Vol. 11 · pages 421–425

402 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV Amagandha, does not apply to me, while eating rice with well prepared bird’s flesh. 8. “I inquire the meaning of this from you, of what kind is your Amagandha ?” 9. The Lord replied : “ Taking life, beating, cutting, binding, stealing, lying, fraud, deceiving, worthless knowledge, adultery ; this is Amagandha and not the eating of flesh. 10. “In .this world those individuals, who are unrestrained in sensual pleasures, who are greedy for sweet things, who are associated with impure actions, who are of Nihilistic views, crooked, difficult to follow; this is Amagandha and not the eating of flesh. 11. “In this world those who are rude, harsh, backbiting, treacherous, unkind, excessively egoistic, ungenerous, and do not give anything to anybody; this is Amagandha, and not the eating of flesh. 12. “Anger, pride, obstinacy, antagonism, deceit, envy, boasting, excessive egoism, association with the unrighteous; this is Amagandha, and not eating of flesh. 13. “Those who are of bad morals, refuse to pay their debt, slanderers, deceitful in their dealings, pretenders, those who in this world being the vilest of men, commit such wrongdoings, this is Amagandha and not, the eating of flesh. 14. “Those persons who, in this world, are uncontrolled towards living beings, who are bent on injuring others, having taken their belongings ; immoral, cruel, harsh, disrespectful ; this is Amagandha and not the eating of flesh. 15. “Those who attack these living beings either because of greed or of hostility, and always bent upon (evil), they go to darkness after death and fall into hell headlong ; this is Amagandha and not the eating of flesh. 16. “Abstaining from fish or flesh, nakedness, shaving of the head, matted hair, covering with ashes, wearing rough deer skins, attending the sacrificial fire, nor all these various penances in the world (performed) for immortality, neither incantations, oblations, sacri-

403 HIS SERMONS IV fices nor seasonal observances, purifies a person who has not overcome his doubt. 17. “He who lives with his senses guarded and conquered and is established in the Dhamma, delights in uprightness and gentleness, who has gone beyond attachments and has overcome all sorrows ; that wise man does not cling to what is seen and heard. 18. “It is evil actions which constitute Amagandha and not the eating of fish or flesh.” § 6. Not Enough Is Outward Washing 1. Once the Exalted One was dwelling at Shravatsi. And the Brahmin Sangarava also dwelt there. Now he was a cleanser by water, and practised cleansing by water. Night and day he abode given to the habit of going down to bathe. 2. Now the venerable Ananda, robing himself at an early hour and taking outer robe and bowl, went forth to Shravatsi to beg. And when he had gone his rounds in Shravatsi and had eaten his meal, upon his return, he went to the Exalted One, saluted Him, and sat down on one side. So seated, the venerable Ananda said : 3. “Lord, there is here one Sangarava, a Brahmin, dwelling at Shravatsi, a cleanser by water, one who practises cleansing by water. Night and day does he abide given to the habit of going down to bathe. Well were it, Lord, if the Exalted One would pay a visit to the Brahmin Sangarava, out of compassion for him.” 4. And the Exalted One consented by His silence. 5. So next day at an early hour, the Exalted One robed Himself and taking outer robe and bowl went to the dwelling of the Brahmin Sangarava, and when He got there He sat down on a seat made ready. 6. Then the Brahmin Sangarava came to the Exalted One and greeted Him, and after the exchange of mutual courtesies sat down on one side. 7. As he thus sat, the Exalted One said this to the Brahmin Sangarava : “Is it true, Brahmin, as they say, that thou art a cleanser by water, that thou dost

404 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV practise cleansing by water, abiding night and day given to the habit of going down to bathe ?” 8. “ True it is, Master Gotama.” 9. “ Now, Brahmin, seeking what profit dost thou so practise the habit of going down to bathe, and so forth?” 10. “ It is in this way, Master Gotama. Whatsoever evil I do by day, I get it washed away that very evening by my bathing. Whatsoever evil I do by night I get it washed away next morning by my bathing. That is the profit I am looking for in being a cleanser by water and so forth.” 11. Then said the Exalted One : 12. “The Norm is the pool. It is clear and undefiled.” 13. “Hither when they have come to bathe, the masters of the lore, are cleansed in every limb, and pass unto the Further Shore.” 14. Whereupon the Brahmin Sangarava said to the Exalted One : “Excellent it is, Master Gotama. May the Master Gotama accept me as His follower, from this day forth so long as life doth last, as one who has taken refuge in Him.” § 7. What is Holy Life 1. Once while the Blessed Lord was on journey he gave, as was his practice, the following discourse to the Bhikkhus who were accompanying him. 2. Addressing the Bhikkhus the Lord said : “O brethren, this holy life is not practised with a view to deceive people, nor to seek their favour, nor for the purpose of gain, benefit, or fame, nor with the intention of getting out of difficulties in controversy, nor that one may be known as such and such by men. Indeed, brethren, this holy life is practised for the controlling (of body and speech), the cleansing (of corruptions) and the detachment (from) and cessation (of craving).”

405 HIS SERMONS IV SECTION VI SERMONS ON SOCIO-POLITICAL QUESTIONS § 1. Do Not Depend on the Favour of Princes 1 Once the Exalted One was staying at Rajagraha in the Bamboo Grove in the Squirrels’ Feeding ground. 2. At that time Prince Ajatasatru was supporting Devadatta who had turned hostile to the Blessed Lord. 3. He was maintaining the supporters of Devadatta, late and early with five hundred carts, conveying therein food brought in five hundred cooking-pots. 4. Then a number of the brethren came before the Exalted One, saluted Him, and sat down on one side, and there sitting they told all of these things to the Exalted One. 5. Then the Blessed Lord addressing the brethren said : “Do ye not long for gains, favours and flattery from the kings. So long, brethren, as Prince Ajatasatru thus supports Devadatta late and early, with five hundred carts, conveying therein food brought in five hundred cooking-pots, it is ruin, brethren, that may be expected of Devadatta, and not growth in good conditions. 6. “Just as if, brethren, one were to crumble liver on a mad dog’s nose, the dog would only get the madder, even so, brethren, so long as Prince Ajatasatru thus supports Devadatta it is ruin that may be expected of Devadatta, and not growth in good conditions. Thus terrible, brethren, are gains, favours, and flattery of the princes. 7. “They are a bitter, painful hindrance to the attainment of the sure peace that passeth all. 8. “Wherefore, brethren, thus must you train yourselves: ‘When gains, favours and flattery befall us, we will reject them, and when they do befall us, they shall not lay hold of and be established in our hearts, and make us slaves of the prince.’ ”

406 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES IV §2. If the King is Righteous His Subjects will be Righteous 1. Once the Lord addressing the Almsmen said : 2. “Brethren during such time as kings are unrighteous their ministers and officers also become unrighteous. The ministers and officers, brethren, being unrighteous, Brahmins and householders also become unrighteous. The Brahmins and householders, brethren, being unrighteous, the town-folk and villagers become unrighteous. 3. “But whenever, brethren, kings are righteous, then kings’ ministers and officers also become righteous. Whenever kings’ ministers and officers become righteous the Brahmins and householders also become righteous. Whenever Brahmins and householders become righteous, the town-folk and villagers also become righteous. 4. “When kine are crossing, if the old bull swerves, they all go swerving, following his lead. So among men, if he who is reckoned chief walks crookedly, the others crooked go. 5. “Similarly, the whole realm suffers when the king goes wrong. When kine are crossing, if the bull goes straight they all go straight because his course is straight. So among men, if he who’s reckoned chief walks righteously, the others live aright. The whole realm lead happy lives when kings are good.” § 3. It is the Social System on which Depends Political and Military Strength 1. The Blessed One was once dwelling in Rajagraha, on the hill called the Vultures’ Peak. 2. Now at that time, Ajatasatru, the son of the queen consort of Videha origin, the king of Magadha, was desirous of attacking the Vajjins, and he said to himself, “I will root out these Vajjins, mighty and powerful though they be, I will destroy these Vajjins, I will bring these Vajjins to utter ruin !”