[282] On one occasion the Venerable Mahākaccāna was dwelling at Varaṇā, on the bank of the Kaddamadaha Lake. Then the brahmin Ārāmadaṇḍa approached the Venerable Mahākaccāna; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Mahākaccāna, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the brahmin Ārāmadaṇḍa said to the Venerable Mahākaccāna: "What, Master Kaccāna, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby khattiyas dispute with khattiyas, brahmins dispute with brahmins, and householders dispute with householders?"
"It is, brahmin, because of adherence to sensual lust (kāmarāga), bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, that khattiyas dispute with khattiyas, brahmins dispute with brahmins, and householders dispute with householders."
"But what, Master Kaccāna, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby ascetics dispute with ascetics?"
"It is, brahmin, because of adherence to lust for views (diṭṭhirāga), bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, that ascetics dispute with ascetics."
"But is there anyone in the world, Master Kaccāna, who has transcended this adherence to sensual lust, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, and who has transcended this adherence to lust for views, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it?"
"There is, brahmin, in the world one who has transcended this adherence to sensual lust, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, and who has transcended this adherence to lust for views, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it."
"But who is he, Master Kaccāna, in the world, who has transcended this adherence to sensual lust, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, and who has transcended this adherence to lust for views, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it?"
"There is, brahmin, in the eastern districts a city named Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One now dwells, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. For that Blessed One, brahmin, has transcended this adherence to sensual lust, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, and has transcended this adherence to lust for views, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it."
When this was said, the brahmin Ārāmadaṇḍa rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, set his right knee upon the ground, raised his joined palms in reverence in the direction of the Blessed One, and three times uttered this inspired utterance (udāna): "Homage to that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Homage to that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Homage to that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! — for that Blessed One has transcended this adherence to sensual lust, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it, and has transcended this adherence to lust for views, bondage to it, greed for it, obsession by it, and clinging to it. Excellent, Master Kaccāna! Excellent, Master Kaccāna! Just as if, Master Kaccāna, one were to set upright what had been overturned, or to reveal what had been hidden, or to point out the way to one who had gone astray, or to hold up an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes might see forms, even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by Master Kaccāna. I, Master Kaccāna, go to that Master Gotama for refuge, and to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Let Master Kaccāna remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life from this day forward."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.