Dighanikaya 27.114

27.114

‘‘Taggha vo, vāseṭṭha, brāhmaṇā porāṇaṃ assarantā evamāhaṃsū’’ti ettha voti nipātamattaṃ, sāmivacanaṃ vā, tumhākaṃ brāhmaṇāti attho. Porāṇanti porāṇakaṃ aggaññaṃ lokuppatticariyavaṃsaṃ. Assarantāti assaramānā. Idaṃ vuttaṃ hoti, ekaṃsena vo, vāseṭṭha, brāhmaṇā porāṇaṃ lokuppattiṃ ananussarantā ajānantā evaṃ vadantīti. ‘‘Dissanti kho panā’’ti evamādi tesaṃ laddhibhindanatthāya vuttaṃ. Tattha brāhmaṇiyoti brāhmaṇānaṃ puttappaṭilābhatthāya āvāhavivāhavasena kulaṃ ānītā brāhmaṇiyo dissanti. Tā kho panetā aparena samayena utuniyopi honti, sañjātapupphāti attho. Gabbhiniyoti sañjātagabbhā. Vijāyamānāti puttadhītaro janayamānā. Pāyamānāti dārake thaññaṃ pāyantiyo. Yonijāva samānāti brāhmaṇīnaṃ passāvamaggena jātā samānā. Evamāhaṃsūti evaṃ vadanti. Kathaṃ? ‘‘Brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo…pe… brahmadāyādā’’ti. Yadi pana nesaṃ taṃ saccavacanaṃ siyā, brāhmaṇīnaṃ kucchi mahābrahmassa uro bhaveyya, brāhmaṇīnaṃ passāvamaggo mahābrahmuno mukhaṃ bhaveyya, na kho panetaṃ evaṃ daṭṭhabbaṃ. Tenāha ‘‘te ca brahmūnañceva abbhācikkhantī’’tiādi.

In 'Surely, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins, not remembering the ancient tradition, have spoken thus': here, 'vo' is merely a particle, or it is a genitive term, meaning 'your brahmins.' 'Ancient tradition' means: the primeval, foremost lineage of conduct concerning the origin of the world. 'Not remembering' means: failing to recollect. This is what is meant: 'Certainly, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins, not recollecting and not knowing the ancient origin of the world, say this.' The passage beginning 'Brahmin women are seen' was spoken in order to demolish their dogma. Therein, 'brahmin women' means: brahmin women are seen who have been brought into the family through wedding ceremonies in order to obtain sons for the brahmins. 'Moreover, in due course they also become menstruating': the meaning is that they develop their menses. 'Pregnant' means: with child. 'Giving birth' means: generating sons and daughters. 'Nursing' means: suckling children with breast milk. 'Although born from a womb' means: although born through the urinary passage of brahmin women. 'They have spoken thus' means: they say this. How? 'The brahmin is the best class… [and so forth up to]… heirs of Brahmā.' But if that statement of theirs were true, the womb of brahmin women would be the chest of Mahābrahmā, and the urinary passage of brahmin women would be the mouth of Mahābrahmā; yet this is not to be viewed in that way. Therefore he said: 'And they misrepresent Brahmā,' and so on.