Khuddaka Nikaya - Sutta Nipata - Amagandha Sutta

2. AMAGANDHASUTTA.
A bad mind and wicked deeds are what defiles a man; no outward observances can
purify him. Comp. Gospel of S. Matthew xv. 10.
1. amagandhabrahmana: 'Those who eat samaka, kingûlaka, and kînaka,
pattaphala, mûlaphala, and gaviphala (different sorts of grass, leaves, roots,
&c.), justly obtained of the just, do not speak falsehood, (nor are they)
desirous of sensual pleasures. (238)
2. 'He who eats what has been well prepared, well dressed, what is pure and
excellent, given by others, he who enjoys food made of rice, eats, O Kassapa,
amagandha (what defiles one). (239)
3. '(The charge of) amagandha does not apply to me,' so thou sayest, 'O
Brahman (brahmabandhu, although) enjoying food (made) of rice together with the
well-prepared flesh of birds. I ask thee, O Kassapa, the meaning of this, of
what description (is then) thy amagandha?' (240)
4. Kassapabuddha: 'Destroying living beings, killing, cutting, binding,
stealing, speaking falsehood, fraud and deception, worthless reading[1],
intercourse with another's wife;--this is amagandha, but not the eating of
flesh. (241)
[1. Agghenakuggan ti niratthakanatthaganakaganthapariyapunanam. Commentator.]
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5. 'Those persons who in this world are unrestrained in (enjoying) sensual
pleasures, greedy of sweet things, associated with what is impure, sceptics
(natthikaditthi), unjust, difficult to follow;--this is amagandha, but not the
eating of flesh. (242)
6. 'Those who are rough, harsh, backbiting, treacherous, merciless, arrogant,
and (who being) illiberal do not give anything to any one;--this is amagandha,
but not the eating of flesh. (243)
7. 'Anger, intoxication, obstinacy, bigotry, deceit, envy, grandiloquence,
pride and conceit, intimacy with the unjust;--this is amagandha, but not the
eating of flesh. (244)
8. 'Those who in this world are wicked, and such as do not pay their debts,
are slanderers, false in their dealings, counterfeiters, those who in this world
being the lowest of men commit sin;--this is amagandha, but not the eating of
flesh. (245)
9. 'Those persons who in this world are unrestrained (in their behaviour)
towards living creatures, who are bent upon injuring after taking others'
(goods), wicked, cruel, harsh, disrespectful;--this is amagandha, but not the
eating of flesh. (246)
10. 'Those creatures who are greedy of these (living beings, who are)
hostile, offending; always bent upon (evil) and therefore, when dead, go to
darkness and fall with their heads downwards into hell;--this is amagandha, but
not the eating of flesh. (247)
11. 'Neither the flesh of fish, nor fasting, nor nakedness, nor tonsure, nor
matted hair, nor dirt, nor rough skins, nor the worshipping of the fire, nor the
many immortal penances in the world, nor hymns, nor oblations, nor sacrifice,
nor observance of the
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seasons, purify a mortal who has not conquered his doubt[1]. (248)
12. 'The wise man wanders about with his organs of sense guarded, and his
senses conquered, standing firm in the Dhamma, delighting in what is right and
mild; having overcome all ties and left behind all pain, he does not cling to
what is seen and heard.' (249)
13. Thus Bhagavat preached this subject again and again, (and the Brahmana)
who was accomplished in the hymns (of the Vedas) understood it; the Muni who is
free from defilement, independent, and difficult to follow, made it clear in
various stanzas. (250)
14. Having heard Buddha's well-spoken words, which are free from defilement
and send away all pain, he worshipped Tathagata's (feet) in humility, and took
orders at once. (251)
amagandhasutta is ended.