Dighanikaya 4.303

4.303

Nānāverajjakānanti nānāvidhesu rajjesu, aññesu aññesu kāsikosalādīsu rajjesu jātā, tāni vā tesaṃ nivāsā, tato vā āgatāti nānāverajjakā, tesaṃ nānāverajjakānaṃ. Kenacideva karaṇīyenāti tasmiṃ kira nagare dvīhi karaṇīyehi brāhmaṇā sannipatanti – yaññānubhavanatthaṃ vā mantasajjhāyanatthaṃ vā. Tadā ca tasmiṃ nagare yamaññā natthi. Soṇadaṇḍassa pana santike mantasajjhāyanatthaṃ ete sannipatitā. Taṃ sandhāya vuttaṃ – ‘‘kenacideva karaṇīyenā’’ti. Te tassa gamanaṃ sutvā cintesuṃ – ‘‘ayaṃ soṇadaṇḍo uggatabrāhmaṇo yebhuyyena ca aññe brāhmaṇā samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ saraṇaṃ gatā, ayameva na gato. Svāyaṃ sace tattha gamissati, addhā samaṇassa gotamassa āvaṭṭaniyā māyāya āvaṭṭito, taṃ saraṇaṃ gamissati. Tato etassāpi gehadvāre brāhmaṇānaṃ sannipāto na bhavissatī’’ti. ‘‘Handassa gamanantarāyaṃ karomā’’ti sammantayitvā tattha agamaṃsu. Taṃ sandhāya – atha kho te brāhmaṇātiādi vuttaṃ.

"Of various provinces": those born in various realms, in different realms such as Kāsi, Kosala, and so forth, or those are their dwellings, or they have come from there—hence 'of various provinces'; of those [brahmins] of various provinces. "On some business or other": in that city, it is said, brahmins assemble for two types of business—either to take part in a sacrifice or to recite the mantras. And at that time there was no sacrifice in that city; but they had assembled in the presence of Soṇadaṇḍa to recite the mantras. In reference to that, it was said: "on some business or other." Having heard of his going, they thought: "This Soṇadaṇḍa is an eminent brahmin, and for the most part other brahmins have gone for refuge to the ascetic Gotama, but he alone has not gone. If this one goes there, he will surely be turned by the ascetic Gotama's converting magic and go to him for refuge. Then there will no longer be an assembly of brahmins even at his doorstep either. Come, let us make an obstacle to his going!" Having conferred together, they went there. In reference to that, it is said: "Then those brahmins…" and so forth.