamaṁ kaṇṇakatthalaṁ.