Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.4

Translators: sujato

Linked Discourses 45.4

1. Avijjāvagga
1. Ignorance

Jāṇussoṇibrāhmaṇasutta

Regarding the Brahmin Jānussoṇi

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.

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.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ.
He saw the brahmin Jānussoṇi driving out of Sāvatthī in a splendid all-white chariot drawn by mares.

Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati.
The yoked horses were pure white, as were the ornaments, chariot, upholstery, reins, goad, and canopy. And his turban, robes, sandals were white, as was the chowry fanning him.

Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha:
When people saw it they exclaimed,

“brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ.
“Wow! That’s a divine vehicle!

Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho”ti.
It’s a vehicle fit for divinity!”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Ānanda 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 told him what had happened, adding,

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ.

Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha:

‘brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ.

Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho’ti.

Sakkā nu kho, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmayānaṁ paññāpetun”ti?
“Sir, can you point out a divine vehicle in this teaching and training?”

“Sakkā, ānandā”ti bhagavā avoca:
“I can, Ānanda,” said the Buddha.

“imasseva kho etaṁ, ānanda, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ:
“These are all terms for the noble eightfold path:

‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipīti.
‘divine vehicle, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.

Sammādiṭṭhi, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosavinayapariyosānā hoti, mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.
When right view is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

Sammāsaṅkappo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosavinayapariyosāno hoti, mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.
When right thought …

Sammāvācā, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.
right speech …

Sammākammanto, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.
right action …

Sammāājīvo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.
right livelihood …

Sammāvāyāmo, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.
right effort …

Sammāsati, ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosānā hoti.
right mindfulness …

Sammāsamādhi, ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa …pe… mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.
right immersion is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

Iminā kho etaṁ, ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā imassevetaṁ ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ:
This is a way to understand how these are all terms for the noble eightfold path:

‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī”ti.
‘vehicle of divine’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Yassa saddhā ca paññā ca,
“Its qualities of faith and wisdom

Dhammā yuttā sadā dhuraṁ;
are always yoked to the shaft.

Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ,
Conscience is its pole, mind its strap,

Sati ārakkhasārathi.
and mindfulness its careful driver.

Ratho sīlaparikkhāro,
The chariot’s equipped with ethics,

jhānakkho cakkavīriyo;
its axle is absorption, and energy its wheel.

Upekkhā dhurasamādhi,
Equanimity and immersion are the carriage-shaft,

anicchā parivāraṇaṁ.
and it’s upholstered with desirelessness.

Abyāpādo avihiṁsā,
Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion

viveko yassa āvudhaṁ;
are its weapons,

Titikkhā cammasannāho,
patience its shield and armor,

yogakkhemāya vattati.
as it rolls on to sanctuary from the yoke.

Etadattani sambhūtaṁ,
This supreme divine vehicle

brahmayānaṁ anuttaraṁ;
arises in oneself.

Niyyanti dhīrā lokamhā,
The attentive leave the world in it,

aññadatthu jayaṁ jayan”ti.
sure of winning the victory.”

Catutthaṁ.