And then the brahmin Jānussoṇi went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Aristocrats, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Khattiyā, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Aristocrats, brahmin, have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on power. They insist on territory. Their ultimate goal is authority.” “Khattiyā kho, brāhmaṇa, bhogādhippāyā paññūpavicārā balādhiṭṭhānā pathavībhinivesā issariyapariyosānā”ti.

“Brahmins, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Brāhmaṇā pana, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Brahmins have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on the hymns. They insist on sacrifice. Their ultimate goal is the realm of divinity.” “Brāhmaṇā kho, brāhmaṇa, bhogādhippāyā paññūpavicārā mantādhiṭṭhānā yaññābhinivesā brahmalokapariyosānā”ti.

“Householders, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Gahapatikā pana, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Householders have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on their profession. They insist on work. Their ultimate goal is to complete their work.” “Gahapatikā kho, brāhmaṇa, bhogādhippāyā paññūpavicārā sippādhiṭṭhānā kammantābhinivesā niṭṭhitakammantapariyosānā”ti.

“Women, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Itthī pana, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Women have a man as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with adornments. They’re fixated on their children. They insist on being without a co-wife. Their ultimate goal is authority.” “Itthī kho, brāhmaṇa, purisādhippāyā alaṅkārūpavicārā puttādhiṭṭhānā asapattībhinivesā issariyapariyosānā”ti.

“Bandits, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Corā pana, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Bandits have theft as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with a hiding place. They’re fixated on their sword. They insist on darkness. Their ultimate goal is invisibility.” “Corā kho, brāhmaṇa, ādānādhippāyā gahanūpavicārā satthādhiṭṭhānā andhakārābhinivesā adassanapariyosānā”ti.

“Ascetics, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?” “Samaṇā pana, bho gotama, kiṁadhippāyā, kiṁupavicārā, kiṁadhiṭṭhānā, kiṁabhinivesā, kiṁpariyosānā”ti?

“Ascetics have patience and gentleness as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on ethical conduct. They insist on owning nothing. Their ultimate goal is extinguishment.” “Samaṇā kho, brāhmaṇa, khantisoraccādhippāyā paññūpavicārā sīlādhiṭṭhānā ākiñcaññābhinivesā nibbānapariyosānā”ti.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing! “Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. The worthy Gotama knows the ambition, preoccupation, fixation, insistence, and ultimate goal of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, women, bandits, and ascetics. Khattiyānampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti adhippāyañca upavicārañca adhiṭṭhānañca abhinivesañca pariyosānañca. Brāhmaṇānampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti …pe… gahapatīnampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti … itthīnampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti … corānampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti … samaṇānampi bhavaṁ gotamo jānāti adhippāyañca upavicārañca adhiṭṭhānañca abhinivesañca pariyosānañca. Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.” upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Dasamaṁ.