• Numbered Discourses 5.191 Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.191
  • 20. Brahmins 20. Brāhmaṇavagga

Hounds Soṇasutta

“Mendicants, these five ancient traditions of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. “Pañcime, bhikkhave, porāṇā brāhmaṇadhammā etarahi sunakhesu sandissanti, no brāhmaṇesu. What five? Katame pañca?

In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women, not with others. Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁyeva gacchanti, no abrāhmaṇiṁ. These days brahmins have sex with both brahmin women and others. Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇimpi gacchanti, abrāhmaṇimpi gacchanti. But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds, not with other species. Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁyeva gacchanti, no asunakhiṁ. This is the first ancient tradition of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, not at other times. Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ utuniṁyeva gacchanti, no anutuniṁ. These days brahmins have sex with brahmin women both in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle and at other times. Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ utunimpi gacchanti, anutunimpi gacchanti. But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds when they are in heat, not at other times. Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁ utuniṁyeva gacchanti, no anutuniṁ. This is the second ancient tradition of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

In the past brahmins neither bought nor sold brahmin women. They lived together because they loved each other and wanted their family line to continue. Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ neva kiṇanti no vikkiṇanti, sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti. These days brahmins both buy and sell brahmin women. They live together whether they love each other or not and they want their family line to continue. Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇiṁ kiṇantipi vikkiṇantipi, sampiyenapi saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti. But these days hounds neither buy nor sell female hounds. They live together because they’re attracted to each other and want their family line to continue. Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sunakhiṁ neva kiṇanti no vikkiṇanti, sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ sambandhāya sampavattenti. This is the third ancient tradition of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

In the past brahmins did not store up money, grain, silver, or gold. Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā na sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi. These days brahmins do store up money, grain, silver, and gold. Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi. But these days hounds don’t store up money, grain, silver, or gold. Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā na sannidhiṁ karonti dhanassapi dhaññassapi rajatassapi jātarūpassapi. This is the fourth ancient tradition of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

In the past brahmins went looking for almsfood for dinner in the evening, and for breakfast in the morning. Pubbe sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā sāyaṁ sāyamāsāya pāto pātarāsāya bhikkhaṁ pariyesanti. These days brahmins eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then take away the leftovers. Etarahi, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā yāvadatthaṁ udarāvadehakaṁ bhuñjitvā avasesaṁ ādāya pakkamanti. But these days hounds go looking for dinner in the evening, and for breakfast in the morning. Etarahi, bhikkhave, sunakhā sāyaṁ sāyamāsāya pāto pātarāsāya bhikkhaṁ pariyesanti. This is the fifth ancient tradition of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo porāṇo brāhmaṇadhammo etarahi sunakhesu sandissati, no brāhmaṇesu.

These five ancient traditions of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.” Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca porāṇā brāhmaṇadhammā etarahi sunakhesu sandissanti, no brāhmaṇesū”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.