Dighanikaya 1.7

1.7

Appamattakaṃ kho panetaṃ, bhikkhaveti ko anusandhi? Idaṃ suttaṃ dvīhi padehi ābaddhaṃ vaṇṇena ca avaṇṇena ca. Tattha avaṇṇo – ‘‘iti petaṃ abhūtaṃ iti petaṃ ataccha’’nti, ettheva udakantaṃ patvā aggiviya nivatto. Vaṇṇo pana bhūtaṃ bhūtato paṭijānitabbaṃ – ‘‘iti petaṃ bhūta’’nti evaṃ anuvattatiyeva. So pana duvidho brahmadattena bhāsitavaṇṇo ca bhikkhusaṅghena acchariyaṃ āvusotiādinā nayena āraddhavaṇṇo ca. Tesu bhikkhusaṅghena vuttavaṇṇassa upari suññatāpakāsane anusandhiṃ dassessati. Idha pana brahmadattena vuttavaṇṇassa anusandhiṃ dassetuṃ ‘‘appamattakaṃ kho panetaṃ, bhikkhave’’ti desanā āraddhā.

Regarding 'It is a trifling matter, monks': what is the connection? This sutta is framed by two statements, praise and dispraise. There, dispraise has ceased right there at the words, 'For this reason that is untrue, for this reason that is false,' like fire upon reaching the water's edge. Praise, however, continues on thus: 'What is a fact must be acknowledged as a fact: "For this reason that is a fact."' Furthermore, that [praise] is of two kinds: the praise spoken by Brahmadatta, and the praise initiated by the Saṅgha of monks in the manner beginning with 'It is wonderful, friend.' Of these, above the praise spoken by the Saṅgha of monks, he will show the connection in the exposition of voidness. But here, to show the connection with the praise spoken by Brahmadatta, the teaching begins: 'It is a trifling matter, monks.'