Thig 12.1 PTS: Thig 236-251- Punnika: Punnika and the Brahman

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Thig 12.1 PTS: Thig 236-251- Punnika: Punnika and the Brahman
(Punnika:) I'm a water-carrier, cold, always going down to the water from fear of my mistresses' beatings, harrassed by their anger & words. But you, Brahman, what do you fear that you're always going down to the water with shivering limbs, feeling great cold?

(The Brahman:) Punnika, surely you know. You're asking one doing skillful kamma & warding off evil. Whoever, young or old, does evil kamma is, through water ablution, from evil kamma set free.

<p style="text-align:center;">(Punnika:) <p style="text-align:center;">Who taught you this <p style="text-align:center;">— the ignorant to the ignorant — <p style="text-align:center;">'One, through water ablution, <p style="text-align:center;">is from evil kamma set free?' <p style="text-align:center;">In that case, they'd all go to heaven: <p style="text-align:center;">all the frogs, turtles, <p style="text-align:center;">serpents, crocodiles, <p style="text-align:center;">& anything else that lives in the water. <p style="text-align:center;">Sheep-butchers, pork-butchers, <p style="text-align:center;">fishermen, trappers, <p style="text-align:center;">thieves, executioners, <p style="text-align:center;">& any other evil doers, <p style="text-align:center;">would, through water ablution, <p style="text-align:center;">be from evil kamma set free.

<p style="text-align:center;">If these rivers could carry off <p style="text-align:center;">the evil kamma you've done in the past, <p style="text-align:center;">they'd carry off your merit as well, <p style="text-align:center;">and then you'd be <p style="text-align:center;">completely left out. <p style="text-align:center;">Whatever it is that you fear, <p style="text-align:center;">that you're always going down to the water, <p style="text-align:center;">don't do it. <p style="text-align:center;">Don't let the cold hurt your skin."

<p style="text-align:center;">(The Brahman:) <p style="text-align:center;">I've been following the miserable path, good lady, <p style="text-align:center;">and now you've brought me <p style="text-align:center;">back to the noble. <p style="text-align:center;">I give you this robe for water-ablution.

<p style="text-align:center;">(Punnika:) <p style="text-align:center;">Let the robe be yours. I don't need it. <p style="text-align:center;">If you're afraid of pain, <p style="text-align:center;">if you dislike pain, <p style="text-align:center;">then don't do any evil kamma, <p style="text-align:center;">in open, in secret. <p style="text-align:center;">But if you do or will do <p style="text-align:center;">any evil kamma, <p style="text-align:center;">you'll gain no freedom from pain, <p style="text-align:center;">even if you fly up & hurry away. <p style="text-align:center;">If you're afraid of pain, <p style="text-align:center;">if you dislike pain, <p style="text-align:center;">go to the Awakened One for refuge, <p style="text-align:center;">go to the Dhamma & Sangha. <p style="text-align:center;">Take on the precepts: <p style="text-align:center;">That will lead to your liberation.

<p style="text-align:center;">(The Brahman:) <p style="text-align:center;">I go to the Awakened One for refuge; <p style="text-align:center;">I go to the Dhamma & Sangha. <p style="text-align:center;">I take on the precepts: <p style="text-align:center;">That will lead to my liberation.

<p style="text-align:center;">Before, I was a kinsman to Brahma; <p style="text-align:center;">now, truly a brahman. <p style="text-align:center;">I'm a three-knowledge man. <p style="text-align:center;">consummate in knowledge, <p style="text-align:center;">safe & washed clean.