[351] Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, on that occasion recited these verses:
"The horse sacrifice (assamedha), the human sacrifice (purisamedha),
the sammāpāsa, the vājapeyya,³
the niraggaḷa — those great sacrifices⁴
involving great violence are not of great fruit.
Where goats and sheep and cattle
of various kinds are slain,
the great seers who fare rightly
do not attend that sacrifice (yañña).
But those sacrifices free from violence,
offered always in keeping with family custom,
where goats and sheep and cattle
of various kinds are not slain —
that sacrifice the great seers
who fare rightly do attend.
That the wise one should offer:
this sacrifice is of great fruit;
for one who offers this, indeed,
it turns out better, not worse.
The sacrifice is abundant,
and the deities are pleased."
The Tenth: The Bandhana Sutta
[Variant notes in the Siam Raṭṭha apparatus:
1. Sī. (Sinhalese edition): this reading is not found. 2. Sī.: this reading is not found. 3. A.: "rājapeyyaṃ." 4. M., Yu. (Burmese, European editions): this reading is not found.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.