Dhammapada 8.4: 4. Anatthapucchakabrāhmaṇavatthu

8.4.p1

Attā haveti imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ satthā jetavane viharanto anatthapucchakaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ ārabbha kathesi.

*Victory over self is better.* This religious instruction was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a Brahman who asked about gain and loss.

8.4.p2

So kira brāhmaṇo ‘‘kiṃ nu kho sammāsambuddho atthameva jānāti, udāhu anatthampi, pucchissāmi na’’nti satthāraṃ upasaṅkamitvā pucchi – ‘‘bhante, tumhe atthameva jānātha maññe, no anattha’’nti? ‘‘Atthañcāhaṃ, brāhmaṇa, jānāmi anatthañcā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi me anatthaṃ kathethā’’ti. Athassa satthā imaṃ gāthamāha –

The story goes that this Brahman considered within himself, "Does the Supremely Enlightened know gain alone or does he know loss also? I will ask him." Accordingly he approached the Teacher and asked him, "Reverend Sir, tell me, I pray you, do you know gain alone, and not loss?" "Brahman, I know both gain and loss." "Well then, tell me about loss." At once the Teacher pronounced the following Stanza,

8.4.p3

‘‘Ussūraseyyaṃ ālasyaṃ, caṇḍikkaṃ dīghasoṇḍiyaṃ;
Ekassaddhānagamanaṃ paradārūpasevanaṃ;
Etaṃ brāhmaṇa sevassu, anatthaṃ te bhavissatī’’ti.

Unprofitable is sleeping after sunrise, idleness, the moonlight, long-continued prosperity,
Going on journeys, seeking after other men's wives.
Seek after these things, Brahman, and you will gain that which will be of no advantage to you.

8.4.p4

Taṃ sutvā brāhmaṇo sādhukāramadāsi ‘‘sādhu sādhu, gaṇācariya, gaṇajeṭṭhaka, tumhe atthañca jānātha anatthañcā’’ti. ‘‘Evaṃ kho, brāhmaṇa, atthānatthajānanako nāma mayā sadiso natthī’’ti. Athassa satthā ajjhāsayaṃ upadhāretvā, ‘‘brāhmaṇa, kena kammena jīvasī’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Jūtakammena, bho gotamā’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ pana te jayo hoti parājayo’’ti. ‘‘Jayopi hoti parājayopī’’ti vutte, ‘‘brāhmaṇa, appamattako esa, paraṃ jinantassa jayo nāma na seyyo. Yo pana kilesajayena attānaṃ jināti, tassa jayo seyyo. Na hi taṃ jayaṃ koci apajayaṃ kātuṃ sakkotī’’ti vatvā anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā abhāsi –

When the Brahman heard this, he applauded the Teacher, saying, "Well said, well said, teacher of the multitude, leader of the multitude! You know indeed both gain and loss." "Indeed, Brahman, there is none other that knows loss so well as I." Then the Teacher considered within himself what motive actuated the Brahman, and asked him, "Brahman, how do you make your living?" "By gambling, Sir Gotama." "But which wins, you or the other man?" "Sometimes I win and sometimes the other man wins." Then said the Teacher, "Brahman, a trifling matter is the victory of him who defeats another; there is no superior advantage in such a victory. But he who overcomes his Depravities and so conquers self, wins a better victory, for such a victory no one can turn into defeat." So saying, he joined the connection, and preaching the Law, pronounced the following Stanzas,

8.4.104

‘‘Attā have jitaṃ seyyo, yā cāyaṃ itarā pajā;
Attadantassa posassa, niccaṃ saññatacārino.

104. Victory over self is better than victory over all other folk besides;
If a man conquer self, and live always under restraint,

8.4.105

‘‘Neva devo na gandhabbo, na māro saha brahmunā;
Jitaṃ apajitaṃ kayirā, tathārūpassa jantuno’’ti.

105. Neither god nor gandhabba nor Māra with Brahmā united,
Can turn into defeat the victory of such a man.

8.4.105_2

Tattha haveti nipāto. Jitanti liṅgavipallāso, attano kilesajayena attā jito seyyoti attho. Yā cāyaṃ itarā pajāti yā panāyaṃ avasesā pajā jūtena vā dhanaharaṇena vā saṅgāmena vā balābhibhavena vā jitā bhaveyya, taṃ jinantena yaṃ jitaṃ, na taṃ seyyoti attho. Kasmā pana tadeva jitaṃ seyyo, idaṃ na seyyoti? Yasmā attadantassa…pe… tathārūpassa jantunoti. Idaṃ vuttaṃ hoti – yasmā hi yvāyaṃ nikkilesatāya attadanto poso, tassa attadantassa kāyādīhi niccaṃ saññatacārino evarūpassa imehi kāyasaññamādīhi saññatassa jantuno devo vā gandhabbo vā māro vā brahmunā saha uṭṭhahitvā ‘‘ahamassa jitaṃ apajitaṃ karissāmi, maggabhāvanāya pahīne kilese puna uppādessāmī’’ti ghaṭentopi vāyamantopi yathā dhanādīhi parājito pakkhantaro hutvā itarena jitaṃ puna jinanto apajitaṃ kareyya, ‘‘evaṃ apajitaṃ kātuṃ neva sakkuṇeyyā’’ti.

8.4.105_3

Desanāvasāne bahū sotāpattiphalādīni pāpuṇiṃsūti.

8.4.105_4

Anatthapucchakabrāhmaṇavatthu catutthaṃ.