Dighanikaya 3.283_2

3.283_2

Yasmā pana so brāhmaṇo paṇḍito khattavijjāya kusalo, tena saha mantetvā katakammaṃ nāma na virujjhati, tasmā sāṇipākārassa anto ṭhatvā bahi ṭhitena tena saddhiṃ manteti. Taṃ sandhāya vuttaṃ ‘‘tiro dussantena mantetī’’ti. Tattha tirodussantenāti tirodussena. Ayameva vā pāṭho. Dhammikanti anavajjaṃ. Payātanti abhiharitvā dinnaṃ. Kathaṃ tassa rājāti yassa rañño brāhmaṇo īdisaṃ bhikkhaṃ paṭiggaṇheyya, kathaṃ tassa brāhmaṇassa so rājā sammukhībhāvampi na dadeyya. Ayaṃ pana adinnakaṃ māyāya gaṇhati, tenassa sammukhībhāvaṃ rājā na detīti niṭṭhamettha gantabbanti ayamettha adhippāyo. ‘‘Idaṃ pana kāraṇaṃ ṭhapetvā rājānañceva brāhmaṇañca na añño koci jānāti. Tadetaṃ evaṃ rahassampi paṭicchannampi addhā sabbaññū samaṇo gotamoti niṭṭhaṃ gamissatī’’ti bhagavā pakāsesi.

However, since that brahmin was wise and skilled in the royal science, and an action done after taking counsel with him would not fail, [the king] would stand inside a curtain-wall and take counsel with him while he stood outside. Referring to that, it was said: “he takes counsel from behind a curtain.” There, “from behind a curtain” means by means of a cloth screen. Or this is just the reading itself. “Righteous” means blameless. “Offered” means brought and given. “Why would the king to him...”: to whichever brahmin a king would grant such alms, why would that king not grant even an audience to that brahmin? But this one takes what is not given by trickery; the king does not grant him an audience for that reason—this is the conclusion that should be reached here; this is the meaning intended here. The Blessed One revealed: “Except for this reason, no one else knows this apart from the king and the brahmin. Even such a secret and concealed matter will lead [him] to the conclusion: ‘Undoubtedly the ascetic Gotama is all-knowing.’”