17. Therefore let one, hearing (the words of) the saint, subdue his lamentation; seeing the one that has passed away and is dead, (let him say): 'He will not be found by me (any more).' (590)

18. As a house on fire is extinguished by water, so also the wise, sensible, learned, clever man rapidly drives away sorrow that has arisen, as the wind a tuft of cotton. (591)

19. He who seeks his own happiness should draw out his arrow (which is) his lamentation, and complaint, and grief. (592)

20. He who has drawn out the arrow and is not dependent (on anything) will obtain peace of mind; he who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow, and blessed (nibbuta). (593)

Sallasutta is ended.

9. VASETTHASUTTA.

A dispute arose between two young men, Bharadvaga and Vasettha, the former contending man to be a Bramana by birth, the latter by deeds. They agreed to go and ask Samana Gotama, and he answered that man is a Bramana by his work only. The two young men are converted.--Text (from Magghimanikaya) and translation in Alwis's Buddhist Nirvana, p. 103. So it was heard by me:

At one time Bhagavat dwelt at Ikkhanamkala, in the Ikkhanamkala forest. At that time many distinguished,

[1. Etadiso vinabhavo.]

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wealthy Bramanas lived at Ikkhanamkala, as the Bramana Kamkin, the Bramana Tarukkha, the Bramana Pokkharasati, the Brahmana Ganussoni, the Bramana Todeyya, and other distinguished, wealthy Bramanas.

Then this dialogue arose between the young men Vasettha and Bharadvaga while walking about:

'How does one become a Bramana?'

The young man Bharadvaga said: 'When one is noble by birth on both sides, on the mother's and on the father's side, of pure conception up to the seventh generation of ancestors, not discarded and not reproached in point of birth, in this way one is a Bramana.'

The young man Vasettha said: 'When one is virtuous and endowed with (holy) works, in this way he is a Bramana.'

Neither could the young man Bharadvaga convince the young man Vasettha, nor could the young man Vasettha convince the young man Bharadvaga. Then the young man Vasettha addressed the young man Bharadvaga: 'O Bharadvaga, this Samana Gotama, the Sakya son, gone out from the Sakya family, dwells at Ikkhanamkala, in the forest of Ikkhanamkala, and the following good praising words met the venerable Gotama: "And so he is Bhagavat, the venerable, the enlightened, the glorious, let us go, O venerable Bharadvaga, let us go (to the place) where the Samana Gotama is, and having gone there let us ask the Samana Gotama about this matter, and as the Samana Gotama replies so will we understand it."'

'Very well, O venerable one;' so the young man Bharadvaga answered the young man Vasettha.

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