Thig 13.2 - Rohini
Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Source: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/thig/thig.13.02.than.html
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Copyright: ©2000 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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Attribution: ©2000 Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The text of this page ("Rohini", by Thanissaro Bhikkhu) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of the license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. Transcribed from a file provided by the translator. Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013. How to cite this document (a suggested style): "Rohini" (Thig 13.2), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 30 November 2013, https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/thig/thig.13.02.than.html .
Changes: Presentation only: original HTML markup reflowed into plain text; wording, numbering and source repetitions retained. No repetitions expanded.
Completeness: ABBREVIATED. Every source-unit character is preserved, including introductions, notes and verse structure. Thanissaro's collection-level note explicitly states that repetitions were cut: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/about.html. This is evidence about the translation method, not an assertion that every individual unit contains an omission; no repetitions reconstructed.

[Rohini's father:]

 You go to sleep saying, "Contemplatives." You wake up, "Contemplatives." You praise only contemplatives. No doubt you will be a contemplative. Abundant food & drink you give to contemplatives. Now, Rohini, I ask you: Why do you hold contemplatives dear? They don't like to work, they're lazy, living off what's given by others, full of hankerings, wanting delicious things: Why do you hold contemplatives dear? 

[Rohini:]

 For a long time, father, you've quizzed me about contemplatives. I'll praise to you their discernment, virtue, endeavor. They do like to work, they're not lazy. They do the best work: They abandon passion & anger. That's why I hold contemplatives dear. They rid themselves of the three evil roots,[1] doing pure actions. All their evil's abandoned. That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Clean their bodily action, so is their verbal action. Clean their mental action: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Spotless, like mother of pearl, pure within & without, perfect in clear qualities: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Learned, maintaining the Dhamma, noble, living the Dhamma, they teach the goal & the Dhamma: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Learned, maintaining the Dhamma, noble, living the Dhamma, with unified minds & mindful: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Traveling far, mindful, giving counsel unruffled, they discern the end of suffering: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. When they leave any village they don't turn to look back at anything. How free from concern they go! That's why I hold contemplatives dear. They don't store in a granary, pot, or basket. They hunt [only] for what's already cooked: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. They take neither silver, nor gold, nor money. They live off whatever is present: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. Having gone forth from different families & from different countries, still they hold one another dear: That's why I hold contemplatives dear. 

[Rohini's father:]

 Rohini, truly for our well-being were you born in our family. You have conviction in the Buddha & Dhamma, and strong respect for the Sangha. You truly discern this field of merit unexcelled. These contemplatives will receive our offering, too, for here we'll set up our abundant sacrifice. 

[Rohini:]

 If you're afraid of pain, if you dislike pain, go to the Buddha for refuge, go to the Dhamma & Sangha. Take on the precepts: That will lead to your well-being. 

[Rohini's father:]

 I go to the Buddha for refuge; I go to the Dhamma & Sangha. I take on the precepts: That will lead to my well-being. Before, I was a kinsman to Brahma; now, truly a brahman. I'm a three-knowledge man & safe, consummate in knowledge, washed clean. 

Notes

1.

The three unskillful roots are greed, aversion, and delusion.

See also: SN 7.17; Sn 1.4.