Digha Nikaya - Sonadanda Sutta

IV. SONADANDA SUTTA.
[CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRUE BRAHMAN.]

[111] I. Thus have I heard. The Blessed One once, when going on a tour
through the Anga country with a great multitude of the brethren, with about five
hundred brethren, arrived at Kampâ{1}. And there at Kampâ he lodged on the bank
of the Gaggarâ Lake{2}.
Now at that time the Brahman Sonadanda was dwelling at Kampâ, a place teeming
with life{3}, with much grassland and woodland and water and corn, on a royal
domain granted him by Seniya Bimbisâra, the king of Magadhâ{4}, as a royal fief,
with power over it as if he were the king.
2. Now the Brahmans and householders of Kampâ heard the news: 'They say that
the Samana Gotama of the Sâkya clan, who went out from a Sâkya family to adopt
the religious life, has now arrived, with a great
{1. Kampâ, the capital of Angâ, was on the East bank of the river of the same
name (Gât. IV, 454), which formed the Eastern boundary of Magadhâ. It was close
to the modern Bagulpur, about Lat. 24° 10' by Long. 87°. Like other names of
famous places in India, it was used over again by colonists in the Far East, and
there means what we now call Cochin China and Annam (I-Tsing, p. 58).
2. So called after Queen Gaggarâ, who had had it excavated, says Buddhaghosa
(Sum. I, 279). He adds that on its banks was a grove or champaka trees, so well
known for the fragrance of their beautiful white flowers. It was under those
trees that the wandering mendicants put up.
3. Sattussada. The meaning is really quite settled, though Fausböll wrongly
translates ussada 'desire,' and Oldenberg and myself 'uneven,' at S. N. 783 =
Vin. I, 3. See No. 15 in the list of the thirty-two marks. Also Gât. IV, 188 =
Dhp. A. 339; Gât. IV, 60 = Dhp. A. 95; Gât. IV, 4; P. G. D. 22-44; Asl.307.
4. In the Buddha's time Angâ was subject to Magadhâ.}
{p. 145}
company of the brethren at Kampâ, and is staying there on the shore of the
Gaggarâ Lake. Now regarding that venerable Gotama, such is the high reputation
that has been noised abroad:--That Blessed One is an Arahat, a fully awakened
one, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds,
unsurpassed as a guide to mortals willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men,
a Blessed One, a Buddha. He, by himself, thoroughly knows and sees, as it were,
face to face this universe,--including the worlds above of the gods, the
Brahmas, and the Mâras, and the world below with its recluses and Brahmans, its
princes and peoples,--and having known it, he makes his knowledge known to
others. The truth, lovely in its origin, lovely in its progress, lovely in its
consummation, doth he proclaim, both in the spirit and in the letter, the higher
life cloth he make known, in all its fullness and in all its purity.
'And good is it to pay visits to Arahats like that.'
[112] And the Brahmans and householders of Kampâ began to leave Kampâ in
companies and in bands from each district{1}, so that they could be counted, to
go to the Gaggarâ Lake.
3. Now at that time Sonadanda the Brahman had gone apart to the upper terrace
of his house for his siesta, and seeing the people thus go by, he said to his
doorkeeper: 'Why are the people of Kampâ going forth like this towards the
Gaggarâ Lake?'
Then the doorkeeper told him the news. And he said: 'Then, good doorkeeper,
go to the Brahmans and householders of Kampâ, and say to them: "Sonadanda the
Brahman desires them to wait. He will himself come to see the Samana Gotama."'
'Very well, Sir,' said the doorkeeper, and he did so.
[113] 4. Now at that time there were about five hundred Brahmans from
different kingdoms lodging at Kampâ for some business or other. And when they
heard that Sonadanda was intending to visit the
{1. Perhaps in 'companies and separately'; but I follow Buddhaghosa. Comp. M. I,
231; A. II, 55.}
{p. 146}
Samana Gotama, they went to Sonadanda, and asked whether that was so.
'That is my intention, Sirs. I propose to call on the Samana Gotama.'
'Let not the venerable Sonadanda do that. It is not fitting for him to do so.
If it were the venerable Sonadanda who went to call upon him, then the venerable
Sonadanda's reputation would decrease and the Samana Gotama's would increase.
This is the first reason why you, Sir, should not call upon him, but he upon
you.'
5. And they laid before Sonadanda the Brahman in like manner also other
considerations, to wit:
That he was well born on both sides, of pure descent through the mother and
through the father back through seven generations, with no slur put upon him,
and no reproach, in respect of birth.--
That he was prosperous, well to do, and rich--
[114] That he was a repeater (of the sacred words), knowing the mystic verses
by heart, one who had mastered the Three Vedas, with the indices, the ritual,
the phonology, and the exegesis (as a fourth), and the legends as a fifth,
learned in the words and in the grammar, versed in Lokâyata (Nature-lore), and
in the theory of the signs on the body of a great man--
That he was handsome, pleasant to look upon, inspiring trust, gifted with
great beauty of complexion, fair in colour, fine in presence{1}, stately{2} to
behold--
That he was virtuous, increased in virtue, gifted with virtue that had waxed
great--
That he had a pleasant voice and pleasing delivery, and was gifted with
polite address, distinct, not husky{3}, suitable for making clear the matter in
hand--
That he was the teacher of the teachers of many,
{1. Brahma-vakkasî. 'With a body like that of Mahâ Brahmâ,' says Buddhaghosa (p.
282). The Burmese and Siamese MSS. read vakkhasî
2. Akkhuddâvakâso, for which Buddhaghosa (pp. 282, 284) gives three
contradictory explanations.
3. Anelagalâya. 'Not slobbering,' says Buddhaghosa.}
{p. 147}
instructing three hundred Brahmans in the repetition of the mystic verses, and
that many young Brahmans, from various directions and various counties, all
craving for the verses, came to learn them by heart under him--
That he was aged, old, and well stricken in years, long-lived and full of
days--
That he was honoured, held of weight, esteemed worthy, venerated and revered
by Seniya Bimbisâra, the king of Magadhâ--
That he was honoured, held of weight, esteemed worthy, venerated and revered
by Pokkharasâdi, the Brahman--
That he dwelt at Kampâ, a place teeming with life, with much grassland and
woodland and corn, on a royal fief granted him by Seniya Bimbisâra, the king of
Magadhâ, as a royal gift, with power over it as if he were the king--
For each of these reasons it was not fitting that he, Sonadanda the Brahman,
should call upon the Samana Gotama, but rather that the Samana Gotama should
call upon him.
6. And when they had thus spoken, Sonadanda said to them:
[115] 'Then, Sirs, listen, and hear why it is fitting that I should call upon
the venerable Gotama, and not he should call upon me--
'Truly, Sirs, the venerable Gotama is well born on both sides, of pure
descent through the mother and the father back through seven generations, with
no slur put upon him, and no reproach in respect of birth--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama has gone forth (into the religious life),
giving up the great clan of his relations{1}--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama has gone forth (into the religious life),
giving up much money and gold, treasure both buried and above the ground--
{1. 'Eighty thousand families on the mother's, and eighty thousand on the
father's side,' says Buddhaghosa--making a total for the Sâkya clan of 800,000,
reckoning five to a family.}
{p. 148}
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama, while he was still a young man, without a
grey hair on his head, in the beauty of his early manhood, has gone forth from
the household life into the homeless state--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama, though his father and mother were unwilling,
and wept, their cheeks being wet with tears, nevertheless cut off his hair and
beard, and donned the yellow robes, and went out from the household life into
the homeless state--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama is handsome, pleasant to look upon, inspiring
trust, gifted with great beauty of complexion, fair in colour, fine in presence,
stately to behold--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama is virtuous with the virtue of the Arahats,
good and virtuous, gifted with goodness and virtue--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama hath a pleasant voice, and a pleasing
delivery, he is gifted with polite address, distinct, not husky, suitable for
making clear the matter in hand--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama is the teacher of the teachers of many--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama has no passion of lust left in him, and has
put away all fickleness of mind--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama believes in Karma, and in action{1}, he is
one who puts righteousness in the forefront (of his exhortations) to the Brahman
race--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama went forth from a distinguished family
primeval{2} among the Kshatriya clans--
{1. Kamma-vâdî kiriya-vâdî. Compare 'Vinaya Texts,' II, 109, 112.
2. Âdîna-khattiya-kulâ. The reading is doubtful, and the Burmese MSS., after
their constant habit, have replaced it by an easy reading,
abhinna-khattiya-kulâ, 'unbroken Kshatriya family.' But all the Sinhalese MSS.
agree in reading either âdina or âdîna; and if the reading had once been
abhinna, it is difficult to see how the alteration to the more difficult reading
should have occurred. Buddhaghosa skips the clause, which (if it was in the text
before him) is suggestive. He would scarcely have done so unless the matter were
really very simple. 'Autonomous' would make a good sense in the context; but I
have taken the word, in the sense of 'primordial, aboriginal,' as being a
derivative from âdi, in the same way as adhîna is from adhi. This is simple
enough; the only difficulty being that the word occurs nowhere else.}
{p. 149}
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama went forth from a family prosperous, well to
do, and rich--
[116] 'Truly, Sirs, people come right across the country from distant lands
to ask questions of the Samana Gotama--
'Truly, Sirs, multitudes of heavenly beings put their trust in the Samana
Gotama--
'Truly, Sirs, such is the high reputation noised abroad concerning the Samana
Gotama, that he is said to be an Arahat, exalted, fully awakened, abounding in
wisdom and righteousness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, a Blessed One, a
Buddha--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama has all the thirty-two bodily marks of a
Great Being--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama bids all men welcome, is congenial,
conciliatory, not supercilious, accessible to all, not backward in
conversation--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama is honoured, held of weight, esteemed and
venerated and revered by the four classes (of his followers--the brethren and
sisters of the Order, laymen and lay women)--
'Truly, Sirs, many gods and men believe in the Samana Gotama--
"Truly, Sirs, in whatsoever village or town the Samana Gotama stays, there
the non-humans do the humans no harm--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama as the head of an Order, of a school, as the
teacher of a school, is the acknowledged chief of all the founders of sects.
Whereas some Samanas and Brahmans have gained a reputation by all sorts of
insignificant matters{1}, not
{1. Literally 'anyhow'; 'such as by wearing no clothes' explains Buddhaghosa (p.
288).}
{p. 150}
so the Samana Gotama. His reputation comes from perfection in conduct and
righteousness--
'Truly, Sirs, the king of Magadhâ, Seniya Bimbisâra, with his children and
his wives, with his people and his courtiers, has put his trust in the Samana
Gotama--
'Truly, Sirs, King Pasenadi of Kosala, with his children and his wives, with
his people and his courtiers, has put his trust in the Samana Gotama--
'Truly, Sirs, Pokkharasâdi the Brahman, with his children and his wives, with
his people and his intimates, has put his trust in the Samana Gotama--
'Truly, Sirs, the Samana Gotama is honoured, held of weight, esteemed, and
venerated and revered alike by Seniya Bimbisâra, the king of Magadhâ, by
Pasenadi the king of Kosala, and by Pokkharasâdi the Brahman--
[117] 'Truy, Sirs, the Samana Gotama has now arrived at Kampâ and is staying
on the shores of the Gaggarâ Lake. But all Samanas and Brahmans who come into
our village borders are our guests. And guests we ought to esteem and honour, to
venerate and revere. And as he is now so come, he ought to be so treated, as a
guest--
'For each and all of these considerations it is not fitting that the Samana
Gotama should call upon us, but rather does it behove us to call upon him. And
so far only do I know the excellencies of the Samana Gotama, but these are not
all of them, for his excellence is beyond measure.'
7. And when he had thus spoken, those Brahmans said to him: 'The venerable
Sonadanda declares the praises of the Samana Gotama on such wise, that were he
to be dwelling even a hundred leagues from here, it would be enough to make a
believing man go thither to call upon him, even had he to carry a bag (for the
provisions for the journey) on his back{1}. Let us then all go to call on the
Samana Gotama together!'
{1. Putamsenâpi. Compare A. II, 183, where a precisely similar phrase occurs.}
{p. 151}
So Sonadanda the Brahman went out to the Gaggarâ Lake with a great company of
Brahmans.
8. Now the following hesitation arose in Sonadanda's mind as he passed
through the wood: 'Were I to ask the Samana Gotama a question, if he were to
say: "The question ought not to be asked so, thus ought the question to be
framed;" the company might thereupon speak of me with disrespect, saying:
"Foolish is this Sonadanda the Brahman, and inexpert. [118] He is not even able
to ask a question rightly." But if they did so my reputation would decrease; and
with my reputation my incomings would grow less, for what we have to enjoy, that
depends on our reputation. But if the Samana Gotama were to put a question to
me, I might not be able to gain his approval{1} by my explanation of the
problem. And if they were then to say to me: "The question ought not to be
answered so; thus ought the problem to be explained;" the company might
thereupon speak of me with disrespect, saying: "Foolish is this Sonadanda the
Brahman, and inexpert. He is not even able to satisfy the Samana Gotama by his
explanation of the problem put." But if they did so, my reputation would
decrease; and with my reputation my incomings would grow less, for what we have
to enjoy, that depends upon our reputation. But on the other hand if, having
come so far, I should turn back without calling upon the Samana Gotama, then
might the company speak disrespectfully of me, saying: "Foolish is this
Sonadanda the Brahman, and inexpert, though obstinate with pride, he is so
afraid that he dare not call on the Samana Gotama. How can he turn back after
having come so far?" But if they did so, my reputation would decrease; and with
my reputation my incomings would grow less. For what we have to enjoy, that
depends upon our reputation.
9. So Sonadanda the Brahman went up to where the
{1. Kittam na ârâdheyyam, 'win over his mind.' Comp. M. I, 85, 341; II, 10; Mil.
25.}
{p. 152}
Blessed One was. And when he had come there he exchanged with the Blessed One
the greetings and compliments of politeness and courtesy, and took his seat on
one side. And as to the Brahmans and householders of Kampâ, some of them bowed
to the Blessed One and took their seats on one side; some of them exchanged with
him the greetings and compliments of politeness and courtesy, and then took
their seats on one side; some of them called out their name and family, and then
took their seats on one side; and some of them took their seats on one side in
silence.
[119] 10. Now as Sonadanda was seated there he was still filled with
hesitation, thinking as before set out; and he added to himself: 'Oh! would that
the Samana Gotama would but ask me some question on my own subject, on the
threefold Vedic lore. Verily, I should then be able to gain his approval by my
exposition of the problem put!'
11. Now the Blessed One became aware in his own mind of the hesitation in the
mind of Sonadanda, and he thought: 'This Sonadanda is afflicted in his heart. I
had better question him on his own doctrine.' And he said to him: 'What are the
things, Brahman, which the Brahmans say a man ought to have in order to be a
Brahman, so that if he says: "I am a Brahman," he speaks accurately and does not
become guilty of falsehood?'
12. Then Sonadanda thought: [120] 'What I wished and desired and had in my
mind and hoped for--that the Samana Gotama should put to me some question on my
own subject, on the threefold Vedic lore--that he now does. Oh! that I may be
able to satisfy his heart with my exposition thereof!'
13. And drawing his body up erect, and looking round on the assembly, he said
to the Blessed One: 'The Brahmans, Gotama, declare him to be a Brahman who can
accurately say "I am a Brahman" without being guilty of falsehood, who has five
things. And what are the five? In the first place, Sir, a Brahman is well born
on both sides, on the mother's side and on
{p. 153}
the father's side, of pure descent back through seven generations, with no slur
put upon him, and no reproach, in respect of birth--
'Then he is a repeater (of the sacred words), knowing the mystic verses by
heart, one who has mastered the Three Vedas, with the indices, the ritual, the
phonology, and the exegesis (as a fourth), and the legends as a fifth, learned
in the phrases and in the grammar, versed in Lokâyata sophistry, and in the
theory of the signs on the body of a great man--
'Then he is handsome, pleasant to look upon, inspiring trust, gifted with
great beauty of complexion, fair in colour, fine in presence, stately to
behold,--
'Then he is virtuous, increased in virtue, gifted with virtue that has grown
great--
'Then he is learned and wise, the first, or it may be the second, among those
who hold out the ladle{1}.'
14. 'But of these five things, oh Brahman, is it possible to leave one out,
and to declare the man who has the other four to be a Brahman, to be one who can
accurately, and without falling into falsehood, claim to be a Brahman?'
'Yes, Gotama, that can be done. We could leave out colour{2}. For what does
colour matter? [121] If he have the other four--good birth, technical training,
virtue, and wisdom, as just set forth{3}-Brahmans would still declare him to be
a Brahman; and he could rightly, without danger of falsehood, claim to be one.'
15. 'But of these four things, oh Brahman, is it possible to leave one out,
and to declare the man who has the other three to be a Brahman, to be one who
can rightly, and without falling into falsehood, claim to be a Brahman?'
'Yes, Gotama, that could be done. We could leave out the verses. For what do
the verses matter? If
{1. That is, 'officiate at a sacrifice by pouring out of a spoon a libation of
butter, or of spirituous Soma, to the fire god.'
2. Vanna, much the same as 'caste,' though that rendering is not strictly
accurate. (See the Introduction to the Ambattha.)
3. The full text is repeated, both here and in the following sections.}
{p. 154}
he have the other three--good birth, virtue, and wisdom--Brahmans would still
declare him to be a Brahman; and he could rightly, without danger of falsehood,
claim to be one.'
16. 'But of these three things, Brahman, is it possible to leave one out, and
to declare the man who has the other two to be a Brahman, to be one who can
accurately, and without falling into falsehood, claim to be a Brahman?'
'Yes, Gotama, that could be done. We could leave out birth. For what does
birth matter? If he have the other two--virtue and wisdom--Brahmans would still
declare him to be a Brahman; and he could rightly, without danger of falsehood,
claim to be one.'
[122] 17. And when he had thus spoken the other Brahmans said to Sonadanda:
'Say not so, venerable Sonadanda, say not so! He depreciates not only our
colour, but he depreciates our verses and our birth. Verily the venerable
Sonadanda is going over to the doctrine of the Samana Gotama.'
18. Then the Blessed One said to those Brahmans: 'If you, oh Brahmans, think
that Sonadanda is unlearned, that he speaks unfittingly, that he is unwise, that
he is unable to hold his own with me in this matter, let him keep silence, and
do you discuss with me. But if you think him learned, able in speech, wise, able
to hold his own, then do you keep silence, and let him discuss with me.'
19. And when he had thus spoken, Sonadanda the Brahman said to those
Brahmans: 'Let not the venerable ones say so. Say not so, Sirs. [123] I do not
depreciate either our colour, nor our verses, nor our birth.'
20. Now at that time a young Brahman named Angaka{1}, sister's son to
Sonadanda the Brahman, was seated in that company. And Sonadanda said to those
{1. This name looks suspiciously like a kind of personification of the five
Angas (the five characteristics) of the true Brahman as just above, § 13, set
out.}
{p. 155}
Brahmans: 'Do the venerable ones see this Angaka, our nephew?'
'Yes, Sir, we see him.'
'Well! Angaka, Sirs, is handsome, pleasant to look upon, inspiring trust,
gifted with great beauty of complexion, fair in colour, fine in presence,
stately to behold--none in this assembly is like unto him in colour, save only
the Samana Gotama.
'And Angaka, Sirs, is a repeater (of the sacred words), knowing the mystic
verses by heart, one who has mastered the Three Vedas, with the indices, the
ritual, the phonology, and the exegesis (as a fourth), and the legends as a
fifth, learned in the phrases and the grammar, versed in Lokâyata (Nature-lore),
and in the theory of the signs on the body of a great man--I myself have taught
him the verses.
'And Angaka, Sirs, is well born on both sides, on the mother's side and on
the father's side, of pure descent back through seven generations, with no slur
put upon him, and no reproach in respect of birth--I myself know his forebears,
on the mother's side and on the father's.
'If Angaka, Sirs, should kill living things, and take what has not been
given, and go the way of the adulterer, and speak lies, and drink strong drink,
what then, Sirs, would his colour avail him? what the verses? what his birth?
'It is in so far, Sirs, as a Brahman is virtuous, increased in virtue, gifted
with virtue that has grown great; in so far as he is learned and wise, the
first, or it may be the second, among those who hold out the ladle, that
Brahmans would declare him, as endowed with these two qualities, to be a
Brahman, to be one who could rightly say "I am a Brahman" without falling into
falsehood.'
21. 'But of these two things, oh Brahman, is it possible to leave one out,
and to declare the man who has the other to be a Brahman, to be one who can
rightly, and without falling into falsehood, claim to be a Brahman?'
{p. 156}
[124] 'Not that, Gotama! For wisdom, oh Gotama, is purified by uprightness,
and uprightness is purified by wisdom. Where there is uprightness, wisdom is
there, and where there is wisdom, uprightness is there. To the upright there is
wisdom, to the wise there is uprightness, and wisdom and goodness are declared
to be the best thing in the world{1}. Just, oh Gotama, as one might wash hand
with hand, or foot with foot, just even so, oh Gotama, is wisdom purified by
uprightness, and uprightness is purified by wisdom. Where there is uprightness,
wisdom is there, and where there is wisdom, uprightness is there. To the
upright, there is wisdom, to the wise there is uprightness, and wisdom and
goodness are declared to be the best thing in the world.'
22. 'That is just so, oh Brahman. And I, too, say the same. But what, then,
is that uprightness and what that wisdom?,
'We only know, oh Gotama, the general statement in this matter. May the
venerable Gotama be pleased to explain the meaning of the phrase.'
'Well then, oh Brahman, give ear, and pay earnest attention, and I will
speak.'
23. 'Very well, Sir,' said Sonadanda in assent to the Blessed One. And the
Blessed One said:
[Here follow the paragraphs 40-63 in the Sâmañña-Phala Sutta above, pp. 62-70
of the text; that is, the paragraph on the appearance of a Buddha, his
preaching, the conversion of the hearer, his renunciation of the world, all the
Sîlas, and the paragraph on Confidence, § 63.]
'This also, oh Brahman, is that uprightness' (Sîla).
[Here follow the paragraphs on the Ghânas, beginning
{1. Oldenberg renders this ('Buddha,' p. 283) as follows: 'The wisdom of the
upright and the uprightness of the wise have, of all uprightness and wisdom in
the world, the highest value.' I cannot see how this can be grammatically
justified; though the sentiment is admirable enough, and would have somewhat
relieved the monotony of the paragraph. On paññâna as nominative, not genitive,
see, for instance, S. I, 41, 42; Sum. I, 171, 290; A. IV, 342.}
{p. 157}
at So vivikk' eva kâmehi in § 75 of the Sâmañña-phala down to the end of § 82,
then the paragraphs on Insight arising from Knowledge, on the Mental Image, on
the Wondrous Gifts, on the Heavenly Ear, on Knowledge of the hearts of others,
on Memory of one's own previous births, on the Divine Eye, and on the
Destruction of the Deadly Floods, all as in the Sâmañña-phala, §§ 83-98
inclusive.]
'This, oh Brahman, is that wisdom{1}.'
24. When he had thus spoken, Sonadanda the Brahman said to the Blessed One:
[125] 'Most excellent, oh Gotama (are the words of thy mouth), most
excellent! Just as if a man were to set up that which has been thrown down, or
were to reveal that which has been hidden away, or were to point out the right
road to him who has gone astray, or were to bring a light into the darkness so
that those who had eyes could see external forms--just even so has the truth
been made known to me, in many a figure, by the venerable Gotama. I, even I,
betake myself to the venerable Gotama as my guide, to the truth, and to the
Order. And may the venerable Gotama accept me as a disciple, as one who, from
this day forth, as long as life endures, has taken him as his guide. And may the
venerable Gotama grant me the favour of taking his to-morrow's meal with me, and
also the members of the Order with him.'
Then the Blessed One signified, by silence, his consent. And Sonadanda, on
seeing that he had done so, arose from his seat and bowed down before the
Blessed
{1. The repetition here is nearly the same as that in the Ambattha Sutta,
summarised above at the translation of p. 100 of the text. The only difference
is that the paragraphs 64-74 of the Sâmañña-phala there included as coming under
Karana (Conduct) are here included under Sîla (Uprightness). The Ghânas, there
put, not under Viggâ (Wisdom), but under Karana, are here put, not under Sîla,
but under Paññâ (Intelligence). In other words Paññâ includes all that was there
included under Vigga, and the Four Ghânas besides. But Sîla includes all that is
put in the Ambattha under Sîla--all indeed of the eight divisions of Sîla as
summarised above, pp. 57-59. See Buddhaghosa's notes at pp. 219, 268, 292.}
{p. 158}
One, and walking round him with his right hand towards him, departed thence. And
at early dawn he made ready at his house sweet food, both hard and soft, and had
the time announced to the Blessed One: 'It is time, oh Gotama, and the meal is
ready.'
25. Then the Blessed One, who had dressed in the early morning, put on his
outer robe, and taking his bowl with him, went with the brethren to Sonadanda's
house, and sat down on the seat prepared for him. And Sonadanda the Brahman
satisfied the Blessed One, and the brethren, with his own hand, with sweet food,
both hard and soft, until they refused any more.
And when the Blessed One had finished his meal, and cleansed the bowl and his
hands, Sonadanda took a low seat, and sat down beside him, and said:
26. 'If, oh Gotama, after I have entered the assembly, I should rise from my
seat to bow down before the venerable Gotama, then the assembly would find fault
with me{1}. Now he with whom the assembly should find fault, his reputation
would grow less; and he who should lose his reputation, his income would grow
less. For that which we have to enjoy, that depends upon our reputation. If
then, when I am seated in the assembly, I stretch forth my joined palms in
salutation, let the venerable Gotama accept that from me as arising up from my
seat. [126] And if when I am seated in the assembly I take off my turban, let
the venerable Gotama accept that from me as a salutation with my head. So if,
when I am in my chariot, I were to get down from the chariot to salute the
venerable Gotama, the surrounders would find fault with me. If, then, when
mounted on my chariot, I bend down low the staff of my goad, let the venerable
Gotama accept that from me as if I had got down. And if, when mounted on my
chariot, I should wave
{1. On the ground, says Buddhaghosa (p. 292), that he would be saluting a much
younger man, one young enough to be his grandson. If this tradition be correct,
it would follow that this Sutta must be describing events very early in the
public ministry of the Buddha.}
{p. 159}
my hand, let the venerable Gotama accept that from me as if I had bowed low in
salutation{1}!'
27. Then the Blessed One instructed and roused and incited and gladdened
Sonadanda the Brahman with religious discourse, and then rose from his seat and
departed thence.



Here ends the Sonadanda Sutta.
{1. It will be seen from this section that Sonadanda is represented as being a
convert only to a limited extent. He still keeps on his school of Vedic studies,
and is keenly anxious to retain the good opinion of his students, and of other
Brahmans. And if that part of the Buddha's doctrine put before him in this Sutta
be examined, it will be found to be, with perhaps one or two exceptions, quite
compatible with the best Brahman views. No doubt if every detail were carried to
its strict logical conclusion there would be no further need for Vedic studies,
except from the historical standpoint. But those details are, on the face of
them, ethical. They belong to a plane not touched on in the then Vedic studies.
They could be accepted by an adherent of the soul theory of life. And the
essential doctrines of Buddhism--the Path, the Truths, and Arahatship--are
barely even referred to.}