English
“Then, sirs, the brahmin Mahāgovinda approached his forty wives of equal rank; having approached, he said to his forty wives of equal rank: said: "Indeed, lady, this good reputation has arisen for me: 'The brahmin Mahāgovinda truly sees Brahmā, the brahmin Mahāgovinda truly converses, talks, and consults with Brahmā.' But I, lady, do not see Brahmā, nor do I converse with Brahmā, nor do I talk with Brahmā, nor do I consult with Brahmā. However, I have heard this from brahmins, old and venerable, teachers and preceptors, speaking: 'Whoever secludes himself for the four months of the rainy season, and meditates on the jhāna of compassion, he sees Brahmā, he converses with Brahmā, he talks with Brahmā, he consults with Brahmā.' I wish, lady, to seclude myself for the four months of the rainy season, to meditate on the jhāna of compassion; no one should approach me except for one bringing food." "As Master Govinda now deems fit." 317. Then, sirs, the brahmin Mahāgovinda had a new assembly hall built to the east of the city, and secluded himself for the four months of the rainy season, and meditated on the jhāna of compassion; no one approached him there except for one bringing food. Then, sirs, after the passing of the four months, the brahmin Mahāgovinda felt weariness, felt distress: "I have heard this from brahmins, old and venerable, teachers and preceptors, speaking: 'Whoever secludes himself for the four months of the rainy season, and meditates on the jhāna of compassion, he sees Brahmā, he converses with Brahmā, he talks with Brahmā, he consults with Brahmā.' But I do not see Brahmā, nor do I converse with Brahmā, nor do I talk with Brahmā, nor do I consult with Brahmā." Conversation with Brahmā 318. Then, sirs, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, knowing the thought of the brahmin Mahāgovinda with his own mind, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm, or bend his extended arm, vanished, and just so, in the Brahma-world, he appeared before the Great Govinda, the brahmin. Then, sirs, to the Great Govinda, the brahmin, there arose fear, there arose terror, there arose hair-raising, seeing a form never seen before. Then, sirs, the Great Govinda, the brahmin, frightened, agitated, with hair standing on end, addressed Brahma Sanankumāra in verse: “Of good color, glorious, splendid, who are you, good sir? Not knowing you, we ask you, how may we know you?” “They know me as Kumāra, the eternal in the Brahma-world; All the devas know me, thus, Govinda, know me.” “A seat, water for the feet, and honey-sweet food for Brahma; We ask you for hospitality, may you accept our hospitality.” “We accept your hospitality, that which you speak, Govinda; For the benefit in this life, and for happiness in the next; Opportunity granted, ask whatever you wish.” Then, sirs, it occurred to the Great Govinda, the brahmin: “Opportunity has been granted to me by Brahma Sanankumāra. What now should I ask Brahma Sanankumāra? Something for this life or for the next?” Then, sirs, it occurred to the Great Govinda, the brahmin: “I am skilled in matters of this life; others also ask me about matters of this life. What if I were to ask Brahma Sanankumāra only about matters of the next life?” Then, sirs, the Great Govinda, the brahmin, addressed Brahma Sanankumāra in verse: “I ask Brahma Sanankumāra, I, who doubt, ask the undoubting about things known by others; Where standing, and in what training, does a mortal attain the deathless Brahma-world?” “Having abandoned possessiveness among humans, O Brahma, become one, filled with compassion; Without the stench of defilements, abstaining from sexual intercourse, here standing here and training; A mortal attains the deathless state, the Brahma-world.” 320. “By ‘having abandoned possessiveness,’ I understand, sir. Here, some individual, having abandoned a small or large accumulation of wealth, having abandoned a small or large circle of relatives, shaves off his hair and beard, puts on saffron robes, and goes forth from the home life into homelessness. Thus, by ‘having abandoned possessiveness,’ I understand, sir. By ‘having become solitary,’ I understand, sir. Here, some individual resorts to a secluded dwelling: a forest, the root of a tree, a mountain, a ravine, a mountain cave, a charnel ground, a jungle thicket, an open space, a heap of straw. Thus, by ‘having become solitary,’ I understand, sir. By ‘permeated with compassion,’ I understand, sir. Here, some individual dwells pervading one direction with a mind accompanied by compassion, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth. Thus, upwards, downwards, across, everywhere, in every way, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind accompanied by compassion, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, without ill will. Thus, by ‘permeated with compassion,’ I understand, sir. But as for ‘raw flesh’ (āmagandha), I do not understand what you mean, sir. “What are the raw flesh among humans, O Brahma, Explain these to me, wise one, who do not know; By what are beings covered, Bound for the lower realms, shut off from the Brahma-world?” “Anger, falsehood, deceit, and treachery, Stinginess, excessive pride, envy; Desire, doubt, harming others, Greed, and hatred, and delusion, and infatuation; Those engaged in these are not free from raw flesh, Bound for the lower realms, shut off from the Brahma-world.” “As I understand what you mean by ‘raw flesh,’ sir, these cannot be thoroughly crushed by one dwelling in a home. I shall go forth, sir, from the home life into homelessness.” “Now, Master Govinda, you may do as you deem fit.” Invitation of King Reṇu 321. “Then, sirs, the great brahmin Govinda Then Maṇo Reṇu the king approached; Having approached, he said to King Reṇu: “Now let your honor seek another chaplain, who will instruct your kingdom. I wish, sir, to go forth from home to homelessness. For as I have heard from Brahmā speaking of raw-flesh, those are not easily suppressed by one dwelling in a home. I will go forth, sir, from home to homelessness.” “I address the king, Reṇu, lord of the earth, I; You should know about the kingdom, I do not delight in the chaplaincy.” “If you lack in desires, I will fulfill them for you; Whoever harms you, I will ward off, I am the commander of the army; You are father, I am son, Do not abandon us, Govinda.” “There is no lack in desires, No one who harms me exists; Having heard the speech of a non-human, Therefore I do not delight in a home.” “Of what appearance was the non-human? What did he say to you? Having heard which, you abandon us, And us alone in the home?” “When I had dwelt before, When I desired to sacrifice; The fire was blazing, Surrounded by blades of grass.” “Then Brahmā appeared to me, From the eternal Brahmā-world; He explained a problem to me, Having heard that, I do not delight in a home.” “I believe your honor, What you, Govinda, say; Having heard the speech of a non-human, How could it be otherwise? “We will follow you, Your honor, Govinda, is our teacher; Like a beryl gem, Flawless, pure, beautiful; Thus will we live purely, In Govinda’s instruction.” “If your honor Govinda goes forth from home to homelessness, we too will go forth from home to homelessness. Then whatever destination is yours, that will be our destination.” The six khattiyas’ address Then, sirs, the great brāhmaṇa Govinda approached those six khattiyas; having approached, he said to those six khattiyas: “Now let your honors seek another chaplain, who will instruct your honors in the kingdom…” will be heard. "I desire, sirs, to go forth from home to homelessness. For as I have heard the Brahma speaking of 'raw flesh', those who dwell in a home cannot easily overcome them. I will go forth, sirs, from home to homelessness." Then, sirs, those six khattiyas, having gone aside, thought thus: "These brahmins, indeed, are greedy for wealth; what if we were to tempt the brahmin Mahāgovinda with wealth?" They approached the brahmin Mahāgovinda and said this: "Indeed, sirs, in these seven kingdoms there is abundant property; as much as you need from it, that much shall be brought to you." "Enough, sirs, I too have abundant property, thanks to you. I will abandon all of it and go forth from home to homelessness. For as I have heard the Brahma speaking of 'raw flesh', those who dwell in a home cannot easily overcome them. I will go forth, sirs, from home to homelessness." Then, sirs, those six khattiyas, having gone aside, thought thus: "These brahmins, indeed, are greedy for women; what if we were to tempt the brahmin Mahāgovinda with women?" They approached the brahmin Mahāgovinda and said this: "Indeed, sirs, in these seven kingdoms there are abundant women; as many as you need from them, that many shall be brought to you." "Enough, sirs, I too have forty wives, all alike. I will abandon all of them and go forth from home to homelessness. For as I have heard the Brahma speaking of 'raw flesh', those who dwell in a home cannot easily overcome them. I will go forth, sirs, from home to homelessness." "If Master Govinda goes forth from home to homelessness, we too will go forth from home to homelessness; then whatever your destination, that will be our destination." "If you abandon sensual pleasures, where s Attached, the ordinary person; Be firm in effort, endowed with patience's strength. "This path is the straight path, this path is unsurpassed; The True Dhamma, protected by the good, for rebirth in the Brahma world. "Then let Master Govinda wait seven years. After seven years, we too will go forth from home into homelessness, and whatever your destination, that will be our destination." "'Indeed, sirs, seven years is too long, I cannot, sirs, wait seven years. Indeed, sirs, who knows about lives! The next world is to be gone to, it should be understood by reflection, good should be done, the holy life should be lived, there is no immortality for one who is born.