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438
Dasha-shruta-skandha-sutra
Then the Sutra-kar, continuing the same topic, says:
"Would such a man, even if he were to hear the Dharma, accept it? Yes, he would accept it. Would he then have faith? Yes, he would have faith. Would he then take on the vows of conduct, including fasting and medicinal practices? Yes, he would take them on. Would he then shave his head, leave his home, and become an ascetic? No, that is not possible."
Dashami Dasha
"Would such a man, even if he were to hear the Dharma, accept it? Yes, he would accept it. Would he then have faith? Yes, he would have faith. Would he then take on the vows of conduct, including fasting and medicinal practices? Yes, he would take them on. Would he then shave his head, leave his home, and become an ascetic? No, that is not possible."
Word-by-word meaning:
"Tass - of him, ṇam - indeed, tah-app-garass - of that kind, puris-jatass-avi - of that kind of man, jav - as long as, padi-ṇijja - he would hear, hanta - yes, padi-ṇijja - he would hear, se - he, ṇam - indeed, sadd-hejjā - he would have faith, jav - as long as, hanta - yes, sadd-hejjā - he would have faith, se - he, ṇam - indeed, sil-vay - vows of conduct, jav - as long as, pos-ho-vvasaiṁ - fasting and medicinal practices, padi-vajjejjā - he would take on, hanta - yes, padi-vajjejjā - he would take on, se - he, ṇam - indeed, muṇḍe - having shaved his head, bhavitta - having become, āgārāo - from his home, aṇ-gāriyaṁ - an ascetic, pavvajja - he would become, ṇo - no, tiṇ-ṭṭe - possible, sam-ṭṭe - it is not."
Meaning:
"If a Shraman or Shravak were to preach the Dharma to such a man, would he listen? Yes, he would listen. Would he then have faith? Yes, he would have faith. Would he then take on the vows of conduct, including fasting and medicinal practices? Yes, he would take them on. But it is not possible for him to shave his head, leave his home, and become an ascetic."