Ascetics and BrahminsSamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti— I don’t deem them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight in this very life.na me te, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu vā samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu vā brāhmaṇasammatā, na ca panete āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ vā brahmaññatthaṁ vā diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

There are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti— I regard them as true ascetics and brahmins. Those venerables realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and live having realized it with their own insight.”te kho me, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā, te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“There are those who don’t understand suffering“Ye dukkhaṁ nappajānanti, and suffering’s cause,atho dukkhassa sambhavaṁ; and where all sufferingYattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṁ, cease with no residue left behind.asesaṁ uparujjhati; And they do not know the pathTañca maggaṁ na jānanti, that leads to the stilling of suffering.dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

They lack the heart’s release,Cetovimuttihīnā te, as well as the release by wisdom.Atho paññāvimuttiyā; Unable to make an end,Abhabbā te antakiriyāya, they continue to be reborn and grow old.Te ve jātijarūpagā.

But there are those who understand sufferingYe ca dukkhaṁ pajānanti, and suffering’s cause,atho dukkhassa sambhavaṁ; and where all sufferingYattha ca sabbaso dukkhaṁ, cease with no residue left behind.asesaṁ uparujjhati; And they understand the pathTañca maggaṁ pajānanti, that leads to the stilling of suffering.dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

They’re endowed with the heart’s release,Cetovimuttisampannā, as well as the release by wisdom.atho paññāvimuttiyā; Able to make an end,Bhabbā te antakiriyāya, they don’t continue to be reborn and grow old.”na te jātijarūpagā”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.