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5. The Discourse to Kūṭadanta The Householders and Brahmins of Khāṇumata 323. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One, while wandering in Magadha with a great company of bhikkhus, with some five hundred bhikkhus, arrived at a brahmin village of the Magadhans named Khāṇumata. There the Blessed One dwelt in Khāṇumata, in the Mango Grove. Now at that time the brahmin Kūṭadanta was dwelling in Khāṇumata, a populous, grassy, woody, watery, fertile royal domain, given by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, a royal gift, a brahmin gift. Now at that time a great sacrifice was prepared for the brahmin Kūṭadanta. Seven hundred bulls, seven hundred young steers, seven hundred young heifers, seven hundred goats, and seven hundred rams were brought to the posts for the sacrifice. 324. The brahmin householders of Khāṇumata heard: “Indeed, good sirs, the recluse Gotama, a son of the Sakyans, gone forth from the Sakyan clan, while wandering in Magadha with a great company of bhikkhus, with some five hundred bhikkhus, has arrived at Khāṇumata and is dwelling in Khāṇumata, in the Mango Grove. And this good report has spread concerning that venerable Gotama: ‘Indeed, that Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well-farer, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Buddha, the Blessed One.’ He makes known this world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, this generation with its recluses and brahmins, its gods and humans, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge. He teaches the Dhamma good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing; he proclaims the perfectly complete and purified holy life. It is good to see such Arahants.” 325. Then the brahmin householders of Khāṇumata, having left Khāṇumata, in groups and companies, went to the Mango Grove. They consult. 326. Now at that time, the brahmin Kūṭadanta was taking his midday rest on the upper terrace of his palace. The brahmin Kūṭadanta saw. The brahmin householders of Khāṇumata. They were coming out of Khāṇumata. In groups, in companies. They were approaching Ambalaṭṭhikā. Having seen them, he addressed his steward: "What is it, good sir steward? Why are the brahmin householders of Khāṇumata, coming out of Khāṇumata, in groups, in companies, approaching Ambalaṭṭhikā?" 327. "Good sir, there is the ascetic Gotama. A Sakyan, gone forth from the Sakya clan. He is wandering in Magadha. With a great community of bhikkhus. About five hundred bhikkhus. He has arrived at Khāṇumata. He is staying at Ambalaṭṭhikā in Khāṇumata. Concerning that venerable Gotama, such a good report has spread abroad: 'He is indeed the Blessed One, Arahant, Perfectly Self-Awakened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the worlds, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, the Awakened One, the Blessed One.' They are approaching that venerable Gotama for an audience." 328. Then it occurred to the brahmin Kūṭadanta: "I have heard this: 'The ascetic Gotama knows the triple perfection of sacrifice with its sixteen requisites.' But I do not know the triple perfection of sacrifice with its sixteen requisites. And I wish to perform a great sacrifice. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama and ask him about the triple perfection of sacrifice with its sixteen requisites?" 329. Then the brahmin Kūṭadanta addressed his steward: "Well then, good sir steward, go to where the brahmin householders of Khāṇumata are. Having approached them, the brahmin householders of Khāṇumata, say this: 'Good sirs, the brahmin Kūṭadanta says this: "Please wait, venerable sirs. The brahmin Kūṭadanta will also approach the ascetic Gotama for an audience."'" "Yes, good sir," that steward replied to the brahmin Kūṭadanta. And he went to where the householders and brahmins of Khāṇumata were. Having approached, he said to the householders and brahmins of Khāṇumata: "Friends, the brahmin Kūṭadanta says this: 'Please wait, sirs, the brahmin Kūṭadanta will also go to see the ascetic Gotama.'" The Praise of Kūṭadanta Now at that time, many hundreds of brahmins were residing in Khāṇumata, (thinking) "We will partake of the great sacrifice of the brahmin Kūṭadanta." Those brahmins heard: "Indeed, the brahmin Kūṭadanta will go to see the ascetic Gotama." Then those brahmins went to where the brahmin Kūṭadanta was. Having approached, they said to the brahmin Kūṭadanta: "Is it true, sir, that you, Kūṭadanta, will go to see the ascetic Gotama?" "Indeed, friends, it is so for me: 'I too will go to see the ascetic Gotama.'" "Sir Kūṭadanta, do not go to see the ascetic Gotama. It is not fitting for you, Kūṭadanta, to go to see the ascetic Gotama. If you, Kūṭadanta, go to see the ascetic Gotama, your fame, Kūṭadanta, will diminish, and the fame of the ascetic Gotama will increase. That your fame, Kūṭadanta, will diminish, and the fame of the ascetic Gotama will increase, for this reason, it is not fitting for you, Kūṭadanta, to go to see the ascetic Gotama. Rather, the ascetic Gotama is fitting to come to see you, Kūṭadanta. For you, Kūṭadanta, are well-born on both sides, from mother and from father, of pure lineage up to the seventh generation of ancestors, unreproached and unblamed concerning birth. That you, Kūṭadanta, are well-born on both sides, from mother and from father, of pure lineage up to the seventh generation of ancestors, unreproached and unblamed concerning birth, for this reason, it is not fitting for you, Kūṭadanta, to go to the ascetic to see Gotama. It is rather the ascetic Gotama who should come to see Master Kuṭadanta. For Master Kuṭadanta is rich, of great wealth, of great possessions, with abundant resources of goods, with abundant gold and silver… For Master Kuṭadanta is a reciter, a mantra-holder, a master of the three Vedas, with their vocabularies and rituals, with their phonology and etymology, and as the fifth, their histories; a master of words, a grammarian, and skilled in the signs of great men, in worldly lore… For Master Kuṭadanta is handsome, good to look at, pleasing, endowed with supreme beauty of complexion, of divine color, of divine radiance, not of mean appearance… For Master Kuṭadanta is virtuous, of mature virtue, endowed with mature virtue… For Master Kuṭadanta is of pleasant speech, of pleasant utterance, endowed with refined speech, clear, unhesitating, making the meaning understood… For Master Kuṭadanta is a teacher and grand-teacher to many, he teaches the mantras to three hundred young men; and many young men from various directions, from various countries, come to Master Kuṭadanta, desiring mantras, wishing to learn mantras… For Master Kuṭadanta is old, aged, elderly, has reached the end of his life, has attained old age. The ascetic Gotama is young, and recently renounced… For Master Kuṭadanta is honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and worshipped by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha… For Master Kuṭadanta is honored, respected, esteemed, revered, and worshipped by the brahmin Pokkharasāti… For Master Kuṭadanta resides in Khāṇumata, a prosperous place, with grass, wood, and water, with grain, a royal possession, given by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, a royal gift, a brahmin gift. And because Master Kuṭadanta resides in Khāṇumata, a prosperous place, with grass, wood, and water, with grain, a royal possession, given by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, a royal gift, a brahmin gift, for this reason, Master should not Kūṭadanta should go to see the Gotama ascetic. Rather, the Gotama ascetic should come to see the venerable Kūṭadanta. Praise of the Buddha's Qualities 332. When this was said, the brahmin Kūṭadanta spoke to those brahmins: "Then, sirs, listen to me, how it is we who are worthy to go to see that venerable Gotama, and not that venerable Gotama is worthy to come to see us. Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic is well-born on both sides, on the mother's side and on the father's side, with pure lineage up to the seventh generation of ancestors, unreproached, unblamed in respect of birth. Because, sirs, the Gotama ascetic is well-born on both sides, on the mother's side and on the father's side, with pure lineage up to the seventh generation of ancestors, unreproached, unblamed in respect of birth, by this reason, that venerable Gotama is not worthy to come to see us. Rather, it is we who are worthy to go to see that venerable Gotama. "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic, having abandoned a great assembly of relatives, went forth...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic, having abandoned abundant gold and silver, both that on the ground and that stored aloft, went forth...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic, while still young, a youth with jet-black hair, endowed with the blessing of youth, in the prime of life, went forth from home to homelessness...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic, against the wishes of his weeping, crying parents, having shaved off his hair and beard, and put on saffron robes, went forth from home to homelessness...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic is handsome, good to look at, pleasing, endowed with supreme beauty of complexion, with the complexion of Brahmā, with the radiance of Brahmā, with no small space for seeing...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic is virtuous, of noble virtue, of wholesome virtue, endowed with wholesome virtue...pe... "Indeed, sirs, the Gotama ascetic has good speech, has good articulation, endowed with refined speech, clear... For the meaning, without stammering, for making the meaning known… Indeed, friends, the recluse Gotama is a teacher of many teachers… Indeed, friends, the recluse Gotama has destroyed sensual desire, is free from agitation… Indeed, friends, the recluse Gotama is an exponent of karma, an exponent of action, one who does not advocate evil