{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn5/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn5","id":"suttacentral_dn5","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn5/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"1. The Brahmins and Householders of Kh\u0101\u1e47umata So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Magadhans together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Magadhan brahmins named Kh\u0101\u1e47umata. There he stayed nearby at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. Now at that time the brahmin K\u016b\u1e6dadanta was living in Kh\u0101\u1e47umata. It was a crown property given by King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. Now at that time K\u016b\u1e6dadanta had prepared a great sacrifice. Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams\u2014seven hundred of each\u2014had been led to the post for the sacrifice. The brahmins and householders of Kh\u0101\u1e47umata heard: \u201cIt seems the ascetic Gotama\u2014a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family\u2014has arrived at Kh\u0101\u1e47umata and is staying at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. He has this good reputation: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 He has realized with his own insight this world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans\u2014and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that\u2019s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that\u2019s entirely full and pure. It\u2019s good to see such perfected ones.\u201d Then, exiting Kh\u0101\u1e47umata, they formed into companies and headed to Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. Now at that time the brahmin K\u016b\u1e6dadanta had retired to the upper floor of his stilt longhouse for his midday nap. He saw the brahmins and householders heading for Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101, and addressed his butler, \u201cMy butler, why are the brahmins and householders headed for Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101?\u201d \u201cThe ascetic Gotama has arrived at Kh\u0101\u1e47umata and is staying at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. He has this good reputation: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 They\u2019re going to see that worthy Gotama.\u201d Then K\u016b\u1e6dadanta thought, \u201cI\u2019ve heard that the ascetic Gotama knows how to accomplish the sacrifice with three modes and sixteen accessories. I don\u2019t know about that, but I wish to perform a great sacrifice. Why don\u2019t I ask him how to accomplish the sacrifice with three modes and sixteen accessories?\u201d Then K\u016b\u1e6dadanta addressed his butler, \u201cWell then, go to the brahmins and householders and say to them: \u2018Sirs, the brahmin K\u016b\u1e6dadanta asks you to wait, as he will also go to see the ascetic Gotama.\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d replied the butler, and did as he was asked. 2. The Qualities of K\u016b\u1e6dadanta Now at that time several hundred brahmins were residing in Kh\u0101\u1e47umata thinking to participate in K\u016b\u1e6dadanta\u2019s sacrifice. They heard that K\u016b\u1e6dadanta was going to see the ascetic Gotama. They approached K\u016b\u1e6dadanta and said to him: \u201cIs it really true that you are going to see the ascetic Gotama?\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir, it is true.\u201d \u201cPlease don\u2019t! It\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama. For if you do so, your reputation will diminish and his will increase. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you. You are well born on both your mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you. You\u2019re rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain \u2026 You recite and remember the hymns, and have mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. You know them word-by-word, and their grammar. You are well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. \u2026 You are attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. You have divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. \u2026 You are ethical, mature in ethical conduct. \u2026 You\u2019re a good speaker who enunciates well, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. \u2026 You\u2019re the tutor of tutors for many, and teach three hundred young students to recite the hymns. Many students come from various districts and countries for the sake of the hymns, wishing to learn the hymns. \u2026 You\u2019re old, elderly and senior, advanced in years, and have reached the final stage of life. The ascetic Gotama is young, and has newly gone forth. \u2026 You\u2019re honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by King Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha \u2026 and the brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti. \u2026 You live in Kh\u0101\u1e47umata, a crown property given by King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for you to go to see the ascetic Gotama; it\u2019s appropriate that he comes to see you.\u201d 3. The Qualities of the Buddha When they had spoken, K\u016b\u1e6dadanta said to those brahmins: \u201cWell then, gentlemen, listen to why it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see the ascetic Gotama, and it\u2019s not appropriate for him to come to see me. He is well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. For this reason it\u2019s not appropriate for the ascetic Gotama to come to see me; rather, it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see him. When he went forth he abandoned a large family circle. \u2026 When he went forth he abandoned abundant gold, both coined and uncoined, stored above and below ground. \u2026 He went forth from the lay life to homelessness while still a youth, young, with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life. \u2026 Though his mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces, he shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness. \u2026 He is attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He has divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. \u2026 He is ethical, possessing ethical conduct that is noble and skillful. \u2026 He\u2019s a good speaker who enunciates well, with a polished, clear, and articulate voice that expresses the meaning. \u2026 He\u2019s a tutor of tutors. \u2026 He has ended sensual desire, and is rid of caprice. \u2026 He teaches the efficacy of deeds and action. He doesn\u2019t wish any harm upon the community of brahmins. \u2026 He went forth from an eminent family of unbroken aristocratic lineage. \u2026 He went forth from a rich, affluent, and wealthy family. \u2026 People come from distant lands and distant countries to question him. \u2026 Many thousands of deities have gone for refuge for life to him. \u2026 He has this good reputation: \u2018That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.\u2019 \u2026 He has the thirty-two marks of a great man. \u2026 He is welcoming, congenial, polite, smiling, open, the first to speak. \u2026 He\u2019s honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by the four assemblies. \u2026 Many gods and humans are devoted to him. \u2026 While he is residing in a village or town, non-human entities do not harass them. \u2026 He leads an order and a community, and tutors a community, and is said to be the best of the various religious founders. He didn\u2019t come by his fame in the same ways as those other ascetics and brahmins. Rather, he came by his fame due to his supreme knowledge and conduct. \u2026 King Seniya Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 King Pasenadi of Kosala and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 The brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti and his wives and children have gone for refuge for life to the ascetic Gotama. \u2026 He\u2019s honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed by King Bimbis\u0101ra of Magadha \u2026 King Pasenadi of Kosala \u2026 and the brahmin Pokkharas\u0101ti. The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Kh\u0101\u1e47umata and is staying at Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101. Any ascetic or brahmin who comes to stay in our village district is our guest, and should be honored and respected as such. For this reason, too, it\u2019s not appropriate for Worthy Gotama to come to see me; rather, it\u2019s appropriate for me to go to see him. This is the extent of the worthy Gotama\u2019s praise that I have memorized. But his praises are not confined to this, for the praise of the worthy Gotama is limitless.\u201d When he had spoken, those brahmins said to him, \u201cAccording to K\u016b\u1e6dadanta\u2019s praises, if the worthy Gotama were staying within a hundred leagues, it\u2019d be worthwhile for a faithful gentleman to go to see him, even if he had to carry his own provisions in a knapsack.\u201d \u201cWell then, gentlemen, let\u2019s all go to see the ascetic Gotama.\u201d 4. The Story of King Mah\u0101vijita\u2019s Sacrifice Then K\u016b\u1e6dadanta together with a large group of brahmins went to Ambala\u1e6d\u1e6dhik\u0101, approached the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. Before sitting down to one side, some of the brahmins and householders of Kh\u0101\u1e47umata bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. K\u016b\u1e6dadanta said to the Buddha, \u201cWorthy Gotama, I\u2019ve heard that you know how to accomplish the sacrifice with three modes and sixteen accessories. I don\u2019t know about that, but I wish to perform a great sacrifice. Please teach me how to accomplish the sacrifice with three modes and sixteen accessories.\u201d \u201cWell then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, worthy sir,\u201d K\u016b\u1e6dadanta replied. The Buddha said this: \u201cOnce upon a time, brahmin, there was a king named Mah\u0101vijita. He was rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, lots of money and grain, and a full treasury and storehouses. Then as King Mah\u0101vijita was in private retreat this thought came to his mind: \u2018I have achieved human wealth, and reign after conquering this vast territory. Why don\u2019t I hold a large sacrifice? That will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u2019 Then he summoned the brahmin high priest and said to him: \u2018Just now, brahmin, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind, \u201cI have achieved human wealth, and reign after conquering this vast territory. Why don\u2019t I perform a great sacrifice? That will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d Brahmin, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. Please instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u2019 When he had spoken, the brahmin high priest said to him: \u2018Sir, the king\u2019s realm is harried and oppressed. Raiding of villages, towns, and cities has been seen, and infesting of highways. But if the king were to extract more taxes while his realm is thus harried and oppressed, he would not be doing his duty. Now the king might think, \u201cI\u2019ll eradicate this plague of savages by execution or imprisonment or confiscation or condemnation or banishment!\u201d But that\u2019s not the right way to eradicate this plague of savages. Those who remain after the killing will return to harass the king\u2019s realm. Rather, here is a plan, relying on which the plague of savages will be properly uprooted. So let the king provide seed and fodder for those in the realm who work in growing crops and raising cattle. Let the king provide funding for those who work in trade. Let the king guarantee food and wages for those in government service. Then the people, occupied with their own work, will not harass the realm. The king\u2019s revenues will be great. When the country is secured as a sanctuary, free of being harried and oppressed, the happy people, with joy in their hearts, dancing with children at their breast, will dwell as if their houses were wide open.\u2019 The king agreed with the high priest\u2019s advice and followed his recommendation. Then the king summoned the brahmin high priest and said to him: \u2018I have eradicated the plague of savages. And relying on your plan my revenue is now great. Since the country is secured as a sanctuary, free of being harried and oppressed, the happy people, with joy in their hearts, dancing with children at their breast, dwell as if their houses were wide open. Brahmin, I wish to perform a great sacrifice. Please instruct me. It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u2019 4.1. The Four Accessories \u2018In that case, let the king announce this throughout the realm to the aristocrat vassals of both town and country; the ministers and councillors of both town and country; the well-to-do brahmins of both town and country; and the well-off householders of both town and country. \u201cI wish to perform a great sacrifice. Please grant your approval, worthy sirs; it will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.\u201d\u2019 The king agreed with the high priest\u2019s advice and followed his recommendation. And all of the people who were thus informed responded by saying: \u2018May the king perform a sacrifice! It is time for a sacrifice, Great King.\u2019 And so these four consenting factions became accessories to the sacrifice. 4.2. The Eight Accessories King Mah\u0101vijita possessed eight factors. He was well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. He was attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. He had divine looks and lustre, remarkable to behold. He was rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, lots of money and grain, and a full treasury and storehouses. He was powerful, having an army of four divisions that was obedient and carried out instructions. He\u2019d probably prevail over his enemies just with his reputation. He was faithful, generous, a donor, his door always open. He was a well-spring of support, making merit with ascetics and brahmins, for paupers, vagrants, supplicants, and beggars. He was very learned in diverse fields of learning. He understood the meaning of diverse statements, saying: \u2018This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.\u2019 He was astute, competent, and intelligent, able to think issues through as they bear upon the past, future, and present. These are the eight factors that King Mah\u0101vijita possessed. And so these eight factors also became accessories to the sacrifice. 4.3. Four More Accessories And the brahmin high priest had four factors. He was well born on both his mother\u2019s and father\u2019s side, stemming from a clean vessel, with irrefutable and impeccable genealogy back to the seventh paternal generation. He recited and remembered the hymns, and had mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. He was ethical, mature in ethical conduct. He was astute, competent, and intelligent, being the first or second to hold the sacrificial ladle. These are the four factors that the brahmin high priest possessed. And so these four factors also became accessories to the sacrifice. 4.4. The Three Modes Next, before the sacrifice, the brahmin high priest taught the three modes to the king. \u2018Now, though the king wants to perform a great sacrifice, he might have certain regrets, thinking: \u201cI shall lose a great fortune,\u201d or \u201cI am losing a great fortune,\u201d or \u201cI have lost a great fortune.\u201d But the king should not harbor such regrets.\u2019 These are the three modes that the brahmin high priest taught to the king before the sacrifice. 4.5. The Ten Respects Next, before the sacrifice, the brahmin high priest dispelled the king\u2019s regret regarding the recipients in ten respects: \u2018There will come to the sacrifice those who kill living creatures and those who refrain from killing living creatures. As to those who kill living creatures, the outcome of that is theirs alone. But as to those who refrain from killing living creatures, it is for their sakes that the king should sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart. There will come to the sacrifice those who steal \u2026 commit sexual misconduct \u2026 lie \u2026 use backbiting \u2026 use harsh speech \u2026 talk nonsense \u2026 are covetous \u2026 have ill will \u2026 have wrong view and those who have right view. As to those who have wrong view, the outcome of that is theirs alone. But as to those who have right view, it is for their sakes that the king should sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart.\u2019 These are the ten respects in which the high priest dispelled the king\u2019s regret regarding the recipients before the sacrifice. 4.6. The Sixteen Respects Next, while the king was performing the great sacrifice, the brahmin high priest educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired the king\u2019s mind in sixteen respects: \u2018Now, while the king is performing the great sacrifice, someone might say, \u201cKing Mah\u0101vijita performs a great sacrifice, but he did not announce it to the aristocrat vassals of town and country. That\u2019s the kind of great sacrifice that this king performs.\u201d Those who speak against the king in this way have no legitimacy. For the king did indeed announce it to the aristocrat vassals of town and country. Let the king know this as a reason to sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart. While the king is performing the great sacrifice, someone might say, \u201cKing Mah\u0101vijita performs a great sacrifice, but he did not announce it to the aristocrat vassals; the ministers and councillors; the well-to-do brahmins; and the well-off householders. That\u2019s the kind of great sacrifice that this king performs.\u201d Those who speak against the king in this way have no legitimacy. For the king did indeed announce it to all these people. Let the king know this too as a reason to sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart. While the king is performing the great sacrifice, someone might say that he does not possess the eight factors. Those who speak against the king in this way have no legitimacy. For the king does indeed possess the eight factors. Let the king know this too as a reason to sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart. While the king is performing the great sacrifice, someone might say that the high priest does not possess the four factors. Those who speak against the king in this way have no legitimacy. For the high priest does indeed possess the four factors. Let the king know this too as a reason to sacrifice, relinquish, rejoice, and gain confidence in his heart.\u2019 These are the sixteen respects in which the high priest educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired the king\u2019s mind while he was performing the sacrifice. And brahmin, in that sacrifice no cattle were killed, no goats or sheep were killed, and no chickens or pigs were killed. There was no slaughter of various kinds of creatures. No trees were felled for the sacrificial post. No grass was reaped to strew over the place of sacrifice. No bondservants, servants, or workers did their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping with tearful faces. Those who wished to work did so, while those who did not wish to did not. They did the work they wanted to, and did not do what they didn\u2019t want to. The sacrifice was completed with just ghee, oil, butter, curds, honey, and molasses. Then the aristocrat vassals, ministers and councillors, well-to-do brahmins, and well-off householders came to the king bringing abundant wealth and said, \u2018Your Majesty, this abundant wealth is specially for you alone; may Your Majesty accept it!\u2019 \u2018There\u2019s enough raised for me through regular taxes. Let this be for you; and here, take even more!\u2019 When the king turned them down, they withdrew to one side to think up a plan, \u2018It wouldn\u2019t be proper for us to take this abundant wealth back to our own homes. King Mah\u0101vijita is performing a great sacrifice. Let us make an offering as an auxiliary sacrifice.\u2019 Then the aristocrat vassals of town and country set up gifts to the east of the sacrificial enclosure. The ministers and councillors of town and country set up gifts to the south of the sacrificial enclosure. The well-to-do brahmins of town and country set up gifts to the west of the sacrificial enclosure. The well-off householders of town and country set up gifts to the north of the sacrificial enclosure. And brahmin, in that sacrifice too no cattle were killed, no goats were killed, and no chickens or pigs were killed. There was no slaughter of various kinds of creatures. No trees were felled for the sacrificial post. No grass was reaped to strew over the place of sacrifice. No bondservants, servants, or workers did their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping with tearful faces. Those who wished to work did so, while those who did not wish to did not. They did the work they wanted to, and did not do what they didn\u2019t want to. The sacrifice was completed with just ghee, oil, butter, curds, honey, and molasses. And so there were four consenting factions, eight factors possessed by King Mah\u0101vijita, four factors possessed by the high priest, and three modes. Brahmin, this is called the sacrifice accomplished with three modes and sixteen accessories.\u201d When he said this, those brahmins made an uproar, \u201cHooray for such sacrifice! Hooray for the accomplishment of such sacrifice!\u201d But the brahmin K\u016b\u1e6dadanta sat in silence. So those brahmins said to him, \u201cHow can you not applaud the ascetic Gotama\u2019s fine words?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s not that I don\u2019t applaud what he said. If anyone didn\u2019t applaud such fine words, their head would explode! But, gentlemen, it occurs to me that the ascetic Gotama does not say: \u2018So I have heard\u2019 or \u2018It ought to be like this.\u2019 Rather, he just says: \u2018So it was then, this is how it was then.\u2019 It occurs to me that the ascetic Gotama at that time must have been King Mah\u0101vijita, the owner of the sacrifice, or else the brahmin high priest who facilitated the sacrifice for him. Does the worthy Gotama recall having performed such a sacrifice, or having facilitated it, and then, when his body broke up, after death, being reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm?\u201d \u201cI do recall that, brahmin. For I myself was the brahmin high priest at that time who facilitated the sacrifice.\u201d 5. A Regular Gift as a Propitious Sacrifice. \u201cBut Worthy Gotama, apart from that sacrifice accomplished with three modes and sixteen accessories, is there any other sacrifice that has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial?\u201d \u201cThere is, brahmin.\u201d \u201cBut what is it?\u201d \u201cThe regular gifts as propitious sacrifice given specially to ethical renunciates; this sacrifice, brahmin, has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial.\u201d \u201cWhat is the cause, Worthy Gotama, what is the reason why those regular gifts as propitious sacrifice have fewer obligations and undertakings, yet are more fruitful and beneficial, compared with the sacrifice accomplished with three modes and sixteen accessories?\u201d \u201cBecause neither perfected ones nor those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a sacrifice. Why is that? Because beatings and throttlings are seen there. But the regular gifts as propitious sacrifice given specially to ethical renunciates; perfected ones and those who are on the path to perfection will attend such a sacrifice. Why is that? Because no beatings and throttlings are seen there. This is the cause, brahmin, this is the reason why those regular gifts as propitious sacrifice have fewer obligations and undertakings, yet are more fruitful and beneficial, compared with the sacrifice accomplished with three modes and sixteen accessories.\u201d \u201cBut Worthy Gotama, apart from that sacrifice accomplished with three modes and sixteen accessories and those regular gifts as propitious sacrifice, is there any other sacrifice that has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial?\u201d \u201cThere is, brahmin.\u201d \u201cBut what is it?\u201d \u201cWhen someone gives a dwelling specially for the Sa\u1e45gha of the four quarters.\u201d \u201cBut is there any other sacrifice that has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial?\u201d \u201cWhen someone with confident heart goes for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sa\u1e45gha.\u201d \u201cBut is there any other sacrifice that has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial?\u201d \u201cWhen someone with a confident heart undertakes the training rules to refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.\u201d \u201cBut is there any other sacrifice that has fewer obligations and undertakings, yet is more fruitful and beneficial?\u201d \u201cThere is, brahmin. It\u2019s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha \u2026 That\u2019s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics. \u2026 They enter and remain in the first absorption \u2026 This sacrifice has fewer obligations and undertakings than the former, yet is more fruitful and beneficial. \u2026 They enter and remain in the second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. This sacrifice has fewer obligations and undertakings than the former, yet is more fruitful and beneficial. \u2026 They project and extend the mind toward knowledge and vision \u2026 This sacrifice has fewer obligations and undertakings than the former, yet is more fruitful and beneficial. They understand: \u2018\u2026 there is nothing further for this place.\u2019 This sacrifice has fewer obligations and undertakings than the former, yet is more fruitful and beneficial. And, brahmin, there is no other accomplishment of sacrifice which is better and finer than this.\u201d 6. K\u016b\u1e6dadanta Declares Himself a Lay Follower When he had spoken, K\u016b\u1e6dadanta said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, worthy Gotama has made the Teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life. And these bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats, and rams\u2014seven hundred of each\u2014I release them, I grant them life! Let them eat green grass and drink cool water, and may a cool breeze blow upon them!\u201d 7. The Realization of the Fruit of Stream-Entry Then the Buddha taught K\u016b\u1e6dadanta step by step, with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation. And when he knew that K\u016b\u1e6dadanta\u2019s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin K\u016b\u1e6dadanta: \u201cEverything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.\u201d Then K\u016b\u1e6dadanta saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher\u2019s instructions. He said to the Buddha, \u201cWould the worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha please accept tomorrow\u2019s meal from me?\u201d The Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, K\u016b\u1e6dadanta rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. And when the night had passed K\u016b\u1e6dadanta had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own sacrificial enclosure. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.\u201d Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the sacrificial enclosure of K\u016b\u1e6dadanta together with the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then K\u016b\u1e6dadanta served and satisfied the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, K\u016b\u1e6dadanta took a low seat and sat to one side. Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.","title":"With K\u016b\u1e6dadanta","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":4869}