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VASALASUTTA.
23
20. Whosoever without being a saint (arahat) pretends to be a saint, (and is) a thief in all the worlds including that of Brahman, he is indeed the lowest outcast; (all) these who have been described by me to you are indeed called outcasts. (134)
21. 'Not by birth does one become an outcast, not by birth does one become a Brâhmana; by deeds one becomes an outcast, by deeds one becomes a Brâhmana.
1 (135) 22. Know ye this in the way that this example of mine (shows): There was a Kandala of the Sopaka caste, well known as Mâtanga. (136)
23. *This Matanga reached the highest fame, such as was very difficult to obtain, and many Khattiyas and Brâhmanas went to serve him.
(137) 24. 'He having mounted the vehicle of the gods, (and entered) the high road (that is) free from dust, having abandoned sensual desires, went to the Brahma world.
(138) 25. His birth did not prevent him from being re-born in the Brahma world; (on the other hand) there are Brâhmanas, born in the family of preceptors, friends of the hymns (of the Vedas), (139)
26. 'But they are continually caught in sinful deeds, and are to be blamed in this world, while in the coming (world) hell (awaits them); birth does not save them from hell nor from blame. (140)
27. (Therefore) not by birth does one become an outcast, not by birth does one become a Brâhmana, by deeds one becomes an outcast, by deeds one becomes a Brâhmana.'
(141) This having been said, the Brâhmana Aggikabhâradvâga answered Bhagavat as follows:
* Excellent, O venerable Gotama! Excellent, O
Digitized by Google
| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1881 |
| Total Pages | 2540 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 45 MB |