Dighanikaya 19.312

19.312

Abbhuggacchīti abhiuggacchi. Tadā kira manussānaṃ ‘‘na brahmunā saddhiṃ amantetvā sakkā evaṃ sakalajambudīpaṃ anusāsitu’’nti nisinnanisinnaṭṭhāne ayameva kathā pavattittha. Na kho panāhanti mahāpuriso kira – ‘‘ayaṃ mayhaṃ abhūto vaṇṇo uppanno, vaṇṇuppatti kho pana na bhāriyā, uppannassa vaṇṇassa rakkhanameva bhāriyaṃ, ayañca me acintetvā amantetvā karontasseva vaṇṇo uppannova, cintetvā mantetvā karontassa pana vitthārikataro bhavissatī’’ti brahmadassane upāyaṃ pariyesanto taṃ disvā sutaṃ kho pana metantiādiatthaṃ parivitakkesi.

“Spread” means: arose widely. At that time, it is said, wherever people sat down, this very talk went on: “It is not possible to instruct the whole of Jambudīpa like this without consulting with Brahmā.” “Not indeed, however, I” means: the Great Being, it is said, thought: “This untrue reputation has arisen for me. Now, the arising of a reputation is not difficult, but the guarding of an arisen reputation is difficult. And this reputation has arisen for me even while acting without thinking or consulting; but for one who acts having thought and consulted, it will become even more widespread.” Seeking a means to see Brahmā, and having seen it, he reflected on the matter beginning with, “Now I have heard,” and so forth.