Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
III. Uruvelā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter III: Uruvelā
Sutta 25
Brahmacariya Suttaɱ
The God-Life[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, this God-life is not lived
to cheat or cajole people.
It is not concerned with getting gain,
profit
or notoriety.
It is not concerned with a flood of gossip
nor with the idea of
"let folk know me as so-and-so."
Nay, monks, this God-life is lived
for the sake of self-restraint,
for the sake of abandoning,
for the sake of detachment from the passions,
for the sake of making to cease.
For self-restraint and for abandoning,
Heedless of what men say[2] of it, this God-life
Did that Exalted One proclaim as going
Unto the plunge[3] into Nibbāna's stream.
This is the Way whereon great ones, great seers
Have fared; and they who, as the Buddha taught,
Attain to that, will make an end of ill,
E'en they who what the teacher taught perform.'
[1] As at Itiv. 28, which omits itivāda- and virāga-nirodhatthaɱ.
[2] Anītihaɱ = iti-ha-parivajjitaɱ, aparapattiyaɱ. Comy. (avoiding, independence of, mere talk).
[3] Ogadha. Cf. A. i, 168; S. v, 344 = K.S. v, 298 n.
