With Ambaṭṭha 1.20

1.20.1

Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṃ māṇavaṃ etadavoca:

So the Buddha said to Ambaṭṭha,

1.20.2

“ayaṃ kho pana te, ambaṭṭha, sahadhammiko pañho āgacchati, akāmā byākātabbo.

“Well, Ambaṭṭha, there’s a legitimate question that comes up. You won’t like it, but you ought to answer anyway.

1.20.3

Sace tvaṃ na byākarissasi, aññena vā aññaṃ paṭicarissasi, tuṇhī vā bhavissasi, pakkamissasi vā ettheva te sattadhā muddhā phalissati.

If you fail to answer—by dodging the issue, remaining silent, or leaving—your head will explode into seven pieces right here.

1.20.4

Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, ambaṭṭha,

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha?

1.20.5

kinti te sutaṃ brāhmaṇānaṃ vuddhānaṃ mahallakānaṃ ācariyapācariyānaṃ bhāsamānānaṃ kutopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā, ko ca kaṇhāyanānaṃ pubbapuriso”ti?

According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?”

1.20.6

Evaṃ vutte, ambaṭṭho māṇavo tuṇhī ahosi.

When he said this, Ambaṭṭha kept silent.

1.20.7

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṃ māṇavaṃ etadavoca:

For a second time, the Buddha put the question,

1.20.8

“taṃ kiṃ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, kinti te sutaṃ brāhmaṇānaṃ vuddhānaṃ mahallakānaṃ ācariyapācariyānaṃ bhāsamānānaṃ kutopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā, ko ca kaṇhāyanānaṃ pubbapuriso”ti?

1.20.9

Dutiyampi kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo tuṇhī ahosi.

and for a second time Ambaṭṭha kept silent.

1.20.10

Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṃ māṇavaṃ etadavoca:

So the Buddha said to him,

1.20.11

“byākarohi dāni, ambaṭṭha, na dāni, te tuṇhībhāvassa kālo.

“Answer now, Ambaṭṭha. Now is not the time for silence.

1.20.12

Yo kho, ambaṭṭha, tathāgatena yāvatatiyakaṃ sahadhammikaṃ pañhaṃ puṭṭho na byākaroti, etthevassa sattadhā muddhā phalissatī”ti.

If someone fails to answer a legitimate question when asked three times by the Buddha, their head explodes into seven pieces there and then.”