Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XIV. Yodh-ā-jīva Vagga
The Book of the Threes
Sutta 135
Kesa-Kambalo Suttaṃ
Hair-Blanket
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time The Lucky Man said words to this effect:
"In the same way, Beggars,
as of whatsoever is worn
of woven garments,
wearing the hair blanket
is considered the worst
— wearing the hair blanket, beggars,
is cold in the cold,
hot in the heat,
looks ugly,
smells bad,
and is uncomfortable
— in the same way, beggars,
as of whatsoever postulations
are common among shamans
the postulations of Makkhali
are considered the worst.
Makkhali, beggars, that dullard of a man,
speaks thus, theorizes thus:
'There is no doing,
there is no effect,
there is no energy.'
[2][pts] As to this, beggars,
those who were arahants,
consummately self-awakened ones of long ago,
those Lucky Men were ones
who spoke about doing
and spoke about effect
and spoke about energy.
But here, beggars, Makkhali,
that dullard of a man,
throws them out with his:
'There is no doing,
there is no effect,
there is no energy.'
[3][pts] As to this, beggars,
those who will in future become arahants,
consummately self-awakened ones,
those Lucky Men will be ones
who speak about doing
and speak about effect
and speak about energy.
But here, beggars, Makkhali,
that dullard of a man,
throws them out with his:
'There is no doing,
there is no effect,
there is no energy.'
[4][pts] I too, beggars,
who am now, arahant,
consummately self-awakened,
speak about doing
and speak about effect
and speak about energy.
But here, beggars, Makkhali,
that dullard of a man,
throws me out with his:
'There is no doing,
there is no effect,
there is no energy.'
[5][pts] In the same way, beggars,
as a net is thrown out
across the mouth of a river
to the loss, pain, mis-guidance
and destruction of many fish,
even so, methinks, does Makkhali,
that dullard of a man,
set up a man-trap in the world,
to the loss, pain, mis-guidance
and destruction of many beings."
