Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
42. Gāmani Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
42. Kindred Sayings about Headmen
Sutta 10
Manicūḷaka Suttaṃ
Crest-jewel
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Rājagaha
at the Squirrels' Feeding-ground.
Now at that time in the royal palace
among those of the royal retinue
who sat together in conclave
there arose this topic in casual talk:
"The recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
are permitted to take gold and silver,
they let gold and silver be offered,
the recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
accept gold and silver."
Now on that occasion
there sat in that company
Jewel-crested,[1] the headman.
Then said the headman:
"My good [231] sirs, say not that!
It is not permitted to the recluses
who are the sons of the Sakyan
to take gold and silver,
to let gold and silver be offered,
to accept gold and silver.
Rejected by them
are gems
and gold,
they have done with gold and silver."
Howbeit, Jewel-crested, the headman,
could not convince that company.
So Jewel-crested, the headman,
went to visit the Exalted One,
and on coming to him
saluted him
and sat down at one side.
So seated
Jewel-crested, the headman, said to the Exalted One: -
"Lord, in the royal palace here,
when those of the royal retinue
had gathered and were sitting in conclave,
this topic of casual talk arose:
'The recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
are permitted to take gold and silver,
they let gold and silver be offered,
the recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
accept gold and silver.'
At these words, lord,
I said to that company:
'0 my good sirs,
say not that!
It is not so.
The recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
do not take gold and silver,
do not permit the offering of gold and silver,
do not accept gold and silver.
Rejected by them are gems and gold.
They have done with gold and silver.'
But, lord, I could not convince that company.
Pray, lord, in so explaining
did I speak in accordance with the Exalted One's view,
without misrepresenting the Exalted One
by stating what is wrong?
Did I answer in conformity
with his teaching,
so that no one who is of the same view,[2]
a follower of the Exalted One's view,
could give opportunity for censure?"
"Truly, headman, in so explaining
you did speak in accordance with my view.
You did not misrepresent me
by stating what is wrong.
You did answer in conformity with my teaching,
so that no one who is of my view,
a follower of my view,
could give opportunity for censure.
No, indeed, headman!
It is not permitted
to the recluses who are the sons of the Sakyan
to take gold and silver,
to let it be offered,
to accept gold and silver.
They do not take gold and silver,
let gold and silver be offered,
accept gold and silver.
Rejected by them are gems and gold.
They have done with [232] gold and silver.
To him, headman, who is permitted to take gold and silver,
the five sensual delights are also permitted.
You may downright aver, headman,
of him to whom the taking of gold and silver is permitted
that he is not a recluse by nature,
not of the nature of the Sakyan's sons.
However, headman, this do I declare:
Grass[3] is to be sought for
by those in need of grass.
Firewood is to be sought for
by those in need of firewood.
A cart is to be sought for
by those in need of a cart.
A servant is to be sought for
by him who is in need of a servant.
But, headman, in no manner whatsoever
do I declare that gold and silver should be accepted
or sought for."
[1] Maṇicūḷako. He gives the decision laid down by the Second Council at Vesālī. Cf. Vin. ii, 296, for this sutta.
[2] Cf. K.S. ii, 28. Saha-dhammiko, perhaps 'reasonable,' as at p. 208.
[3] 'For thatching one's hut or shelter.' Comy.
