7.8. Aggika: Thờ lửa

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Tena kho pana samayena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa sappinā pāyaso sannihito hoti:

“aggiṁ juhissāmi, aggihuttaṁ paricarissāmī”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Rājagahe sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Addasā kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ piṇḍāya ṭhitaṁ.

Disvāna bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Tīhi vijjāhi sampanno,

jātimā sutavā bahū;

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

somaṁ bhuñjeyya pāyasan”ti.

“Bahumpi palapaṁ jappaṁ,

na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;

Antokasambu saṅkiliṭṭho,

kuhanāparivārito.

Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedī,

saggāpāyañca passati;

Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto,

abhiññāvosito muni.

Etāhi tīhi vijjāhi,

tevijjo hoti brāhmaṇo;

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

somaṁ bhuñjeyya pāyasan”ti.

“Bhuñjatu bhavaṁ gotamo.

Brāhmaṇo bhavan”ti.

“Gāthābhigītaṁ me abhojaneyyaṁ,

Sampassataṁ brāhmaṇa nesa dhammo;

Gāthābhigītaṁ panudanti buddhā,

Dhamme sati brāhmaṇa vuttiresā.

Aññena ca kevalinaṁ mahesiṁ,

Khīṇāsavaṁ kukkuccavūpasantaṁ;

Annena pānena upaṭṭhahassu,

Khettañhi taṁ puññapekkhassa hotī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

aññataro ca panāyasmā aggikabhāradvājo arahataṁ ahosīti.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Now at that time ghee and milk-rice had been set out for the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper, who thought,

“I will serve the sacred flame! I will perform the fire sacrifice!”

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.

Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Rājagaha, he approached Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s home and stood to one side.

Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper saw him standing for alms

and addressed him in verse:

“One who’s accomplished in the three knowledges,

of good birth and ample learning,

accomplished in knowledge and conduct

may enjoy this milk-rice.”

“Even one who mutters many prayers

is no brahmin by birth

if they’re filthy and corrupt within,

with a following gained by fawning.

One who knows their past lives,

sees heaven and places of loss,

and has attained the ending of rebirth,

is a sage of perfect insight.

Because of these three knowledges

a brahmin is a master of the three knowledges.

Accomplished in knowledge and conduct,

they may enjoy this milk-rice.”

“May the worthy Gotama eat!

The worthy one is a brahmin.”

“Food enchanted by a verse isn’t fit for me to eat.

That’s not the principle of those who see, brahmin.

The Buddhas cast aside things enchanted with verses.

Since there is such a principle, brahmin, that’s how they live.

Serve with other food and drink

the consummate one, the great seer,

with defilements ended and remorse stilled.

For he is the field for the seeker of merit.”

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper said to the Buddha,

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! …” …

And Venerable Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper became one of the perfected.