Tripiṭaka 4. Devatāvagga
4. Deities
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Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then a certain brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’”ti.
One does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition.”
“Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ vā assosiṁ vā.
“Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view!
Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto, sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati:
How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that
‘natthi attakāro, natthi parakāro’ti.
one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi ārabbhadhātū”ti?
What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of initiative?”
“Ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?
“Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who initiate activity?”
“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ārabbhadhātuyā sati ārabbhavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.
“Since there is an element of initiative, and sentient beings who initiate activity are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, brāhmaṇa, atthi nikkamadhātu …pe…
What do you think, brahmin, is there an element of persistence …
“Upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyantī”ti?
“Since this is so, do we find sentient beings who have energy?”
“Yaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, upakkamadhātuyā sati upakkamavanto sattā paññāyanti, ayaṁ sattānaṁ attakāro ayaṁ parakāro.
“Since there is an element of energy, and sentient beings who have energy are found, sentient beings act of their own volition or that of another.
Māhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁvādiṁ evaṁdiṭṭhiṁ addasaṁ vā assosiṁ vā.
Brahmin, may I never see or hear of anyone holding such a doctrine or view!
Kathañhi nāma sayaṁ abhikkamanto sayaṁ paṭikkamanto evaṁ vakkhati:
How on earth can someone who comes and goes on his own say that
‘natthi attakāro natthi parakāro’”ti.
one does not act of one’s own volition, nor does one act of another’s volition?”
ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Aṭṭhamaṁ.