Aṅguttara Nikñya
Satta Nipñta
5. Mahāyañña Vaggo
Sutta 44
Dutiya Aggi Suttaɱ
Second on Fire
Translated from the Pali
by Sister Upalavanna
At that time the Brahmin with a lofty body was going to offer a great sacrifice.
So five hundred bulls, five hundred young bulls, five hundred young cows, five hundred goats, five hundred sheep, were brought to the sacrificial post to be sacrificed.
Then the Brahmin with the lofty body approached The Blessed One exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said to The Blessed One:
Good Gotama, I have heard that setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and with good results.
Brahmin, I too have heard that, setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and with good results.
For the second time the Brahmin with the lofty body said, ... re ... for the third time the Brahmin with the lofty body said:
Good Gotama, I have heard that setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and with good results.
Brahmin, I too have heard that, setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and with good results.
Then good Gotama, our ideas agree, yours and mine.
When this was said venerable ânanda said to the Brahmin with a lofty body-
"Brahmin, that is not how you should question the Thus Gone One.
You should do it thus.
Good Gotama, I have heard that setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and with good results.
I too have a desire to set fire and raise the sacrificial post.
Venerable sir, advise me on this, so that it would be for my welfare and pleasantness for a long time.
Then the Brahmin with a lofty body said to The Blessed One Good Gotama, I have heard that setting fire and raising the sacrificial post is of much benefit and good results.
I too have a desire to set fire and raise the sacrificial post.
Venerable sir, advise me on this, so that it would be for my welfare and pleasantness for a long time.
Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises three weapons, three demerits, three yielders of unpleasantness with unpleasant results.
What three?
The bodily weapon, the verbal weapon and the mental weapon.
Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, arouses the mind -
Kill this amount of bulls for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of young bulls for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of cows for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of goats for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of sheep for the sacrifice!
Thinking I do good, he does evil.
Thinking I do merit, he does demerit.
Thinking I search the path to heaven, he searches the path to hell.
Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises three weapons, three demerits, three yielders of unpleasantness with unpleasant results.
Again, Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, says such words -
Kill this amount of bulls for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of young bulls for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of cows for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of goats for the sacrifice!
Kill this amount of sheep for the sacrifice!
Thinking I do good, he does evil.
Thinking I do merit, he does demerit.
Thinking I search the path to heaven, he searches the path to hell.
Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises three weapons, three demerits, three yielders of unpleasantness with unpleasant results.
Again, Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice himself makes endeavour -
Kill the bulls for the sacrifice! Kill the young bulls for the sacrifice!
Kill the cows for the sacrifice!
Kill the goats for the sacrifice!
Kill the sheep for the sacrifice!
Thinking I do good, he does evil.
Thinking I do merit, he does demerit.
Thinking I search the path to heaven, he searches the path to hell.
Brahmin, the one who lights the fire and raises the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises three weapons, three demerits, three yielders of unpleasantness with unpleasant results.
Brahmin, these three fires should be dispelled, avoided, should not be followed after.
What three?
The fire of lust, the fire of hatred and the fire of delusion.
Brahmin, why should the fire of lust be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after?
Brahmin, with lust, overcome by lust one misbehaves by body, speech and mind.
Having misbehaved by body, speech and mind, after death a certain one goes to decrease, to loss, to hell.
Therefore the fire of lust should be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after.
Brahmin, why should the fire of hatred be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after?
Brahmin, with hatred, overcome by hatred one misbehaves by body, speech and mind.
Having misbehaved by body, speech and mind, after death a certain one goes to decrease, to loss, to hell.
Therefore the fire of hatred should be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after.
Brahmin, why should the fire of delusion be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after?
Brahmin, deluded and overcome by delusion one misbehaves by body, speech and mind.
Having misbehaved by body, speech and mind, after death a certain one goes to decrease, to loss, to hell.
Therefore the fire of delusion should be dispelled, avoided and should not be followed after.
Brahmin, these three fires should be revered, esteemed, honoured and fostered with rightful pleasantness.
What three?
The fire worthy of offerings, the household fire and the fire worthy of gifts.
Brahmin, what is the fire worthy of offerings?
Brahmin, mother or father is the fire worthy of offerings.
What is the reason?
Brahmin, I am adored and produced from them.
Therefore mother and father are the fire worthy of offerings; they should be revered, esteemed, honoured and fostered with rightful pleasantness.
Brahmin, what is the fire of the household?
Brahmin, sons, wife, slaves, messengers and workmen are the household fire.
Therefore the household fire should be revered, esteemed, honoured and fostered with rightful pleasantness.
Brahmin, what is the fire worthy of gifts?
Here, Brahmin, of those recluses and Brahmins who have given up false teachers, some train to be patient and gentle, a certain one tames himself, a certain one appeases himself, a certain one extinguishes.
Brahmin, this is the fire worthy of gifts.
The fire worthy of gifts should be revered, esteemed, honoured and fostered with rightful pleasantness.
Brahmin, as for the fire of firewood, from time to time it should be lighted, attended to, put out and put aside.
When this was said the Brahmin with the lofty body said thus:
I understand good Gotama.
Remember me as a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until life lasts.
Now I will release the five hundred bulls, the five hundred young bulls, the five hundred cows, the five hundred goats and the five hundred sheep I will bestow their lives, may they eat green grass, may they drink cool water, may they feel the cool air blowing.
