4.
The Second Discourse on Fire
47.
Now at that time a great sacrifice had been set aside for the brahmin Uggatasarīra.
Five hundred bulls had been brought to the sacrificial post for the sacrifice, five hundred bullocks had been brought to the sacrificial post for the sacrifice, five hundred heifers had been brought to the sacrificial post for the sacrifice, five hundred goats had been brought to the sacrificial post for the sacrifice, five hundred rams had been brought to the sacrificial post for the sacrifice.
Then the brahmin Uggatasarīra approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the brahmin Uggatasarīra said this to the Blessed One -
"I have heard this, Master Gotama, that the taking up of fire and the raising of the sacrificial post is of great fruit and great benefit." "I too have heard this, brahmin, that the taking up of fire and the raising of the sacrificial post is of great fruit and great benefit." For the second time the brahmin Uggatasarīra... etc. For the third time the brahmin Uggatasarīra said this to the Blessed One - "I have heard this, Master Gotama, that the taking up of fire and the raising of the sacrificial post is of great fruit and great benefit." "I too have heard this, brahmin, that the taking up of fire and the raising of the sacrificial post is of great fruit and great benefit." "This, Master Gotama, agrees between Master Gotama and us, that is to say, in every respect."
When this was said, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the brahmin Uggatasarīra - "Indeed, brahmin, Truth-finders should not be asked thus - 'I have heard this, Master Gotama, that the taking up of fire and the raising of the sacrificial post is of great fruit and great benefit.' Thus, brahmin, Truth-finders should be asked - 'I, venerable sir, wish to take up fire, I wish to raise the sacrificial post. Let the Blessed One exhort me, venerable sir. Let the Blessed One instruct me, venerable sir, in what would be for my welfare and happiness for a long time.'"
Then the brahmin Uggatasarīra said this to the Blessed One - "I, Master Gotama, wish to take up fire, I wish to raise the sacrificial post. Let Master Gotama exhort me. Let Master Gotama instruct me in what would be for my welfare and happiness for a long time."
"Brahmin, one taking up fire and raising the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises three knives that are unwholesome, with painful consequences, with painful results. What three? The bodily knife, the verbal knife, the mental knife. Brahmin, one taking up fire and raising the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, produces such a thought - 'Let this many bulls be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many bullocks be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many heifers be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many goats be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice.' He, thinking 'I am making merit,' makes demerit; thinking 'I am doing what is wholesome,' does what is unwholesome; thinking 'I am seeking the path to a fortunate destination,' seeks the path to an unfortunate destination. Brahmin, one taking up fire and raising the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice, raises this first mental knife that is unwholesome, with painful consequences, with painful results.
"Furthermore, brahmin, one kindling the fire, raising up the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice speaks thus - 'Let this many bulls be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many bullocks be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many heifers be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many goats be slaughtered for the sacrifice, let this many rams be slaughtered for the sacrifice.' He, thinking 'I am making merit,' makes demerit; thinking 'I am doing what is wholesome,' does what is unwholesome; thinking 'I am seeking the path to a fortunate destination,' seeks the path to an unfortunate destination. Brahmin, one kindling the fire, raising up the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice raises up this second verbal knife, unwholesome, with painful consequences, with painful results.
"Furthermore, brahmin, one kindling the fire, raising up the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice himself first undertakes to slaughter bulls for the sacrifice, himself first undertakes to slaughter bullocks for the sacrifice, himself first undertakes to slaughter heifers for the sacrifice, himself first undertakes to slaughter goats for the sacrifice, himself first undertakes to slaughter rams for the sacrifice. He, thinking 'I am making merit,' makes demerit; thinking 'I am doing what is wholesome,' does what is unwholesome; thinking 'I am seeking the path to a fortunate destination,' seeks the path to an unfortunate destination. Brahmin, one kindling the fire, raising up the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice raises up this third bodily knife, unwholesome, with painful consequences, with painful results. Brahmin, one kindling the fire, raising up the sacrificial post, even before the sacrifice raises up these three knives, unwholesome, with painful consequences, with painful results.
"These three fires, brahmin, are to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated. Which three? The fire of lust, the fire of hate, the fire of delusion.
"And why, brahmin, is this fire of lust to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated? One who is lustful, brahmin, overcome by lust, with mind consumed, practises misconduct by body, practises misconduct by speech, practises misconduct by mind. He, having practised misconduct by body, having practised misconduct by speech, having practised misconduct by mind, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. Therefore this fire of lust is to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated.
"And why, brahmin, is this fire of hate to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated? One who is hateful, brahmin, overcome by hate, with mind consumed, practises misconduct by body, practises misconduct by speech, practises misconduct by mind. He, having practised misconduct by body, having practised misconduct by speech, having practised misconduct by mind, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. Therefore this fire of hate is to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated.
"And why, brahmin, is this fire of delusion to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated? One who is deluded, brahmin, overcome by delusion, with mind consumed, practises misconduct by body, practises misconduct by speech, practises misconduct by mind. He, having practised misconduct by body, having practised misconduct by speech, having practised misconduct by mind, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. Therefore this fire of delusion is to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated. These three fires, brahmin, are to be abandoned, to be avoided, not to be cultivated.
"Three fires, brahmin, having honoured, having respected, having revered, having venerated, should be rightly maintained in happiness. Which three? The fire worthy of offerings, the householder's fire, the fire worthy of gifts.
"And which, brahmin, is the fire worthy of offerings? Here, brahmin, whoever are your mother or father, this is called, brahmin, the fire worthy of offerings. What is the reason for this? From them, brahmin, one has come forth, has arisen; therefore this fire worthy of offerings, having honoured, having respected, having revered, having venerated, should be rightly maintained in happiness.
"And what, brahmin, is the householder's fire? Here, brahmin, those who are one's sons or wives or slaves or servants or labourers, this is called, brahmin, the householder's fire. Therefore this householder's fire should be honoured, respected, revered, venerated, and rightly maintained with happiness.
"And what, brahmin, is the fire worthy of gifts? Here, brahmin, those ascetics and brahmins who abstain from other doctrines, who are established in patience and meekness, who tame themselves alone, who calm themselves alone, who bring themselves alone to final quenching, this is called, brahmin, the fire worthy of gifts. Therefore this fire worthy of gifts should be honoured, respected, revered, venerated, and rightly maintained with happiness. These, brahmin, are the three fires that should be honoured, respected, revered, venerated, and rightly maintained with happiness.
"But this wood fire, brahmin, should be kindled from time to time, should be looked upon with indifference from time to time, should be extinguished from time to time, should be put aside from time to time."
When this was said, the brahmin Uggatasarīra said this to the Blessed One - "Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life. I, Master Gotama, release five hundred bulls, I give them life; I release five hundred bullocks, I give them life; I release five hundred heifers, I give them life; I release five hundred goats, I give them life; I release five hundred rams, I give them life. Let them eat green grass, let them drink cool water, and let a cool breeze blow upon them." The fourth.