4.
The Discourse to Kāraṇapālī
194.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Now at that time the brahmin Kāraṇapālī was having work done for the Licchavis.
The brahmin Kāraṇapālī saw the brahmin Piṅgiyānī coming from afar;
having seen the brahmin Piṅgiyānī, he said this -
"Well now, from where is the venerable Piṅgiyānī coming in the middle of the day?" "I am coming from here, sir, from the presence of the ascetic Gotama." "What does the venerable Piṅgiyānī think about the ascetic Gotama's lucidity of wisdom? He is wise, I imagine?" "Who am I, sir, and who could know the ascetic Gotama's lucidity of wisdom! Surely he who could know the ascetic Gotama's lucidity of wisdom would himself be such as he!" "Indeed the venerable Piṅgiyānī praises the ascetic Gotama with lofty praise." "Who am I, sir, and who could praise the ascetic Gotama! Praised by those who are praised, Master Gotama is foremost of gods and humans." "But seeing what reason is the venerable Piṅgiyānī thus confident in the ascetic Gotama?"
"Just as, sir, a man satisfied with the finest flavours does not long for other inferior flavours; so too, sir, from whatever source one hears the Teaching of that Master Gotama - whether from discourses, whether from poems, whether from explanations, whether from marvellous teachings - from that source one does not long for the doctrines of various other ascetics and brahmins.
"Just as, sir, a man overcome by hunger and weakness might come upon a honey-ball. From wherever he might taste it, he would obtain a sweet, delicious flavour; so too, sir, from whatever source one hears the Teaching of that Master Gotama - whether from discourses, whether from poems, whether from explanations, whether from marvellous teachings - from that source one obtains satisfaction, one obtains confidence of mind.
"Just as, sir, a man might come upon a piece of sandalwood - whether of yellow sandalwood or of red sandalwood. From wherever he might smell it - whether from the root, whether from the middle, whether from the top - he would obtain a fragrant, delicious scent; so too, sir, from whatever source one hears the Teaching of that Master Gotama - whether from discourses, whether from poems, whether from explanations, whether from marvellous teachings - from that source one attains gladness, one attains pleasure.
"Just as, friend, a man who is sick, afflicted, severely ill. A skilled physician might remove his illness with reason and cause; so too, sir, from whatever source one hears the Teaching of that Master Gotama - whether from discourses, whether from poems, whether from explanations, whether from marvellous teachings - from that source sorrow, lamentation, suffering, displeasure and anguish pass away.
"Just as, friend, there might be a pond with clear water, with sweet water, with cool water, with pure water, with good fords, delightful. Then a man might come along, overcome by heat, afflicted by heat, weary, thirsty and parched. He, having plunged into that pond, having bathed and drunk, might allay all disturbance, weariness and fever. So too, friend, from whatever source one hears the Teaching of that Master Gotama - whether from discourses, whether from poems, whether from explanations, whether from marvellous teachings - from that source all disturbance, weariness and fever are allayed."
When this was said, the brahmin Kāraṇapālī, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having placed his right knee on the ground, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, uttered an inspired utterance three times -
Homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
Homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One."
"Excellent, dear Piṅgiyānī, excellent, dear Piṅgiyānī! Just as, dear Piṅgiyānī, one might set upright what had been overturned, or reveal what had been concealed, or point out the path to one who was lost, or hold up an oil lamp in the darkness - so that those with good eyesight might see forms; so too, the Teaching has been made clear by the venerable Piṅgiyānī in many ways. I, dear Piṅgiyānī, go for refuge to that Master Gotama, to the Teaching, and to the Community of monks. May the venerable Piṅgiyānī remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The fourth.