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# Mahagovindasutta 47.1-43

Mahāgovindasutta 47.1-43

- **Language:** Pāli

### [47.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.1)

Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo yena reṇu rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā reṇuṃ rājānaṃ etadavoca:

> So the Great Steward went to King Reṇu and said,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.2)

“aññaṃ dāni bhavaṃ purohitaṃ pariyesatu, yo bhoto rajjaṃ anusāsissati.

> “Worthy sir, please now find another high priest to manage the affairs of state for you.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.3)

Icchāmahaṃ, bho, agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajituṃ.

> I wish to go forth from the lay life to homelessness.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.4)

Yathā kho pana me sutaṃ brahmuno āmagandhe bhāsamānassa, te na sunimmadayā agāraṃ ajjhāvasatā.

> As I understand what the Divinity says about putrefaction, it’s not easy to quell while living at home.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.5)

Pabbajissāmahaṃ, bho, agārasmā anagāriyan”ti.

> I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.6)

“Āmantayāmi rājānaṃ,

> I announce to King Reṇu,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.7)

reṇuṃ bhūmipatiṃ ahaṃ;

> the lord of the land:  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.8)

Tvaṃ pajānassu rajjena,

> you must learn how to rule,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.9)

nāhaṃ porohicce rame”.

> for I no longer care for my ministry.”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.10)

“Sace te ūnaṃ kāmehi,

> “If you’re lacking any pleasures,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.11)

ahaṃ paripūrayāmi te;

> I’ll supply them for you.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.12)

Yo taṃ hiṃsati vāremi,

> I’ll protect you from any harm,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.13)

bhūmisenāpati ahaṃ;

> for I command the nation’s army.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.14)

Tuvaṃ pitā ahaṃ putto,

> You are my father, I am your son!  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.15)

mā no govinda pājahi”.

> O Steward, please don’t leave!”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.16)

“Namatthi ūnaṃ kāmehi,

> “I’m lacking no pleasures,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.17)

hiṃsitā me na vijjati;

> and no one is harming me.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.18)

Amanussavaco sutvā,

> I’ve heard a non-human voice,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.19)

tasmāhaṃ na gahe rame”.

> so I no longer care for lay life.”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.20)

“Amanusso kathaṃvaṇṇo,

> “What was that non-human like?  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.21)

kiṃ te atthaṃ abhāsatha;

> What did he say to you,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.22)

Yañca sutvā jahāsi no,

> hearing which you would abandon  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.23)

gehe amhe ca kevalī”.

> our house and all our people?”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.24)

“Upavutthassa me pubbe,

> “Before entering this retreat,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.25)

yiṭṭhukāmassa me sato;

> I only liked to sacrifice.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.26)

Aggi pajjalito āsi,

> I kindled the sacred flame,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.27)

kusapattaparitthato.

> strewn about with kusa grass.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.28)

Tato me brahmā pāturahu,

> But then the Divinity the Eternal Youth  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.29)

brahmalokā sanantano;

> appeared to me from the realm of divinity.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.30)

So me pañhaṃ viyākāsi,

> He answered my question,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.31)

taṃ sutvā na gahe rame”.

> hearing which I no longer care for lay life.”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.32)

“Saddahāmi ahaṃ bhoto,

> “I have faith, O Steward,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.33)

yaṃ tvaṃ govinda bhāsasi;

> in that of which you speak.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.34)

Amanussavaco sutvā,

> Having heard a non-human voice,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.35)

kathaṃ vattetha aññathā.

> what else could you do?  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.36)

Te taṃ anuvattissāma,

> We will follow your example,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.37)

satthā govinda no bhavaṃ;

> Steward, be my Teacher!  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.38)

Maṇi yathā veḷuriyo,

> Like a gem of beryl—  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.39)

akāco vimalo subho;

> flawless, immaculate, beautiful—  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.40)

Evaṃ suddhā carissāma,

> that’s how pure we shall live,  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.41)

govindassānusāsaneti.

> in the Steward’s dispensation.  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.42)

Sace bhavaṃ govindo agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajissati, mayampi agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajissāma.

> If the Steward is going forth from the lay life to homelessness, we shall do so too. Your destiny shall be ours.”  
> — The Great Steward

### [47.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.43)

Atha yā te gati, sā no gati bhavissatī”ti.

## Translations (3)

- [Mahāgovinda](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19~sr-brankokovacevic.47.1) — sr
- [Der Große Verwalter](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19~de-sabbamitta.47.1) — German
- [The Great Steward](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19~en-sujato.47.1) — English

## Commentaries (1)

- [Sumaṅgalavilāsinī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha!sumangalavilasini.19.321) — Buddhaghosa, Pāli

## Linked texts (3)

- [長阿含經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.3.48) — Classical Chinese
- [大堅固婆羅門緣起經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirgha.mahagovindiyasutra*zh-danapala.2.31) — Classical Chinese
- [Jātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.jataka) — Pāli

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Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.1-43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.19.47.1-43) · Pramāṇa