SA 1185（一一八五） 孙陀利

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Kosala and stayed in a grove by the Sundari River.

At that time, a brahmin who lived by the Sundari River came to where the Buddha was, exchanged greetings, and sat to one side. He asked the Buddha, "Gautama, do you bathe in the Sundari River?"

The Buddha told the brahmin, "Why bathe in the Sundari River?"

The brahmin said to the Buddha, "Gautama! The Sundari River is a number that saves, a number of auspiciousness, a number of purity. If one bathes in it, it can remove all evil for people."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse, saying:

It is not the Sundari River, nor the Bahuda, nor the
Gayā, nor the Sarā, nor any of these rivers that can
remove all evil and unwholesome deeds." The Ganges, Bahuda, and Sundari
River, fools always dwell in them, but they cannot remove all
evil. For the pure person, what is the use of bathing?
For the pure person, what is the use of the posadha
ceremony? Purity is achieved through pure deeds, which arise from upholding
the precepts. Not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct
not speaking falsely, and giving with faith to remove the defilement
of stinginess - this is bathing. Towards all beings, always give
rise to a mind of kindness and compassion. Using well water
to bathe, what is the use of the Gayā and others?
The inner mind is pure, not needing to wash the outside
A lowly peasant child, with a body full of dirt, uses
water to wash away the dirt, but cannot purify the inside.

At that time, the brāhmaṇa by the Sundari River, having heard the Buddha's teaching, rejoiced and followed the Buddha's words. He rose from his seat and departed.