Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito bahidvārakoṭṭhake nisinno hoti.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and sat outside the gate.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.
Tena kho pana samayena satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā parūḷhakacchanakhalomā khārivividhamādāya bhagavato avidūre atikkamanti.
Now at that time seven matted-hair ascetics, seven Jain ascetics, seven naked ascetics, seven one-cloth ascetics, and seven wanderers passed by not far from the Buddha. Their armpits and bodies were hairy, and their nails were long; and they carried their pack with shoulder-poles.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā dakkhiṇajāṇumaṇḍalaṁ pathaviyaṁ nihantvā yena te satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ nāmaṁ sāvesi:
Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, raised his cupped palms toward those various ascetics, and pronounced his name three times:
“rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo …pe…
“Sirs, I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala! …
rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo”ti.
I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala!”
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo acirapakkantesu tesu sattasu ca jaṭilesu sattasu ca nigaṇṭhesu sattasu ca acelakesu sattasu ca ekasāṭakesu sattasu ca paribbājakesu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then, soon after those ascetics had left, King Pasenadi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“ye te, bhante, loke arahanto vā arahattamaggaṁ vā samāpannā ete tesaṁ aññatarā”ti.
“Sir, these are among those in the world who are perfected or who are on the path to perfection!”
“Dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena: ‘ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā’ti.
“Great king, as a layman enjoying sensual pleasures, living at home with your children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency, it’s hard for you to know who is perfected or on the path to perfection.
Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
You can get to know a person’s ethics by living with them. But only after a long time, not casually; only when attentive, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.
Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
You can get to know a person’s purity by dealing with them. …
Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
You can get to know a person’s resilience in times of trouble. …
Sākacchāya, kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā”ti.
You can get to know a person’s wisdom by discussion. But only after a long time, not casually; only when attentive, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.”
“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,
Yāva subhāsitamidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā:
how well said this was by the Buddha. …
‘dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena:
“ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā”ti.
Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Sākacchāya kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā’ti.
Ete, bhante, mama purisā carā ocarakā janapadaṁ ocaritvā āgacchanti.
Sir, these are my spies, my undercover agents returning after spying on the country.
Tehi paṭhamaṁ ociṇṇaṁ ahaṁ pacchā osāpayissāmi.
I shall later make use of what they first spied out.
Idāni te, bhante, taṁ rajojallaṁ pavāhetvā sunhātā suvilittā kappitakesamassū odātavatthā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricāressantī”ti.
Now—when they have rinsed off the dust and dirt, and are nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, and dressed in white—they will amuse themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.”
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:
“Na vaṇṇarūpena naro sujāno,
“It’s not easy to know a man by his appearance.
Na vissase ittaradassanena;
You shouldn’t trust them at first sight.
Susaññatānañhi viyañjanena,
For undisciplined men live in this world
Asaññatā lokamimaṁ caranti.
disguised as the disciplined.
Patirūpako mattikākuṇḍalova,
Like a fake earring made of clay,
Lohaḍḍhamāsova suvaṇṇachanno;
like a copper halfpenny covered with gold,
Caranti loke parivārachannā,
they live hidden in the world,
Anto asuddhā bahi sobhamānā”ti.
corrupt inside but impressive outside.”
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery.
Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and sat outside the gate.
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.
Now at that time seven matted-hair ascetics, seven Jain ascetics, seven naked ascetics, seven one-cloth ascetics, and seven wanderers passed by not far from the Buddha. Their armpits and bodies were hairy, and their nails were long; and they carried their pack with shoulder-poles.
Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, raised his cupped palms toward those various ascetics, and pronounced his name three times:
“Sirs, I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala! …
I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala!”
Then, soon after those ascetics had left, King Pasenadi went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“Sir, these are among those in the world who are perfected or who are on the path to perfection!”
“Great king, as a layman enjoying sensual pleasures, living at home with your children, using sandalwood imported from Kāsi, wearing garlands, fragrance, and makeup, and accepting gold and currency, it’s hard for you to know who is perfected or on the path to perfection.
You can get to know a person’s ethics by living with them. But only after a long time, not casually; only when attentive, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.
You can get to know a person’s purity by dealing with them. …
You can get to know a person’s resilience in times of trouble. …
You can get to know a person’s wisdom by discussion. But only after a long time, not casually; only when attentive, not when inattentive; and only by the wise, not the witless.”
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,
how well said this was by the Buddha. …
Sir, these are my spies, my undercover agents returning after spying on the country.
I shall later make use of what they first spied out.
Now—when they have rinsed off the dust and dirt, and are nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, and dressed in white—they will amuse themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:
“It’s not easy to know a man by his appearance.
You shouldn’t trust them at first sight.
For undisciplined men live in this world
disguised as the disciplined.
Like a fake earring made of clay,
like a copper halfpenny covered with gold,
they live hidden in the world,
corrupt inside but impressive outside.”
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito bahidvārakoṭṭhake nisinno hoti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
Tena kho pana samayena satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā parūḷhakacchanakhalomā khārivividhamādāya bhagavato avidūre atikkamanti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā dakkhiṇajāṇumaṇḍalaṁ pathaviyaṁ nihantvā yena te satta ca jaṭilā satta ca nigaṇṭhā satta ca acelakā satta ca ekasāṭakā satta ca paribbājakā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ nāmaṁ sāvesi:
“rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo …pe…
rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo”ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo acirapakkantesu tesu sattasu ca jaṭilesu sattasu ca nigaṇṭhesu sattasu ca acelakesu sattasu ca ekasāṭakesu sattasu ca paribbājakesu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“ye te, bhante, loke arahanto vā arahattamaggaṁ vā samāpannā ete tesaṁ aññatarā”ti.
“Dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena: ‘ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā’ti.
Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Sākacchāya, kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā”ti.
“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.
Yāva subhāsitamidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā:
‘dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, mahārāja, tayā gihinā kāmabhoginā puttasambādhasayanaṁ ajjhāvasantena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhontena mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhārayantena jātarūparajataṁ sādiyantena:
“ime vā arahanto, ime vā arahattamaggaṁ samāpannā”ti.
Saṁvāsena kho, mahārāja, sīlaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Saṁvohārena kho, mahārāja, soceyyaṁ veditabbaṁ. Tañca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Āpadāsu kho, mahārāja, thāmo veditabbo. So ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññena.
Sākacchāya kho, mahārāja, paññā veditabbā. Sā ca kho dīghena addhunā, na ittaraṁ; manasikarotā, no amanasikarotā; paññavatā, no duppaññenā’ti.
Ete, bhante, mama purisā carā ocarakā janapadaṁ ocaritvā āgacchanti.
Tehi paṭhamaṁ ociṇṇaṁ ahaṁ pacchā osāpayissāmi.
Idāni te, bhante, taṁ rajojallaṁ pavāhetvā sunhātā suvilittā kappitakesamassū odātavatthā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricāressantī”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
“Na vaṇṇarūpena naro sujāno,
Na vissase ittaradassanena;
Susaññatānañhi viyañjanena,
Asaññatā lokamimaṁ caranti.
Patirūpako mattikākuṇḍalova,
Lohaḍḍhamāsova suvaṇṇachanno;
Caranti loke parivārachannā,
Anto asuddhā bahi sobhamānā”ti.