Majjhima Nikāya 96

Translators: sujato

Middle Discourses 96

Esukārīsutta

With Esukārī

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
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.
Then Esukārī the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho esukārī brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
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—
“Mister Gotama, the brahmins prescribe four kinds of service:

brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti, suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti.
for a brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti:
This is the service they prescribe for a brahmin:

‘brāhmaṇo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, khattiyo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, vesso vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā brāhmaṇaṁ paricareyyā’ti.
‘A brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial may all serve a brahmin.’

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti:
This is the service they prescribe for an aristocrat:

‘khattiyo vā khattiyaṁ paricareyya, vesso vā khattiyaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā khattiyaṁ paricareyyā’ti.
‘An aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial may all serve an aristocrat.’

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti:
This is the service they prescribe for a peasant:

‘vesso vā vessaṁ paricareyya, suddo vā vessaṁ paricareyyā’ti.
‘A peasant or a menial may serve a peasant.’

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti:
This is the service they prescribe for a menial:

‘suddova suddaṁ paricareyya.
‘Only a menial may serve a menial.

Ko panañño suddaṁ paricarissatī’ti?
For who else will serve a menial?’

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa pāricariyaṁ paññapenti.

Brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, imā catasso pāricariyā paññapenti.
These are the four kinds of service that the brahmins prescribe.

Idha bhavaṁ gotamo kimāhā”ti?
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, Mister 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 chop on a poor, penniless person, telling them, “Eat this meat and pay for it!”

Evameva kho, brāhmaṇa, brāhmaṇā appaṭiññāya tesaṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ, atha ca panimā catasso pāricariyā paññapenti.
In the same way, the brahmins have prescribed these four kinds of service without the consent of those ascetics and brahmins.

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ paricaritabban’ti vadāmi; nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ na paricaritabban’ti vadāmi.
Brahmin, I don’t say that you should serve everyone, nor do I say that you shouldn’t serve anyone.

Yaṁ hissa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, nāhaṁ taṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi;
I say that you shouldn’t serve someone if serving them makes you worse, not better.

yañca khvāssa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo tamahaṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi.
And I say that you should serve someone if serving them makes you better, not worse.

Khattiyañcepi, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:
If they were to ask an aristocrat this,

‘yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, yaṁ vā te paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo;
‘Who should you serve? Someone in whose service you get worse, or someone in whose service you get better?’

kamettha paricareyyāsī’ti, khattiyopi hi, brāhmaṇa, sammā byākaramāno evaṁ byākareyya:
Answering rightly, an aristocrat would say,

‘yañhi me paricarato pāricariyāhetu pāpiyo assa na seyyo, nāhaṁ taṁ paricareyyaṁ; yañca kho me paricarato pāricariyāhetu seyyo assa na pāpiyo tamahaṁ paricareyyan’ti.
‘Someone in whose service I get better.’

Brāhmaṇañcepi, brāhmaṇa …pe…
If they were to ask a brahmin …

vessañcepi, brāhmaṇa …pe…
a peasant …

suddañcepi, brāhmaṇa, evaṁ puccheyyuṁ:
or a menial this,

kamettha paricareyyāsī’ti, suddopi hi, brāhmaṇa, sammā byākaramāno evaṁ byākareyya:
Answering rightly, a menial would say,

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uccākulīnatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uccākulīnatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi;
Brahmin, I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you a better or worse person.

nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷāravaṇṇatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷāravaṇṇatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi;
I don’t say that being very beautiful makes you a better or worse person.

nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷārabhogatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘uḷārabhogatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.
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.
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.

Tasmā ‘na uccākulīnatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi.
That’s why I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you an even truer 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.
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.

Tasmā ‘na uccākulīnatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.
That’s why I don’t say that coming from an eminent family makes you a worse person.

Uḷāravaṇṇopi hi, brāhmaṇa …
People who are very beautiful,

pe…
or not very beautiful,

uḷārabhogopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātī hoti …
who are very wealthy,

pe…
or not very wealthy,

micchādiṭṭhi hoti.
may also behave in the same ways.

Tasmā ‘na uḷārabhogatā seyyaṁso’ti vadāmi.
That’s why I don’t say that any of these things makes you a better or worse person.

Uḷārabhogopi hi, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti.

Tasmā ‘na uḷārabhogatā pāpiyaṁso’ti vadāmi.

Nāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ paricaritabban’ti vadāmi, na panāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, ‘sabbaṁ na paricaritabban’ti vadāmi.
Brahmin, I don’t say that you should serve everyone, nor do I say that you shouldn’t serve anyone.

Yaṁ hissa, brāhmaṇa, paricarato pāricariyāhetu saddhā vaḍḍhati, sīlaṁ vaḍḍhati, sutaṁ vaḍḍhati, cāgo vaḍḍhati, paññā vaḍḍhati, tamahaṁ ‘paricaritabban’ti vadāmi.
And I say that you should serve someone if serving them makes you grow in faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom.

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.
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—
“Mister Gotama, the brahmins prescribe four kinds of wealth:

brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti, suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti.
for a brahmin, an aristocrat, a peasant, and a menial.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti bhikkhācariyaṁ;
The wealth they prescribe for a brahmin is living on alms.

bhikkhācariyañca pana brāhmaṇo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti.
A brahmin who scorns his own wealth, living on alms, fails in his duty like a guard who steals.

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti dhanukalāpaṁ;
The wealth they prescribe for an aristocrat is the bow and quiver.

dhanukalāpañca pana khattiyo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti.
An aristocrat who scorns his own wealth, the bow and quiver, fails in his duty like a guard who steals.

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā khattiyassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti kasigorakkhaṁ;
The wealth they prescribe for a peasant is farming and animal husbandry.

kasigorakkhañca pana vesso sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti.
A peasant who scorns his own wealth, farming and animal husbandry, fails in his duty like a guard who steals.

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā vessassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti.

Tatridaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti asitabyābhaṅgiṁ;
The wealth they prescribe for a menial is the scythe and flail.

asitabyābhaṅgiñca pana suddo sandhanaṁ atimaññamāno akiccakārī hoti gopova adinnaṁ ādiyamānoti.
A menial who scorns his own wealth, the scythe and flail, fails in his duty like a guard who steals.

Idaṁ kho, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā suddassa sandhanaṁ paññapenti.

Brāhmaṇā, bho gotama, imāni cattāri dhanāni paññapenti.
These are the four kinds of wealth that the brahmins prescribe.

Idha bhavaṁ gotamo kimāhā”ti?
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, Mister Gotama.”

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.
I declare that a person’s own wealth is the noble, transcendent teaching.

Porāṇaṁ kho panassa mātāpettikaṁ kulavaṁsaṁ anussarato yattha yattheva attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti tena teneva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.
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;
If they incarnate in a family of aristocrats they are reckoned as an aristocrat.

brāhmaṇakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘brāhmaṇo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati;
If they incarnate in a family of brahmins they are reckoned as a brahmin.

vessakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘vesso’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati;
If they incarnate in a family of peasants they are reckoned as a peasant.

suddakule ce attabhāvassa abhinibbatti hoti ‘suddo’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.
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.
It’s like fire, which is reckoned according to the very same condition dependent upon which it burns.

Kaṭṭhañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘kaṭṭhaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati;
A fire that burns dependent on logs is reckoned as a log fire.

sakalikañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘sakalikaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati;
A fire that burns dependent on twigs is reckoned as a twig fire.

tiṇañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘tiṇaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati;
A fire that burns dependent on grass is reckoned as a grass fire.

gomayañce paṭicca aggi jalati ‘gomayaggi’tveva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.
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.
In the same way, I declare that a person’s own wealth is the noble, transcendent teaching.

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.
Suppose someone from a family of brahmins …

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

Suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.
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,
What do you think, brahmin?

brāhmaṇova nu kho pahoti asmiṁ padese averaṁ abyābajjhaṁ mettacittaṁ bhāvetuṁ, no khattiyo no vesso no suddo”ti?
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.
“No, Mister Gotama.

Khattiyopi hi, bho gotama, pahoti asmiṁ padese averaṁ abyābajjhaṁ mettacittaṁ bhāvetuṁ;
Aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials can all do so.

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.
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.
“In the same way, suppose someone from a family of aristocrats,

Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
brahmins,

vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
peasants,

suddakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa, agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti, so ca tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti …pe… sammādiṭṭhi hoti, ārādhako hoti ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ kusalaṁ.
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,
What do you think, brahmin?

brāhmaṇova nu kho pahoti sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ gantvā rajojallaṁ pavāhetuṁ, no khattiyo no vesso no suddo”ti?
Is only a brahmin capable of taking some bathing cleanser, going to the river, and washing off dust and dirt, and not an aristocrat, peasant, or menial?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama.
“No, Mister 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.
All four classes are capable of doing this.”

Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
brahmins,

vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
peasants,

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa,
What do you think, brahmin?

idha rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto nānājaccānaṁ purisānaṁ purisasataṁ sannipāteyya:
Suppose an anointed aristocratic king were to gather a hundred people born in different classes and say to them:

‘āyantu bhonto ye tattha khattiyakulā brāhmaṇakulā rājaññakulā uppannā sākassa vā sālassa vā salaḷassa vā candanassa vā padumakassa vā uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbattentu, tejo pātukarontu;
‘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.

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?
And let anyone here who was born in a family of corpse-workers, hunters, bamboo-workers, chariot-makers, or scavengers 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,
What do you think, brahmin?

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;
Would only the fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire,

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?
and not the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood?”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama.
“No, Mister 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;
The fire produced by the high class people with good quality wood would have flames, color, and radiance, and be usable as fire,

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.
and so would the fire produced by the low class people with poor quality wood.

Sabbopi hi, bho gotama, aggi accimā ceva vaṇṇavā ca pabhassaro ca sabbenapi sakkā agginā aggikaraṇīyaṁ kātun”ti.
For all fire has flames, color, and radiance, and is usable as fire.”

Brāhmaṇakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
brahmins,

vessakulā cepi, brāhmaṇa …
peasants,

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.
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:
When he had spoken, Esukārī said to him,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
“Excellent, Mister Gotama! Excellent! …

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may Mister Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Esukārīsuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.