In the Buddha's Words - Bhikkhu Bodhi [71]
3. Now on that occasion a brahmin student named Assalāyana was staying at Sāvatthī. Young, shaven-headed, sixteen years old, he was a master of the three Vedas with their vocabularies, liturgy, phonology, and etymology, and the histories as a fifth; skilled in philology and grammar, he was fully versed in natural philosophy and in the marks of a great man. So the brahmins thought he would be able to debate with the Blessed One.
4. They went to the brahmin student Assalāyana and said to him: “Master Assalāyana, this ascetic Gotama describes purification for all the four castes. Let Master Assalāyana come and dispute with the ascetic Gotama about this assertion.”
When this was said, the brahmin student Assalāyana replied: “Sirs, the ascetic Gotama is one who speaks the Dhamma. Now those who speak the Dhamma are difficult to dispute with. I cannot dispute with the ascetic Gotama about this assertion.”
A second time and a third time the brahmins urged him to go. A second time the brahmin student Assalāyana refused, but after the third urging he consented.
5. Then the brahmin student Assalāyana went with a large number of brahmins to the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When this courteous and amiable talk was finished, he sat down at one side and said to the Blessed One: “Master Gotama, the brahmins say thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste, those of any other caste are inferior; brahmins are the fairest caste, those of any other caste are dark; only brahmins are purified, not non-brahmins; brahmins alone are the sons of Brahmā, the offspring of Brahmā, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā.’ What does Master Gotama say about that?”
“Now, Assalāyana, the brahmin women are seen having their periods, becoming pregnant, giving birth, and nursing.7 And yet those brahmins, though born from the womb, say thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... brahmins alone are the sons of Brahmā, the offspring of Brahmā, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā.’”
6. “Although Master Gotama says this, still the brahmins think thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... heirs of Brahmā.’”
“What do you think, Assalāyana? Have you heard that in Yona and Kamboja8 and in other outland countries there are only two castes, masters and slaves, and that masters become slaves and slaves become masters?”
“So I have heard, sir.”
“Then on the strength of what [argument] or with the support of what [authority] do the brahmins in this case say thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... heirs of Brahmā’?”
7. “Although Master Gotama says this, still the brahmins think thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... heirs of Brahmā.’”
“What do you think, Assalāyana? Suppose a khattiya were to kill living beings, take what is not given, commit sexual misconduct, speak falsely, speak maliciously, speak harshly, gossip, be covetous, have a mind of ill will, and hold wrong view. With the breakup of the body, after death, would only he be reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the lower world, in hell—and not a brahmin? Suppose a merchant…a worker were to kill living beings … and hold wrong view. With the breakup of the body, after death, would only he be reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the lower world, in hell—and not a brahmin?”
“No, Master Gotama. Whether it be a khattiya, or a brahmin, or a merchant, or a worker—those of all four castes who kill living beings … and hold wrong view, with the breakup of the body, after death, would be reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the lower world, in hell.”
“Then on the strength of what [argument] or with the support of what [authority] do the brahmins in this case say thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... heirs of Brahmā’?”
8. “Although Master Gotama says this, still the brahmins think thus: ‘Brahmins are the highest caste ... heirs of Brahmā.’”
“What do you think, Assalāyana? Suppose a brahmin were