SacrificeYaññasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time a big sacrifice had been set up for King Pasenadi of Kosala. Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams—five hundred of each—had been led to the pillar for the sacrifice.Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito hoti, pañca ca usabhasatāni pañca ca vacchatarasatāni pañca ca vacchatarisatāni pañca ca ajasatāni pañca ca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya. His bondservants, servants, and workers did their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping with tearful faces.Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karonti.

Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu. Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening.Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,“Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ, the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, <j>the ‘royal soma drinking’,sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ; and the ‘unimpeded’—Niraggaḷaṁ mahārambhā, these big violent sacrifices yield no great fruit.na te honti mahapphalā.

The great sages of right comportmentAjeḷakā ca gāvo ca, don’t attend sacrificesvividhā yattha haññare; where goats, sheep, and cattleNa taṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ, and various creatures are killed.upayanti mahesino.

But the great sages of right comportmentYe ca yaññā nirārambhā, do attend those sacrificesyajanti anukulaṁ sadā; that are non-violent and propitious,Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca, where goats, sheep, and cattle,vividhā nettha haññare; and various creatures are not killed.Etaṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,

An intelligent person should sacrifice like this,Etaṁ yajetha medhāvī, for this sacrifice is very fruitful.eso yañño mahapphalo; For a sponsor of sacrifices like this,Etañhi yajamānassa, things get better, not worse.seyyo hoti na pāpiyo; Such a sacrifice is truly abundant,Yañño ca vipulo hoti, and even the deities are pleased.”pasīdanti ca devatā”ti.