So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time several ascetics, brahmins, and wanderers who followed various other religions were residing in Sāvatthī, holding different views, beliefs, and opinions, relying on different views. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā nānātitthiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇaparibbājakā sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasanti nānādiṭṭhikā nānākhantikā nānārucikā nānādiṭṭhinissayanissitā.

There were some ascetics and brahmins who had this doctrine and view: Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The cosmos is eternal. This is the only truth, anything else is futile.” “sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Others held views such as the following, each regarding their own view as true and others as silly. Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The cosmos is not eternal.” “asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The cosmos is finite.” “antavā loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The cosmos is infinite.” “anantavā loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The soul and the body are one and the same.” “taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “The soul is one thing, the body another.” “aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “A realized one still exists after death.” “hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “A realized one no longer exists after death.” “na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “A realized one both still exists and no longer exists after death.” “hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: “A realized one neither still exists nor no longer exists after death.” “neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan”ti.

They were fighting, quarreling, and disputing, continually wounding each other with barbed words: Te bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: “Such is Truth, such is not Truth! “ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; Such is not Truth, such is Truth!” nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo”ti.

Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁsu. Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening. The Buddha said: Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Idha, bhante, sambahulā nānātitthiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇaparibbājakā sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasanti nānādiṭṭhikā nānākhantikā nānārucikā nānādiṭṭhinissayanissitā—

Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti …pe… te bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’”ti.

“The wanderers of other religions are blind and sightless. “Aññatitthiyā, bhikkhave, paribbājakā andhā acakkhukā; They don’t understand what is beneficial or what is not beneficial, nor what is the truth and what is not the truth. atthaṁ na jānanti, anatthaṁ na jānanti, dhammaṁ na jānanti, adhammaṁ na jānanti. That’s why they are fighting, quarreling, and disputing, continually wounding each other with barbed words. Te atthaṁ ajānantā anatthaṁ ajānantā dhammaṁ ajānantā adhammaṁ ajānantā bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’ti.

Once upon a time, mendicants, right here in Sāvatthī there was a certain king. Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññataro rājā ahosi. Then the king addressed a man, Atha kho, bhikkhave, so rājā aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: ‘Please, worthy man, gather all those blind from birth throughout Sāvatthī and bring them together in one place.’ ‘ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā te sabbe ekajjhaṁ sannipātehī’ti. ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ that man replied. He did as the king asked, then said to him, ‘Evaṁ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso tassa rañño paṭissutvā yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā te sabbe gahetvā yena so rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: ‘Your Majesty, the blind people throughout Sāvatthī have been gathered.’ ‘sannipātitā kho te, deva, yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā’ti. ‘Well then, my man, show them an elephant.’ ‘Tena hi, bhaṇe, jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassehī’ti. ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ that man replied. He did as the king asked. ‘Evaṁ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso tassa rañño paṭissutvā jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassesi—

To some of the blind people he showed the elephant’s head, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa sīsaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s ear, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa kaṇṇaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s tusk, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa dantaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s trunk, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa soṇḍaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s flank, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa kāyaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s leg, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa pādaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s thigh, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa satthiṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the elephant’s tail, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa naṅguṭṭhaṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti. To some of them he showed the tip of the elephant’s tail, saying, Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa vāladhiṁ dassesi: ‘Here is the elephant.’ ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.

Then he approached the king and said, Atha kho, bhikkhave, so puriso jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassetvā yena so rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: ‘Your Majesty, the blind people have been shown the elephant. ‘diṭṭho kho tehi, deva, jaccandhehi hatthī; Please go at your convenience.’ yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.

Then the king went up to the blind people and said, Atha kho, bhikkhave, so rājā yena te jaccandhā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te jaccandhe etadavoca: ‘Have you seen the elephant?’ ‘diṭṭho vo, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti? ‘Yes, Your Majesty, we have been shown the elephant.’ ‘Evaṁ, deva, diṭṭho no hatthī’ti. ‘Then tell us, what kind of thing is an elephant?’ ‘Vadetha, jaccandhā, kīdiso hatthī’ti?

The blind people who had been shown the elephant’s head said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa sīsaṁ diṭṭhaṁ ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘Your Majesty, an elephant is like a pot.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi kumbho’ti.

Those who had been shown the ear said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa kaṇṇo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a winnowing fan.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi suppo’ti.

Those who had been shown the tusk said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa danto diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a ploughshare.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi khīlo’ti.

Those who had been shown the trunk said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa soṇḍo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a plough-pole.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi naṅgalīsā’ti.

Those who had been shown the flank said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa kāyo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a storehouse.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi koṭṭho’ti.

Those who had been shown the leg said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa pādo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a pillar.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi thūṇo’ti.

Those who had been shown the thigh said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa satthi diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a mortar.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi udukkhalo’ti.

Those who had been shown the tail said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa naṅguṭṭhaṁ diṭṭhaṁ ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a pestle.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi musalo’ti.

Those who had been shown the tip of the tail said, Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa vāladhi diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘An elephant is like a broom.’ ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi sammajjanī’ti.

Saying, ‘Such is an elephant, not such! Te ‘ediso hatthī, nediso hatthī; Such is not an elephant, such is!’ they punched each other with their fists. nediso hatthī, ediso hatthī’ti aññamaññaṁ muṭṭhīhi saṁsumbhiṁsu. At that, the king was pleased. Tena ca pana, bhikkhave, so rājā attamano ahosi.

In the same way, mendicants, the wanderers of other religions are blind and sightless. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā andhā acakkhukā. They don’t understand what is beneficial or what is not beneficial, nor what is the truth and what is not the truth. Te atthaṁ na jānanti anatthaṁ na jānanti, dhammaṁ na jānanti adhammaṁ na jānanti. That’s why they are fighting, quarreling, and disputing, continually wounding each other with barbed words. Te atthaṁ ajānantā anatthaṁ ajānantā, dhammaṁ ajānantā adhammaṁ ajānantā bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘Such is Truth, such is not! ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; Such is not Truth, such is!’” nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Some ascetics and brahmins, it seems, “Imesu kira sajjanti, cling to these things. eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā; Arguing, they dispute, Viggayha naṁ vivadanti, the folk who see just one part.” janā ekaṅgadassino”ti.

Catutthaṁ.