SN 7.16 The Contraphile

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena paccanīkasāto nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati.

Now at that time a brahmin named Contraphile, who loved contradiction, was residing in Sāvatthī.

Atha kho paccanīkasātassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi:

Then Contraphile thought,

“yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ.

“Why don’t I go to the ascetic Gotama and

Yaṁ yadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsissati taṁ tadevassāhaṁ paccanīkāssan”ti.

contradict everything he says?”

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā abbhokāse caṅkamati.

At that time the Buddha was walking mindfully in the open air.

Atha kho paccanīkasāto brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ caṅkamantaṁ etadavoca:

Then the brahmin Contraphile went up to the Buddha, and said to him as he was walking,

“bhaṇa samaṇadhamman”ti.

“Ascetic, preach the Dhamma.”

“Na paccanīkasātena,

“Fine words aren’t easy to understand

suvijānaṁ subhāsitaṁ;

by a lover of contradiction,

Upakkiliṭṭhacittena,

whose mind is tainted

sārambhabahulena ca.

and full of aggression.

Yo ca vineyya sārambhaṁ,

But when you’ve dispelled aggression,

appasādañca cetaso;

and your suspicious mind,

Āghātaṁ paṭinissajja,

and you’ve got rid of resentment,

sa ve jaññā subhāsitan”ti.

then you’ll understand fine words.”

Evaṁ vutte, paccanīkasāto brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, the brahmin Contraphile said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”