Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
XVIII. Upāsaka Vaggo

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XVIII: The Lay-Disciple

Sutta 175

Upāsaka Caṇḍāla Suttaṃ

The Outcast1

 


[151]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

'Monks; pursuing five things,
a layman is the outcast of laymen,
the dirt of laymen,
the off-scouring of laymen.

What five?

He is without faith,
without morals,
is a diviner by curious ceremonies,2
he believes in luck,3 not deeds,
he seeks outside [152] (the Order)
for a gift-worthy person
and there first offers service.

Monks, pursuing these five things,
a layman is the outcast of laymen,
the dirt,
the off-scouring of laymen.

 

§

 

Monks, pursuing five things,
a layman is the jewel of laymen,
the lily of laymen,
the lotus of laymen.

What five?

He has faith,
is moral,
is not a diviner by curious ceremonies,
he believes in deeds, not luck,
he seeks no outside (the Order)
for a gift-worthy person
or there first offers service.

Monks, pursuing five things,
a layman is the jewel of laymen,
the lily of laymen,
the lotus of laymen.

 


1 Caṇḍāla.

2 Kotūhala-maṅgaiika; kotūhala has been confused with kolāhala (and halākala): tumult; see P.E.D. s.v.; Q. of M. i, 143 (the native gloss is near the meaning); Maṅgalajātaka, i, 371 explains the meaning; our Comy. iminā idaṃ bhavissatī -ti evaṃ pavattattā kotūhala-saṅkhātena diṭṭha-suta-muta-maṅgalena samannāgato (cf. J. i, 374); the Sk. is kautūhala, curiosity, interest; kautaka-maṅgala, a solemn ceremony, a festival, and so, no doubt, noise (cf. UdA. 156: kotūhalahāsa). See also M. i, 265: vata-kotūhala-maṅgalāni; below VI, § 93.

3 Maṅgalaṃ pacceti no kammaṃ. Comy. maṅgalaṃ oloketi.