Jaṭilasutta

Udāna 1.9

Heartfelt Sayings 1.9

Jaṭilasutta

Dreadlocked Ascetics

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā gayāyaṁ viharati gayāsīse.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Gayā on Gayā Head.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā jaṭilā sītāsu hemantikāsu rattīsu antaraṭṭhake himapātasamaye gayāyaṁ ummujjantipi nimujjantipi, ummujjanimujjampi karonti osiñcantipi, aggimpi juhanti:

Now at that time—during the cold spell when the snow falls in the January winter—many dreadlocked ascetics plunged in and out of the Gayā river. Plunging and showering, they served the sacred flame, thinking:

“iminā suddhī”ti.

“Through this there is purity.”

Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule jaṭile sītāsu hemantikāsu rattīsu antaraṭṭhake himapātasamaye gayāyaṁ ummujjantepi nimujjantepi ummujjanimujjampi karonte osiñcantepi aggimpi juhante:

The Buddha saw them plunging in and out.

“iminā suddhī”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Na udakena sucī hoti,

“Purity doesn’t come from water,

bahvettha nhāyatī jano;

no matter how many people bathe there.

Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca,

One who has truth and principle,

so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo”ti.

they are pure, they are brahmins.”

Navamaṁ.