sutta » sn » sn7 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.21

Saṅgāravasutta

With Saṅgārava Saṅgārava

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena parisuddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharati.
Now at that time there was a brahmin named Saṅgārava staying in Sāvatthī. He practiced purification by water, believing in purification by water. He lived committed to the practice of immersing himself in water at dawn and dusk.
Now on that occasion a brahmin named Saṅgārava was residing at Sāvatthī. He was a practitioner of water-purification, one who believed in purification by water, who dwelt devoted to the practice of immersing himself in water at dusk and at dawn.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
Then, in the morning, the Venerable Ānanda dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
He wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
Having walked for alms in Sāvatthī, when he had returned from his alms round, after his meal he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“idha, bhante, saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharati.
“Sir, there is a brahmin named Saṅgārava staying in Sāvatthī. He practices purification by water, believing in purification by water. He lives devoted to ritual bathing at dawn and dusk.
“Here, venerable sir, a brahmin named Saṅgārava is residing at Sāvatthī. He is a practitioner of water-purification … devoted to the practice of immersing himself in water at dusk and at dawn.

Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.
Please visit him at his home out of sympathy.”
It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the residence of the brahmin Saṅgārava out of compassion.”

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.
The Buddha consented with silence.
The Blessed One consented by silence.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Saṅgārava, and sat down on the seat spread out.
Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking bowl and robe, approached the brahmin Saṅgārava’s residence, where he sat down in the appointed seat.

Atha kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then the brahmin Saṅgārava went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Then the brahmin Saṅgārava approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him, after which he sat down to one side.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho saṅgāravaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,
The Blessed One then said to him:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharasī”ti?
“Is it really true, brahmin, that you practice purification by water, believing in purification by water; that you live committed to the practice of immersing yourself in water at dawn and dusk?”
“Is it true, brahmin, that you are a practitioner of water-purification, one who believes in purification by water, devoted to the practice of immersing yourself in water at dusk and at dawn?”

“Evaṁ, bho gotama”.
“Yes, Mister Gotama.”
“Yes, Master Gotama.”

“Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakasuddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharasī”ti?
“But brahmin, for what reason do you practice purification by water?”
“Considering what benefit do you do this, brahmin?”

“Idha me, bho gotama, yaṁ divā pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti, taṁ sāyaṁ nhānena pavāhemi, yaṁ rattiṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti taṁ pātaṁ nhānena pavāhemi.
“It’s because, Mister Gotama, whatever bad deeds I’ve done during the day I wash off by bathing at dusk; and whatever bad deeds I’ve done during the night, I wash off by bathing at dawn.
“Here, Master Gotama, whatever evil deed I have done during the day I wash away by bathing at dusk. Whatever evil deed I have done at night I wash away by bathing at dawn.”

Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccemi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharāmī”ti.
That’s the reason why I practice purification by water.”

“Dhammo rahado brāhmaṇa sīlatittho,
“The teaching is a lake with shores of ethics, brahmin,
“The Dhamma, brahmin, is a lake with fords of virtue—

Anāvilo sabbhi sataṁ pasattho;
unclouded, praised by the fine to the good.
A limpid lake the good praise to the good—

Yattha have vedaguno sinātā,
There the knowledge masters go to bathe,
Where the knowledge-masters go to bathe,

Anallagattāva taranti pāran”ti.
and cross to the far shore without getting wet.”
And, dry-limbed, cross to the far shore.”

Evaṁ vutte, saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, Saṅgārava said to the Buddha,
When this was said, the brahmin Saṅgārava said to the Blessed One:

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

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.”
Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.”