sutta » sn » sn3 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.9

Yaññasutta

Sacrifice Sacrifice

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito hoti, pañca ca usabhasatāni pañca ca vacchatarasatāni pañca ca vacchatarisatāni pañca ca ajasatāni pañca ca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya.
Now at that time a big sacrifice had been set up for King Pasenadi of Kosala. Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams—five hundred of each—had been led to the pillar for the sacrifice.
Now on that occasion a great sacrifice had been set up for King Pasenadi of Kosala. Five hundred bulls, five hundred bullocks, five hundred heifers, five hundred goats, and five hundred rams had been led to the pillar for the sacrifice.

Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karonti.
His bondservants, servants, and workers did their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping with tearful faces.
And his slaves, servants, and workers, spurred on by punishment and fear, were busy making the preparations, wailing with tearful faces.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.
Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
Then, in the morning, a number of bhikkhus dressed and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening.
When they had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and had returned from their alms round, after the meal they approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said:

“idha, bhante, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito hoti, pañca ca usabhasatāni pañca ca vacchatarasatāni pañca ca vacchatarisatāni pañca ca ajasatāni pañca ca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya.
“Here, venerable sir, a great sacrifice has been set up for King Pasenadi of Kosala. Five hundred bulls . . . have been led to the pillar for the sacrifice.

Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karontī”ti.
And his slaves servants, and workers, spurred on by punishment and fear, are busy making preparations, wailing with tearful faces. ”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:
Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, on that occasion recited these verses:

“Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,
“Horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,
“The horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,

sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ;
the sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’,

Niraggaḷaṁ mahārambhā,
the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’—
These great sacrifices, fraught with violence,

na te honti mahapphalā.
these huge violent sacrifices yield no great fruit.
Do not bring great fruit.

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,
The great sages of right comportment
“Where goats, sheep, and cattle

vividhā yattha haññare;
don’t attend sacrifices
Of various kinds are slain,

Na taṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,
where goats, sheep, and cattle
They do not attend that sacrifice:

upayanti mahesino.
and various creatures are killed.
The great seers of right conduct.

Ye ca yaññā nirārambhā,
But the great sages of right comportment
“But when sacrifices free from violence

yajanti anukulaṁ sadā;
do attend non-violent sacrifices
Are always offered by family custom,

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,
of regular family tradition,
Where no goats, sheep, or cattle

vividhā nettha haññare;
where goats, sheep, and cattle,
Of various kinds are slain:

Etaṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,
and various creatures aren’t killed.
They attend a sacrifice like this:

upayanti mahesino.
The great seers of right conduct.

Etaṁ yajetha medhāvī,
A clever person should sacrifice like this,
“The wise person should offer this,

eso yañño mahapphalo;
for this sacrifice is very fruitful.
A sacrifice bringing great fruit.

Etañhi yajamānassa,
For a sponsor of sacrifices like this,
For one who makes such sacrifice

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo;
things get better, not worse.
It is indeed better, never worse.

Yañño ca vipulo hoti,
Such a sacrifice is truly abundant,
Such a sacrifice is truly vast

pasīdanti ca devatā”ti.
and even the deities are pleased.”
And the devatās too are pleased. ”