Mahagovindasutta 57.1-7

Mahāgovindasutta 57.1-7

Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo yena cattārīsā bhariyā sādisiyo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā cattārīsā bhariyā sādisiyo etadavoca:

Then the Great Steward went to his forty equal wives and said,
The Great Steward

“yā bhotīnaṃ icchati, sakāni vā ñātikulāni gacchatu aññaṃ vā bhattāraṃ pariyesatu.

“Ladies, please do whatever you wish, whether returning to your own families, or finding another husband.
The Great Steward

Icchāmahaṃ, bhotī, agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajituṃ.

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

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

Pabbajissāmahaṃ, bhotī, agārasmā anagāriyan”ti.

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

“Tvaññeva no ñāti ñātikāmānaṃ, tvaṃ pana bhattā bhattukāmānaṃ.

“You are the only family we want! You are the only husband we want!
The Great Steward

Sace bhavaṃ govindo agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajissati, mayampi agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajissāma, atha yā te gati, sā no gati bhavissatī”ti.

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

Translations (3)