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 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.
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.

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

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

“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 the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, on that occasion recited these verses:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

upayanti mahesino.
The great seers of right conduct.

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

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

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

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

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

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