Vol. 11 · pages 481–485
The Buddha and His Dhamma
This text was extracted automatically from the official PDF of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, so it may contain small errors. Always check the original page before quoting.
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462 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
he is ever thinking where is there dancing ? Where
is there singing ? where is there music ? where is
recitation ? where are the cymbals ? where the tamtams ?
13. “Six are the perils for him who is infatuated
with gambling : as winner he begets hatred, when
beaten he mourns his lost wealth, his actual substance
is wasted, his word has no weight in a court of law,
he is despised by friends and officials, he is not sought
after by those who would give or take in marriage, for
they would say that a man who is a gambler cannot
afford to keep a wife.
14. “Six are the perils from associating with evil
companions : any gambler, any libertine, any tippler,
any cheat, any swindler, any man of violence is his
friend and companion.
15. “Six are the perils of the habit of idleness : he
says it is too cold and does no work, he says it is too
hot and does no work, he says it is too early or too
late and does no work, he says I am too hungry and
does no work, he says I am too full and does no work.
And while all that he should do remains undone, new
wealth he does not get, and such wealth as he has
dwindles away.
16. “A religion to be a religion of man must teach
him to know who is a true friend.
17. “Four are they who should be reckoned as foes
in the likeness of friends ; to wit, a rapacious person,
the man of words not deeds, the flatterer, and the
fellow-waster.
18. “Of these the first is to be reckoned as a foe in
the likeness of a friend: for, he is rapacious, he gives
little and asks much ; he does his duty out of fear, he
pursues his own interests.
19. “A man of words who is not a man of deeds is
to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend : For,
he makes a friendly profession as regards the past, he
makes friendly profession as regards the future, he
tries to gain your favour by empty sayings, when the
opportunity for service has arisen he avows his disability.
20. “The flatterer is to be reckoned as a foe
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in the likeness of a friend: for, he both consents to do
wrong, and dissents from doing right ; he praises to
your face ; he speaks ill of you to others.
21. “So also the fellow-waster companion is to be
reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend ; for, he
is your companion when you frequent the streets at
untimely hours, he is your companion when you haunt
shows and fairs, he is your-companion when you are
infatuated with gambling.
22. “Four are the friends who should be reckoned
as sound at heart: the helper ; the friend who is the
same in happiness and adversity ; the friend of good
counsel ; the friend who sympathises.
23. “The friend who is a helper is to be reckoned
as sound at heart : because, he guards you when you
are off your guard, he guards your property when you
are off your guard, he is a refuge to you when you are
afraid, when you have tasks to perform he provides a
double supply of what you may need.
24. “The friend who is the same in happiness and
adversity is to be reckoned as sound of heart: because,
he tells you his secrets, he keeps secret your secrets, in
your troubles he does not foresake you, he lays down
even his life for your sake.
25. “The friend who declares what you need to do
is sound of heart; because, he restrains you from doing
wrong, he enjoins you to do what is right, he informs
you of what you had not heard before, he reveals to
you the way of heaven.
26. “The friend who sympathises is to be reckoned
as sound at heart; because, he does not rejoice over
your misfortunes, he rejoices over your prosperity,
he restrains anyone who is speaking ill of you, he
commends anyone who is praising you.” Thus speaks
the Exalted One.
27. “Instead of teaching him to worship the six
quarters, a religion which is a religion of man must
teach him to respect and revere his parents, his teachers,
his wife and children, his friends and companions, his
servants and workmen and his religious teachers.”
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§ 3. Vinaya for Children
1. “A child should minister to his parents saying:
‘Once supported by them I will now be their support,
I will perform duties incumbent on them; I will
keep up the lineage and tradition of my family,
I will make myself worthy of my heritage.’ For,
the parents show their love for him, they restrain
him from vice, they exhort him to virtue, they
train him to a profession, they contract a suitable
marriage for him, and in due time they hand over
his inheritance.”
§ 4. Vinaya for Pupil
1. “A pupil should minister to his teachers by
rising from his seat, in salutation by waiting upon
them, by eagerness to learn, by personal service,
and by attention when receiving their teaching. For,
teachers love their pupil, they train him in that
wherein he has been well trained, they make him
hold fast that which is well held, they thoroughly
instruct him in the lore of every art, they speak
well of him among his friends and companions. They
provide for his safety in every quarter.”
§ 5. Vinaya for Husband and Wife
1. ‘ “A husband should minister to his wife by
showing respect, by courtesy, by faithfulness, by
handing over authority to her, by providing her
with adornment. For, the wife loves him, her duties
are well performed, by hospitality to the kin of
both, by faithfulness, by watching over the goods
he brings, and by skill and industry in discharging
all her business.
2. “A clansman should minister to his friends and
companions by generosity, courtesy and benevolence,
by treating them as he treats himself, and by being
as good as his word. For, his friends and familiars
love him, they protect him when he is off his guard,
and on such occasion guard his property, they
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VINAYA FOR THE LAITY
become a refuge in danger, they do not forsake him
in his trouble and they show consideration for his
family.”
§ 6. Vinaya for Master and Servant
1. “A master should minister to his servants and
employees by assigning them work according to their
strength, by supplying them with food and wages,
by tending them in sickness, by sharing with them
unusual delicacies, by granting leave at times. For,
servants and employees love their master, they rise
before him, they lie down to rest after him, they
are content with what is given to them, they do
their work well, and they carry about his praise
and good fame.
2. “A clansman should minister to religious
teachers by affection in act and speech and mind,
by keeping open house to them, by supplying their
temporal needs. For, religious teachers restrain
him from evil, they exhort him to good, they love
him with kindly thoughts, they teach him what
he had not heard, they correct and purify what he
has heard.”
§ 7. Conclusions
1. When the Exalted One had thus spoken Sigala,
the young householder said this: “Beautiful, Lord,
beautiful! As if one should set up again that which
had been overthrown, or reveal that which had
been hidden, or should disclose the road to one that
was astray, or should carry a lamp into darkness,
saying: They that have eyes will see ! Even so hath
the Truth been manifested by the Exalted One in
many ways.
2. “And I, even I, do go to him as my refuge,
and to the Truth and to the Order. May the Exalted
One receive me as his lay-disciple, as one who has
taken his refuge in him from this day forth as long
as life endures.”
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§ 8. Vinaya for Girls
1. Once the Exalted One dwelt near Bhaddiya in
Jatiya Wood; and there Uggaha, Mendaka’s grandson,
paid him a visit and, after saluting, sat down at one
side. So seated, he said to the Exalted One:
2. “ Lord let the Exalted One accept a meal at my
house tomorrow, he as fourth (with us three).”
3. The Exalted One accepted by his silence.
4. Then Uggaha, seeing the Exalted One had
accepted, rose from his seat, saluted, and took his leave,
keeping the Exalted One on his right.
5. Now when the night was over, the Exalted One,
robing himself in the morning, took his bowl and cloak
and went to Uggaha’s house, and there sat down on
the seat made ready. And Uggaha served with his own
hand and satisfied the Exalted One with plenty of food.
6. And when the Exalted One had removed his hand
from his bowl, he sat down at one side. Thus seated,
he said:
7. “ Lord, these girls of-mine will be going to their
husbands’ families; Lord, let the Exalted One counsel
them, let the Exalted One advise them, for their good
and happiness for many a day !”
8. Then the Exalted One spoke to them and said:
“Wherefor, girls, train yourselves in this way: ‘To
whatsoever husband our parents shall give us—wishing
our weal, seeking our happiness, compassionate—
because of compassion for him we will rise up early, be
the last to retire, be willing workers, order all things
sweetly and be gentle voiced. Train yourselves thus,
girls.’
9. “ And in this way also, girls: ‘We will honour,
revere, esteem and respect all who are our husband’s
relatives, whether mother or father, recluse or godly
man, and on their arrival will offer them a seat and
water. Train yourselves thus, girls.’
10. “And in this way also girls: ‘We will be deft
and nimble at our husband’s home-crafts, whether
they be of wool or cotton, making it our business to
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