31. The Connected Discourses on Mahākātyāyana

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[1]Thus have I heard: 

At one time, the Buddha was staying in Śrāvastī, at Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. At that time, the venerable Mahākātyāyana was in the settlement of Bālandana, near the bank of a Crow Pond. At that time, a brāhmaṇa holding a water-pot staff [ārāmadaṇḍa] went to where Mahākātyāyana was, exchanged greetings with him, and after exchanging pleasantries, sat down to one side. 

He asked Mahākātyāyana: “For what cause and condition do kings struggle with kings? Brāhmaṇas and householders struggle with brāhmaṇas and householders?” 

Mahākātyāyana answered the brāhmaṇa, saying: “Because of the cause and condition of being bound by greedy desire, kings struggle with kings; brāhmaṇas and householders struggle with brāhmaṇas, and householders.” 

The brāhmaṇa further asked: “For what cause and condition do renunciates struggle with renunciates?” 

Mahākātyāyana answered: “Because of being bound by desire for views, renunciates struggle with renunciates.” 

The brāhmaṇa further asked Mahākātyāyana: “Might there be someone who can be free from the bonds of greedy desire, and free from the bonds of desire for these views?” 

The venerable Mahākātyāyana answered, saying: “Brāhmaṇa! There is. My teacher, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfectly Awakened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, the Sugata, the Knower of the World, the Unsurpassed Being, the Trainer of Men, the Teacher of Devas and Humans, the Buddha, the Bhagavān, can be free from the bonds of this greedy desire, and the the desire for views.” 

The brāhmaṇa further asked: “Where is the Buddha Bhagavān now?” 

He answered: “The Buddha Bhagavān is now among the people of *Pālagī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park, in Śrāvastī, in the country of Kośala.” 

At that time, the brāhmaṇa rose from his seat, arranged his robes, bore his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, toward the place where the Buddha was staying, joined his palms and praised, saying: “Namo namo to the Buddha, Bhagavān, Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyak-Saṃbuddhāya, who is free from the bonds of all greedy desire; he can completely separate from the bonds of greedy desire and various views—the root of strife.[2]” 

At that time, the brāhmaṇa holding a water-pot staff [ārāmadaṇḍa], heard that which was explained by the Venerable Mahākātyāyana, rejoiced and gladly practised in accordance, rose from his seat, and departed.

[1] “Connected Discourses on Mahākātyāyana” consists of 10 sūtras.

Aṅguttaranikāya, “Book of the Twos,” section 4, sutta 6 [2.37].

Saṃyuktāgama Sūtra, fascicle 20b.

[2] “the root of strife” in the original edition was written “the root of purity,” which has now been corrected.