7. SELASUTTA.
Keniya, the Gatila, invites Buddha with his assembly to take his meals with
him on the morrow. Sela, the Bramana, arrived at that place with his three
hundred young men; seeing the preparations he asks what is going on, and is
answered that Buddha is expected the next day. On hearing the word 'Buddha,'
Sela asks where Buddha lives, goes to him, converses with him, and is
converted; so are his followers.
So it was heard by me:
At one time Bhagavat wandering about in Anguttarapa, with a large assembly of
Bhikkhus, with 1250 Bhikkhus, went to apana, a town in Anguttarapa.
And Keniya, the ascetic, with matted hair (gatila) heard the following: 'The
Samana, the venerable Gotama, the Sakya son, gone out from the family of the
Sakyas, wandering about in Anguttarapa with a large assembly of Bhikkhus, with
1250 Bhikkhus, has reached apana, and the following good praising words met the
venerable Gotama: "And so he is Bhagavat, the venerable, the perfectly
enlightened, endowed with science and works (viggakarana), the happy, knowing
the world, the incomparable, the charioteer of men that are to be subdued, the
master, the enlightened of gods and men, the glorious; he teaches this world and
the world of gods, of Maras, of Brahmans, and beings comprising Samanas and
Bramanas, gods and men, having himself known and seen them face to face; he
teaches the Dhamma (which is) good in the beginning, in the middle, and in the
end, is full of meaning and rich in words, quite complete; he teaches a
religious life, and good is the sight of such saints."'
Then Keniya, the Gatila, went (to the place) where
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Bhagavat was, and having gone there he talked pleasantly with him, and after
having had some pleasant and remarkable conversation (with him) he sat down
apart; and while Keniya, the Gatila, was sitting down apart, Bhagavat, by
religious talk, taught, advised, roused, and delighted him. Then Keniya, the
Gatila, having been taught, advised, roused, and delighted by Bhagavat through
religious talk, said this to Bhagavat:
'Let the venerable Gotama accept my food tomorrow, together with the assembly
of Bhikkhus.'
This having been said, Bhagavat answered Keniya, the Gatila: 'Large, O
Keniya, is the assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand two hundred and fifty
Bhikkhus, and thou art intimate with the Bramanas.'
A second time Keniya, the Gatila, said this to Bhagavat: 'Although, O
venerable Gotama, the assembly of Bhikkhus is large, one thousand two hundred
and fifty Bhikkhus, and I am intimate with the Bramanas, let the venerable
Gotama accept my food to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus.'
A second time Bhagavat said this to Keniya, the Gatila: 'Large, O Keniya, is
the assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus, and thou
art intimate with the Bramanas.'
A third time Keniya, the Gatila, said this to Bhagavat: 'Although, O
venerable Gotama, the assembly of Bhikkhus is large, one thousand two hundred
and fifty Bhikkhus, and I am intimate with the Brahmanas, yet let the venerable
Gotama accept my food to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus.'
Bhagavat assented by being silent.
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Then Keniya, the Gatila, having learnt the assent of Bhagavat, after rising
from his seat went to his hermitage, and having gone there he addressed his
friends and servants, his relatives and kinsmen (as follows): 'Let my venerable
friends and servants, relatives and kinsmen hear me;--the Samana Gotama has been
invited by me to (take his) food (with me) to-morrow, together with the assembly
of Bhikkhus; wherefore you must render me bodily service.'
'Surely, O venerable one,' so saying the friends and servants, relatives and
kinsmen of Keniya, the Gatila, complying with his request, some of them dug
fireplaces, some chopped firewood, some washed the vessels, some placed
waterpots, some prepared seats. Keniya, the Gatila, on the other hand, himself
provided a circular pavilion.
At that time the Bramana Sela lived at apana, perfect in the three Vedas,
vocabulary, Ketubha, etymology, Itihasa as the fifth (Veda), versed in metre, a
grammarian, one not deficient in popular controversy and the signs of a great
man, he taught three hundred young men the hymns[1]. At that time Keniya, the
Gatila, was intimate with the Brahmana Sela. Then the Bramana Sela surrounded by
three hundred young men, walking on foot, arrived at the place where the
hermitage of Keniya, the Gatila, was. And the Bramana Sela saw the Gatilas in
Keniya's hermitage, some of them digging fireplaces, some chopping firewood,
some washing the vessels, some placing waterpots, some
[1. Tena kho pana samayena. Selo brahmano apane pativasati tinnam vedanam paragû
sanighanduketubhanam sakkharappabhedanam itihasapañkamanam padako veyyakarano
lokayatamahapurisalakkhanesu anavayo tîni manavakasatani mante vaketi.]
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preparing seats, and Keniya, the Gatila, on the other hand, himself providing a
circular pavilion; seeing Keniya, the Gatila, he said this: 'Is the venerable
Keniya to celebrate the marriage of a son or the marriage of a daughter, or is
there a great sacrifice at hand, or has Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, who has
a large body of troops, been invited for to-morrow, together with his army?'
'I am not to celebrate the marriage of a son or the marriage of a daughter,
nor has Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, who has a large body of troops, been
invited for to-morrow, together with his army, yet a great sacrifice of mine is
at hand. The Samana Gotama, the Sakya son, gone out from the Sakya family,
wandering about in Anguttarapa with a large assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand
two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus, has reached apana, and the following good
praising words met the venerable Gotama: "And so he is Bhagavat, the venerable,
the perfectly enlightened, endowed with science and works (viggakarana), the
happy, knowing the world, the incomparable, the charioteer of men that are to be
subdued, the master, the enlightened of gods and men, the glorious, he has been
invited by me for to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus."'
'Didst thou say that he is a Buddha, O venerable Keniya?'
'Yes, I say, O venerable Sela, that he is a Buddha.'
'Didst thou say that he is a Buddha, O venerable Keniya? ,
'Yes, I say, O venerable Sela, that he is a Buddha.'
Then this occurred to the Brahmana Sela: 'This sound "Buddha" is (indeed)
rare, but in our hymns
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are to be found the thirty-two signs of a great man, and for a great man endowed
with these there are two conditions, and no more: if he lives in a house he is a
king, a universal (king), a just religious king, a lord of the four-cornered
(earth), a conqueror, one who has obtained the security of his people (and) is
possessed of the seven gems. These are his seven gems, namely, the wheel gem,
the elephant gem, the horse gem, the pearl gem, the woman gem, the householder
gem, and the chief gem as the seventh. He has more than a thousand sons, heroes,
possessing great bodily strength and crushing foreign armies; he having
conquered this ocean-girt earth without a rod and without a weapon, but by
justice, lives (in a house). But if, on the other hand, he goes out from (his)
house to the houseless state, he becomes a saint, a perfectly enlightened, one
who has removed the veil in the world. And where, O venerable Keniya, dwells now
that venerable Gotama, the saint and the perfectly enlightened?'
This having been said, Keniya, the Gatila, stretching out his right arm,
spoke as follows to the Bramana Sela: 'There, where yon blue forest line is, O
venerable Sela.'
Then the Bramana Sela together with (his) three hundred young men went to the
place where Bhagavat was. Then the Bramana Sela addressed those young men: 'Come
ye, venerable ones, with but little noise, walking step by step, for Bhagavats
are difficult of access, walking alone like lions, and when I speak to the
venerable Samana Gotama, do ye not utter interrupting words, but wait ye
venerable ones, for the end of my speech.'
Then the Bramana Sela went to the place where
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Bhagavat was, and having gone there he talked pleasantly with Bhagavat, and
after having had some pleasant and remarkable conversation with him he sat down
apart, and while sitting down apart Sela, the Brahmana, looked for the
thirty-two signs of a great man on the body of Bhagavat. And the Bramana Sela
saw the thirty-two signs of a great man on the body of Bhagavat with the
exception of two; in respect to two of the signs of a great man he had doubts,
he hesitated, he was not satisfied, he was not assured as to the member being
enclosed in a membrane and as to his having a large tongue.
Then this occurred to Bhagavat: 'This Bramana Sela sees in me the thirty-two
signs of a great man with the exception of two, in respect to two of the signs
of a great man he has doubts, he hesitates, he is not satisfied, he is not
assured as to the member being enclosed in a membrane, and as to my having a
large tongue.' Then Bhagavat created such a miraculous creature that the Bramana
Sela might see Bhagavat's member enclosed in a membrane. Then Bhagavat having
put out his tongue touched and stroked both his ears, touched and stroked both
nostrils, and the whole circumference of his forehead he covered with his
tongue.
Then this occurred to the Brahmana Sela: 'The Samana Gotama is endowed with
the thirty-two signs of a great man, with them all, not with (only) some of
them, and yet I do not know whether he is a Buddha or not; I have heard old and
aged Brahmanas, teachers and their previous teachers, say that those who are
saints and perfectly enlightened manifest themselves when their praise is
uttered. I think I shall praise the Samana Gotama face to
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face in suitable stanzas.' Then the Bramana Sela praised Bhagavat face to face
in suitable stanzas:
1. 'Thou hast a perfect body, thou art resplendent, well-born, of beautiful
aspect, thou hast a golden colour, O Bhagavat, thou hast very white teeth, thou
art strong. (548)
2. 'All the signs that are for a well-born man, they are on thy body, the
signs of a great man. (549)
3. 'Thou hast a bright eye, a handsome countenance, thou art great, straight,
majestic, thou shinest like a sun in the midst of the assembly of the Samanas.
(550)
4. 'Thou art a Bhikkhu of a lovely appearance, thou hast a skin like gold;
what is the use of being a Samana to thee who art possessed of the highest
beauty? (551)
5. 'Thou deservest to be a king, a king of universal kings, a ruler of the
four-cornered (earth), a conqueror, a lord of the jambu grove (i.e. India).
(552)
6. 'Khattiyas and wealthy kings are devoted to thee; rule, O Gotama, as a
king of kings, a leader of men.' (553)
7. 'I am a king, O Sela,'--so said Bhagavat,--'an incomparable, religious
king (dhammaragan), with justice (dhammena) I turn the wheel, a wheel that is
irresistible[1].' (554)
8. 'Thou acknowledgest thyself (to be) perfectly enlightened
(sambuddha),'--so said Sela, the Brahmana,--'an incomparable, religious king;
"with justice I turn the wheel," so thou sayest, O Gotama. (555)
[1. Compare Gospel of S. John xviii. 37.]
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9. 'Who is thy general, (who is thy) disciple, (who is) the successor of the
master, who is to turn after thee the wheel of religion turned (by thee)? '
(556)
10. 'The wheel turned by me, O Sela,'--so said Bhagavat,--'the incomparable
wheel of religion, Sariputta is to turn after (me), he taking after Tathagata.
(557)
11. 'What is to be known is known (by me), what is to be cultivated is
cultivated (by me), what is to be left is left by me, therefore I am a Buddha, O
Bramana. (558)
12. 'Subdue thy doubt about me, have faith (in me), O Bramana, difficult (to
obtain) is the sight of Buddhas repeatedly. (559)
13. 'Of those whose manifestation is difficult for you (to obtain) in the
world repeatedly, I am, O Bramana, a perfectly enlightened, an incomparable
physician, (560)
14. 'Most eminent, matchless, a crusher of Mara's army; having subjected all
enemies I rejoice secure on every side.' (561)
15. Sela: 'O venerable ones, pay attention to this: as the clearly-seeing
(Buddha) says, (so it is): he is a physician, a great hero, and roars like a
lion in the forest. (562)
16. 'Who, having seen him, the most eminent, the matchless, the crusher of
Mara's army, is not appeased, even if he be, of black origin (kanhabhigatika).
(563)
17. 'He who likes me, let him follow after (me), he who does not like me, let
him go away; I shall at once take the orders in the presence of him of excellent
understanding (i.e. Buddha).' (564)
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18. The followers of Sela: 'If this doctrine of the perfectly enlightened
pleases thee, we also shall take the orders in the presence of him of excellent
understanding.' (565)
19. These three hundred Bramanas asked with clasped hands (to be admitted
into the order): 'We want to cultivate a religious life, O Bhagavat, in thy
presence.' (566)
20. 'A religious life is well taught (by me), O Sela,'--so said
Bhagavat,--'an instantaneous, an immediate (life), in which it is not in vain to
become an ascetic to one who learns in earnest[1].' (567)
Then the Bramana Sela together with his assembly took the robe and the orders
in the presence of Bhagavat.
Then Keniya, the Gatila, by the expiration of that night, having provided in
his hermitage nice hard food and soft food, let Bhagavat know the time (of the
meal): 'It is time, O venerable Gotama, the meal is prepared.' Then Bhagavat in
the morning, having put on his raiment and taken his bowl and robes, went to the
Gatila Keniya's hermitage, and having gone there he sat down on the prepared
seat, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus. Then Keniya, the Gatila, satisfied
and served with his own hands the assembly of Bhikkhus, with Buddha at their
head, with nice hard food and soft food. Then Keniya, the Gatila, having gone up
to Bhagavat who had finished eating and had taken his hand out of the bowl, took
a low seat and sat down apart, and
[1. Svakkhatam brahmakariyam
Sanditthikam akalikam
Yattha amogha pabbagga
Appamattassa sikkhato.]
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while Keniya, the Gatila, was sitting down apart, Bhagavat delighted him with
these stanzas:
21. 'The principal thing in sacrifice is the sacred fire, the principal thing
amongst the hymns is the Savitti[1], the king is the principal amongst men, and
the sea the principal amongst waters (nadînam[2]). (568)
22. 'Amongst the stars the moon is the principal thing, the sun is the
principal thing amongst the burning[3] (objects), amongst those that wish for
good works and make offerings the assembly (samgha) indeed is the principal.'
(569)
Then Bhagavat, having delighted Keniya, the Gatila, with these stanzas, rose
from (his) seat and went away.
Then the venerable Sela together with his assembly leading a solitary,
retired, strenuous, ardent, energetic life, lived after having in a short time
in this existence by his own understanding ascertained and possessed himself of
that highest perfection of a religious life for the sake of which men of good
family rightly wander away from their houses to a houseless state; 'birth (had
been) destroyed, a religious life (had been) led, what was to be done (had been)
done, there was nothing else (to be done) for this existence,' so he perceived,
and the venerable Sela together with his assembly became one of the saints.
Then the venerable Sela together with his assembly went to Bhagavat, and
having gone (to him) he put his upper robe on one shoulder, and bending his
joined hands towards Bhagavat he addressed him in stanzas:
[1. Savittî khandaso mukham.
2. Comp. Nalakasutta v. 42.
3. adikko tapatam mukham.]
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23. 'Because we took refuge in thee on the eighth day previous to this, O
thou clearly-seeing, in seven nights, O Bhagavat, we have been trained in thy
doctrine. (570)
24. 'Thou art Buddha, thou art the Master, thou art the Muni that conquered
Mara, thou hast, after cutting off the affections, crossed over (the stream of
existence) and taken over these beings. (571)
25. 'The elements of existence (upadhi) have been overcome by thee, the
passions have been destroyed by thee, thou art a lion not seizing on anything,
thou hast left behind fear and danger. (572)
26. 'These three hundred Bhikkhus stand here with clasped hands; stretch out
thy feet, O hero, let the Nagas worship the Master's feet.' (573)
Selasutta is ended.
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