Majjhima Nikāya 96

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 96

Esukārīsutta

With Esukārī

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho esukārī brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho esukārī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Esukārī the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

“brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, catasso pāricariyā paññapenti—brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti: ‘brāhmaṇo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, khattiyo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, vesso vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyyā’ti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti: ‘khattiyo vā khattiyaṁ paricareyya, vesso vā khattiyaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā khattiyaṁ paricareyyā’ti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti: ‘vesso vā vessaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā vessaṁ paricareyyā’ti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti: ‘suddova suddaṁ paricareyya. Ko panañño suddaṁ paricarissatī’ti? Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti. Brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, imā catasso pāricariyā paññapenti. Idha bhavaṁ gotamo kimāhā”ti?

“Master Gotama, the brahmins prescribe four kinds of service: for a brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial. This is the service they prescribe for a brahmin: ‘A brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial may all serve a brahmin.’ This is the service they prescribe for an aristocrat: ‘An aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial may all serve an aristocrat.’ This is the service they prescribe for a peasant: ‘A peasant or a menial may serve a peasant.’ This is the service they prescribe for a menial: ‘Only a menial may serve a menial. For who else will serve a menial?’ These are the four kinds of service that the brahmins prescribe. What do you say about this?”

“Kiṁ pana, brāhmaṇa, sabbo loko brāhmaṇānaṁ etadabbhanujānāti: ‘imā catasso pāricariyā paññapentū’”ti?

“But brahmin, did the whole world authorize the brahmins to prescribe these four kinds of service?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama”.

“No, Master Gotama.”

“Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, puriso daliddo¹ assako anāḷhiyo. Tassa akāmassa bilaṁ olaggeyyuṁ: ‘idaṁ te, ambho purisa, maṁsaṁ khāditabbaṁ, mūlañca anuppadātabban’ti. Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, brāhmaṇā appaṭiññāya tesaṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ, atha ca panimā catasso pāricariyā paññapenti.

“It’s as if they were to force a steak on a poor, penniless person, telling them they must eat it and then pay for it. In the same way, the brahmins have prescribed these four kinds of service without the consent of these ascetics and brahmins.

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ paricaritabban’ti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ na paricaritabban’ti vadāmi. Yaṁ hissa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, nāhaṁ taṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi; yañca khvāssa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo tamahaṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi.

Brahmin, I don’t say that you should serve everyone, nor do I say that you shouldn’t serve anyone. I say that you shouldn’t serve someone if serving them makes you worse, not better. And I say that you should serve someone if serving them makes you better, not worse.

Khattiyañcepi, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo; kamettha paricareyyāsī’ti, khattiyopi hi, brāhmaṇa, sammā byākaramāno evaṁ byākareyya: ‘yañhi me paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, nāhaṁ taṁ paricareyyaṁ; yañca kho me paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo tamahaṁ paricareyyan’ti.

If they were to ask an aristocrat this, ‘Who should you serve? Someone in whose service you get worse, or someone in whose service you get better?’ Answering rightly, an aristocrat would say, ‘Someone in whose service I get better.’

Brāhmaṇañcepi, brāhmaṇa …pe… vessañcepi, brāhmaṇa …pe… suddañcepi, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo; kamettha paricareyyāsī’ti, suddopi hi, brāhmaṇa, sammā byākaramāno evaṁ byākareyya: ‘yañhi me paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, nāhaṁ taṁ paricareyyaṁ; yañca kho me paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo tamahaṁ paricareyyan’ti.

If they were to ask a brahmin … a peasant … or a menial this, ‘Who should you serve? Someone in whose service you get worse, or someone in whose service you get better?’ Answering rightly, a menial would say, ‘Someone in whose service I get better.’

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uccākulīnatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uccākulīnatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷāravaṇṇatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷāravaṇṇatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷārabhogatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷārabhogatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.

Brahmin, I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you a better or worse person. I don’t say that being very beautiful makes you a better or worse person. I don’t say that being very wealthy makes you a better or worse person.

Uccākulīnopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātī hoti, adinnādāyī hoti, kāmesumicchācārī hoti, musāvādī hoti, pisuṇāvāco hoti, pharusāvāco hoti, samphappalāpī hoti, abhijjhālu hoti, byāpannacitto hoti, micchādiṭṭhi hoti. Tasmā ‘na uccākulīnatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi.

For some people from eminent families kill living creatures, steal, and commit sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. That’s why I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you a better person.

Uccākulīnopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, anabhijjhālu hoti, abyāpannacitto hoti, sammādiṭṭhi hoti. Tasmā ‘na uccākulīnatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.

But some people from eminent families also refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, and committing sexual misconduct. They refrain from using speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re not covetous or malicious, and they have right view. That’s why I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you a worse person.

Uḷāravaṇṇopi hi, brāhmaṇa … pe… uḷārabhogopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātī hoti … pe… micchādiṭṭhi hoti. Tasmā ‘na uḷārabhogatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi. Uḷārabhogopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti. Tasmā ‘na uḷārabhogatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.

People who are very beautiful, or not very beautiful, who are very wealthy, or not very wealthy, may also behave in the same ways. That’s why I don’t say that any of these things makes you a better or worse person.

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ paricaritabban’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ na paricaritabban’ti vadāmi. Yaṁ hissa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu saddhā vaḍḍhati, sīlaṁ vaḍḍhati, sutaṁ vaḍḍhati, cāgo vaḍḍhati, paññā vaḍḍhati, tamahaṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi. Yaṁ hissa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu na saddhā vaḍḍhati, na sīlaṁ vaḍḍhati, na sutaṁ vaḍḍhati, na cāgo vaḍḍhati, na paññā vaḍḍhati, nāhaṁ taṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmī”ti.

Brahmin, I don’t say that you should serve everyone, nor do I say that you shouldn’t serve anyone. And I say that you should serve someone if serving them makes you grow in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. I say that you shouldn’t serve someone if serving them doesn’t make you grow in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.”

Evaṁ vutte, esukārī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, Esukārī said to him:

“brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, cattāri dhanāni paññapenti—brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti bhikkhācariyaṁ; bhikkhācariyañca pana brāhmaṇo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti dhanukalāpaṁ; dhanukalāpañca pana khattiyo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti kasigorakkhaṁ; kasigorakkhañca pana vesso sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti. Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti asitabyābhaṅgiṁ; asitabyābhaṅgiñca pana suddo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti. Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti. Brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, imāni cattāri dhanāni paññapenti. Idha bhavaṁ gotamo kimāhā”ti?

“Master Gotama, the brahmins prescribe four kinds of wealth: for a brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial. The wealth they prescribe for a brahmin is living on alms. A brahmin who scorns his own wealth, living on alms, fails in his duty like a guard who steals. The wealth they prescribe for an aristocrat is the bow and quiver. An aristocrat who scorns his own wealth, the bow and quiver, fails in his duty like a guard who steals. The wealth they prescribe for a peasant is farming and animal husbandry. A peasant who scorns his own wealth, farming and animal husbandry, fails in his duty like a guard who steals. The wealth they prescribe for a menial is the scythe and flail. A menial who scorns his own wealth, the scythe and flail, fails in his duty like a guard who steals. These are the four kinds of wealth that the brahmins prescribe. What do you say about this?”

“Kiṁ pana, brāhmaṇa, sabbo loko brāhmaṇānaṁ etadabbhanujānāti: ‘imāni cattāri dhanāni paññapentū’”ti?

“But brahmin, did the whole world authorize the brahmins to prescribe these four kinds of wealth?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama”.

“No, Master Gotama.”

“Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, puriso daliddo assako anāḷhiyo. Tassa akāmassa bilaṁ olaggeyyuṁ: ‘idaṁ te, ambho purisa, maṁsaṁ khāditabbaṁ, mūlañca anuppadātabban’ti.

“It’s as if they were to force a steak on a poor, penniless person, telling them they must eat it and then pay for it.

Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, brāhmaṇā appaṭiññāya tesaṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ, atha ca panimāni cattāri dhanāni paññapenti.

In the same way, the brahmins have prescribed these four kinds of wealth without the consent of these ascetics and brahmins.

Ariyaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, lokuttaraṁ dhammaṁ purisassa sandhanaṁ paññapemi. Porāṇaṁ kho panassa mātāpettikaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ anussarato yattha yattheva attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti tena teneva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. Khattiyakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘khattiyo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; brāhmaṇakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘brāhmaṇo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; vessakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘vesso’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; suddakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘suddo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

I declare that a person’s own wealth is the noble, transcendent teaching. But they are reckoned by recollecting the traditional family lineage of their mother and father wherever they are incarnated. If they incarnate in a family of aristocrats they are reckoned as an aristocrat. If they incarnate in a family of brahmins they are reckoned as a brahmin. If they incarnate in a family of peasants they are reckoned as a peasant. If they incarnate in a family of menials they are reckoned as a menial.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, yaṁyadeva paccayaṁ paṭicca aggi jalati tena teneva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. Kaṭṭhañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘kaṭṭhaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; sakalikañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘sakalikaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; tiṇañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘tiṇaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; gomayañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘gomayaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

It’s like fire, which is reckoned according to the specific conditions dependent upon which it burns. A fire that burns dependent on logs is reckoned as a log fire. A fire that burns dependent on twigs is reckoned as a twig fire. A fire that burns dependent on grass is reckoned as a grass fire. A fire that burns dependent on cow-dung is reckoned as a cow-dung fire.

Evameva kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ariyaṁ lokuttaraṁ dhammaṁ purisassa sandhanaṁ paññapemi. Porāṇaṁ kho panassa mātāpettikaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ anussarato yattha yattheva attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti tena teneva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, I declare that a person’s own wealth is the noble, transcendent teaching. But they are reckoned by recollecting the traditional family lineage of their mother and father wherever they are incarnated.

Khattiyakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘khattiyo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; brāhmaṇakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘brāhmaṇo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; vessakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘vesso’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati; suddakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘suddo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

Khattiyakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, abrahmacariyā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, anabhijjhālu hoti, abyāpannacitto hoti, sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.

Suppose someone from a family of aristocrats goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One they refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, and sex. They refrain from using speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re not covetous or malicious, and they have right view. They succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ. Vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ. Suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.

Suppose someone from a family of brahmins … peasants … menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, brāhmaṇova nu kho pahoti asmiṁ padese averaṁ abyābajjhaṁ mettacittaṁ bhāvetuṁ, no khattiyo no vesso no suddo”ti?

What do you think, brahmin? Is only a brahmin capable of developing a heart of love free of enmity and ill will for this region, and not an aristocrat, peasant, or menial?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama. Khattiyopi hi, bho gotama, pahoti asmiṁ padese averaṁ abyābajjhaṁ mettacittaṁ bhāvetuṁ; brāhmaṇopi hi, bho gotama … vessopi hi, bho gotama … suddopi hi, bho gotama … sabbepi hi, bho gotama, cattāro vaṇṇā pahonti asmiṁ padese averaṁ abyābajjhaṁ mettacittaṁ bhāvetun”ti.

“No, Master Gotama. Aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials can all do so. For all four classes are capable of developing a heart of love free of enmity and ill will for this region.”

“Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, khattiyakulā cepi agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ. Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.

“In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, brāhmaṇova nu kho pahoti sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ gantvā rajojallaṁ pavāhetuṁ, no khattiyo no vesso no suddo”ti?

What do you think, brahmin? Is only a brahmin capable of taking some bathing paste of powdered shell, going to the river, and washing off dust and dirt, and not an aristocrat, peasant, or menial?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama. Khattiyopi hi, bho gotama, pahoti sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ gantvā rajojallaṁ pavāhetuṁ; brāhmaṇopi hi, bho gotama … vessopi hi, bho gotama … suddopi hi, bho gotama … sabbepi hi, bho gotama, cattāro vaṇṇā pahonti sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ gantvā rajojallaṁ pavāhetun”ti.

“No, Master Gotama. All four classes are capable of doing this.”

“Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, khattiyakulā cepi agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ. Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.

“In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One … they succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, idha rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto nānājaccānaṁ purisānaṁ purisasataṁ sannipāteyya: ‘āyantu bhonto ye tattha khattiyakulā brāhmaṇakulā rājaññakulā uppannā sākassa vā sālassa vā salaḷassa vā candanassa vā padumakassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbattentu, tejo pātukarontu; āyantu pana bhonto ye tattha caṇḍālakulā nesādakulā venakulā rathakārakulā pukkusakulā uppannā sāpānadoṇiyā vā sūkaradoṇiyā vā rajakadoṇiyā vā eraṇḍakaṭṭhassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbattentu, tejo pātukarontū’”ti?

What do you think, brahmin? Suppose an anointed aristocratic king were to gather a hundred people born in different castes and say to them: ‘Please gentlemen, let anyone here who was born in a family of aristocrats, brahmins, or chieftains take a drill-stick made of teak, sal, frankincense wood, sandalwood, or cherry wood, light a fire and produce heat. And let anyone here who was born in a family of outcastes, hunters, bamboo-workers, chariot-makers, or waste-collectors take a drill-stick made from a dog’s drinking trough, a pig’s trough, a dustbin, or castor-oil wood, light a fire and produce heat.’

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, yo evaṁ nu kho so khattiyakulā brāhmaṇakulā rājaññakulā uppannehi sākassa vā sālassa vā salaḷassa vā candanassa vā padumakassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggi abhinibbatto tejo pātukato so eva nu khvāssa aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro ca tena ca sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātuṁ; yo pana so caṇḍālakulā nesādakulā venakulā rathakārakulā pukkusakulā uppannehi sāpānadoṇiyā vā sūkaradoṇiyā vā rajakadoṇiyā vā eraṇḍakaṭṭhassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggi abhinibbatto tejo pātukato svāssa aggi na ceva accimā na ca vaṇṇavā na ca pabhassaro na ca tena sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātun”ti?

What do you think, brahmin? Would only the fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire, and not the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama. Yopi hi so, bho gotama, khattiyakulā brāhmaṇakulā rājaññakulā uppannehi sākassa vā sālassa vā salaḷassa vā candanassa vā padumakassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggi abhinibbatto tejo pātukato svāssa aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro ca tena ca sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātuṁ; yopi so caṇḍālakulā nesādakulā venakulā rathakārakulā pukkusakulā uppannehi sāpānadoṇiyā vā sūkaradoṇiyā vā rajakadoṇiyā vā eraṇḍakaṭṭhassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggi abhinibbatto tejo pātukato svāssa aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro ca tena ca sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātuṁ. Sabbopi hi, bho gotama, aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro ca sabbenapi sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātun”ti.

“No, Master Gotama. The fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood would have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire, and so would the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood. For all fire has flames, color, and radiance, and is usable as fire.”

“Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, khattiyakulā cepi agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ. Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa … suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, abrahmacariyā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, anabhijjhālu hoti, abyāpannacitto hoti, sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalan”ti.

“In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, or menials goes forth from the lay life to homelessness. Relying on the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One they refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, and sex. They refrain from using speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re not covetous or malicious, and they have right view. They succeed in the system of the skillful teaching.”

Evaṁ vutte, esukārī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he had spoken, Esukārī said to him, “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Esukārīsuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.