8.7 The Story about the Elder Sāriputta’s Brahmin Companion
Sāriputtattherassa Sahāyakabrāhmaṇavatthu

“Whatever the alms or the sacrifice,” [29.235] {2.233} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana with reference to Elder Sāriputta’s Brahmin companion.

The elder approached him also and asked him: “Brahmin, do you ever do a single good deed?” – “Yes, venerable Sir.” – “What do you do?” – “I offer sacrificial slaughter.” At that time, we are told, it was the custom to offer sacrificial slaughter at an expenditure of immense sums of money. The elder, after questioning his companion in the manner related above, conducted him to the Teacher.

There he informed him of the incident, and said to him: “Venerable Sir, tell this man the way to the world of Brahma.” The Teacher asked him: “Brahmin, are you correctly reported?” – “Yes,” replied the Brahmin. “Brahmin, though you should offer sacrificial slaughter for a year, yet {2.234} would your act not be worth the fourth part of the act of him who, with believing heart, bestows alms on many worldly people, or of those who, with good intention, worship my disciples.” So saying, he joined the connection, and teaching the Dhamma, pronounced the following verse:

108. Yaṁ kiñci yiṭṭhaṁ ca hutaṁ ca loke
saṁvaccharaṁ yajetha puññapekkho,
sabbam-pi taṁ na catubhāgam-eti –
abhivādanā ujjugatesu seyyo.

Whatever the alms or the sacrifice
one seeking merit may give for a year,
that is not a quarter of the merit –
better is the worship of the upright.

At the end of the teaching that Brahmin attained the fruition of Stream-entry, and many others reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.

last updated: August 2024