Majjhima Nikaya - Veranjaka Sutta

42. Veranjaka Sutta - English Majjhima Nikàya I.
4. 2. Vera¤jakasuttaü
(42) The Discourse to the Householders of Veranjaka

I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anathapindika
in Jeta's grove in Sàvatthi. At that time the brahmin householders of Veranjaka
were resident in Sàvatthi, having come to Sàvatthi on some purpose. They heard
that. the good recluse Gotama, the son of the Sakyas, who had gone forth from
the clan of the Sakyas was abiding in the monastery offered by Anàthapindika in
Jeta's grove in Sàvatthi. Such fame had spread about him, the Blessed One is
perfect, rightfully enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, is well
gone. He is knower of worlds, and is the incomparable tamer of those to be
tamed. He is Teacher of gods and men, is enlightened and blessed. To this world
of gods and men, together with its Màras, Brahmàs, the community of recluses,
brahmins, gods and men, he declares a teaching by himself known and realised. It
is good at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. It is full of meaning
even in the letters and proclaims the pure and complete, holy life. It is good
to see such noble ones. Then the brahmin householders of Veranja approached the
Blessed One. Some worshipped the Blessed One, some exchanged friendly greetings
with the Blessed One, some clasped hands towards the Blessed One, some announced
their clan and name, and some were silent. They all sat on a side. Then those
brahmin householders said thus to the Blessed One: Good Gotama, why do some
beings go to loss, to hell after death and why do some others go to increase and
be born in heaven, after death? O! householders, owing to misbehaving and not
living according to the Teaching some go to loss go to hell and others
conducting themselves well and living according to the Teaching go to increase
and are born in heaven, after death. We do not understand this short exposition
of good Gotama. Good if this short exposition be explained to us. The Blessed
One said, then householders listen and attend carefully I will explain.
O! householders, threefold is wrong conduct by body, fourfold is wrong conduct
by words, and threefold is wrong conduct by mind. Householders, what is the
threefold bodily wrong conduct?. Here, a certain one is cruel, destroys living
things, is with bloody hands. Engaged in destroying living things without
compassion. From village or forest takes others' possessions stealthily. Takes
what is not given. . Misbehaves in sexuality, misbehaving with those protected
by father, mother, mother and father, by brother, sister, relations, with those
with a husband, becoming liable to punishment, or even those garlanded and made
to promise. Householders this is the threefold bodily wrong conduct.
Householders, what is the fourfold verbal wrong conduct? Here, householders, a
certain one tells lies, in an assembly, at a gathering, amidst relations, gone
to the guild, or in the presence of the royal family. Called upon to stand
witness and asked to tell what he knows, not knowing would say I know. Knowing
would say I do not know. Not seeing would say I saw, seeing would say, I did not
see. Thus for his benefit, for another's benefit, or for some small gain he
would tell lies with awareness. Would slander, hearing here would tell it
elsewhere to make a split here. Hearing elsewhere would tell it here to make a
split there. Thus he disunites the united, fond of disuniting talks words to
disunite. Would talk roughly, saying insolent words that are sharp and cursing.
Words bordering on anger and not conductive to concentration. Would say
frivolous, untimely, untruthful words, not in keeping with the Teaching and the
discipline. Words that could not be treasured. Householders, this is the
fourfold verbal wrong conduct. Householders, what is the threefold mental wrong
conduct? Here, householders, one covets [1] others' possessions, thinks may
those things be mine. Is angry with a defiled mind, thinks may they come to
destruction and not exist. Is with wrong, perverted view that there are no
results for a gift and sacrfice. There are no results for pure and impure
actions. There is no this world, no other world, no mother, father, no
spontaneously arisen beings and no recluses and brahmins who have come to the
right path and by themselves realising declare this world and the other world.
Householders, this is the threefold mental wrong conduct O! householders, on
account of this wrong conduct and not living in accordance with the Teaching, a
certain one after death is born in loss and go to hell. [2]
O! householders, right conduct by body is threefold, by words fourfold and by
mind threefold. Householders, what is the threefold right bodily conduct? Here,
a certain one abstains from destroying living things, throwing away stick and
weapon ashamed abides compassionate to all living things In village or forest
does not take what is not given, the possessions of others. Does not misbehave
in sexuality, not misbehaving with those protected by father, mother, mother and
father, brother, sister, relations, or with those with a husband, becoming
liable to punishment, or even those garlanded and made to promise. Householders
this is the threefold right conduct by body. Householders, what is the fourfold
right conduct by words?. Here, householders, a certain one does not tell lies.
In an assembly, a gathering, in the midst of relations, gone to the guild, or in
the presence of the royal family, called upon to stand witness, when asked to
tell what he knows, not knowing would say, I do not know. Knowing would say I
know. Not seeing would say I did not see, and seeing would say, I saw. Thus for
his own good or for another's or for some small gain he would not tell lies with
awareness. Would not slander, hearing here would not tell it elsewhere to make a
split here. Hearing elsewhere would not tell it here to make a split there. Thus
does not disunite the united, fond of uniting would talk words to unite. Would
not talk roughly, saying polite loving words going straight to the heart, words
pleasing to the populace at large. Not talking frivolously, would talk words
that are timely, truthful and in accordance with the Teaching and the
discipline. Words that could be treasured. Householders, this is the fourfold
right conduct in words. Householders, what is the threefold mental good conduct?
Here, householders, one does not covet others' possessions, thinking may they be
mine. Is not angry and not with a defiled mind, thinking may these beings be
well and happy. Is with right view not perverted. There are results for a gift
and sacrifice There are results for pure and impure actions. There is this
world, and the other world There is mother, father, and spontaneously arisen
beings. In this world there are recluses and brahmins who have come to the right
path and by themselves realising declare this world and the other world.
Householders, this is the threefold mental right conduct. On account of this
right conduct and living according to the Teaching, a certain one after death is
born in increase in heaven. [3]
Householders, if someone living in right conduct, according to the Teaching,
were to wish, may I be born with the warrior householders after death, there is
a possibility that he will be born with the warrior householders, after death.
What is the reason: It happens to him living in right conduct, according to the
Teaching. -may I be born with the brahmin householders after death,--with the
householder stock after death, There is a possibility, that he will be born with
the householder stock after death. . Householders, if someone living in right
conduct, according to the Teaching, were to wish, may I be born with the retinue
of the protecting gods - with the retinue of the gods of the thirty-three,--with
the Yàma gods,--with the gods of happiness, --with the gods attached to
creating, -- with the gods attached to creating others, with gods holding brahma
bodies, -- with the gods of lustre,--with gods of limited lustre,--with gods of
limitless lustre,--with the radiant gods,-- with the gods of pleasantness,--with
the gods of limited pleasantness,-- with the gods of limitless
pleasantness,--with the gods full of happiness,--with the gods wielding power in
space,--with the gods of non-destruction, --with the dissatisfied gods,--with
the gods with insight,--with the gods of the highest heaven,--with the retinue
of gods, in the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere
of neither -perception -nor -non -perception, after death, there is a
possibility, that they will be born, with the retinue of the gods in the sphere
of neither-perception-nor-non- perception. What is the reason. It happens to
those living in right conduct, according to the Teaching. If someone living in
right conduct according to the Teaching were to wish, may I destroying desires,
the mind released and released through wisdom, here and now realise and abide,
there is a possibility that he should, destroying desires, the mind released and
released through wisdom, here and now will realise and abide. What is the
reason: It happens to those living in right conduct
When this was said, the brahmin householders of Sàlà said thus to the Blessed
One. Now we understand venerable sir. It is as though good Gotama has reinstated
something that was over turned. Made manifest something that was covered. As
though the path was told to those who have lost their way. As though an oil lamp
was lighted for those who have sight to see forms. Thus in many ways the
Teaching is explained. Now we take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and
the Community of bhikkhus. We are disciples who have taken refuge in good
Gotama, from today until life lasts.



[1] To covet (abhijjhàlu hoti) is something done with the mind. It's to think
greedily of other's possessions. It is one of the ten demerits.
[2] On account of this wrong conduct and not living according to the Teaching, a
certain one after death is born in loss and go to hell (evaü adhammacariyà
visamacariyà hetu kho gahapatayo evamidhekacce sattà kàyassa bedhà paraü maranà
apàyaü duggatiü vinipàtaü nirayaü uppajjanti). The Blessed One here does not
mention that all those who follow the wrong conduct and do not live according
the Teaching, after death, go to loss and hell. So there is an interrogation. We
should make a thorough inquiry into this.
[3] On account of this right conduct and living according to the Teaching, a
certain one after death is born in increase in heaven (evaü dhammacariyà
samacariyà hetu kho gahapatayo evamidhekacce sattà kàyassa bedhà paraü maranà
sugatiü saggaü lokaü uppajjanti). Again the Blessed One here does not mention,
that all those who follow the right conduct and live according to the Teaching,
after death are born in increase, in heaven. The mere following up of these ten
actions of merit -'dasakusalakammà'do not lead one to heaven, there should be
some convincement about one's actions. So the Blessed One in this Sutta explains
that the doer of those actions should have some aspiration for something higher
than what one is now established in. There should be the nature