1Then a certain affluent brahmin approached the Blessed One … and said to him.

"Master Gotama, I have heard older brahmins who are aged, burdened with years, teachers of teachers, saying: ‘In the past this world was so thickly populated one would think there was no space between people. The villages, towns, and capital cities were so close that cocks could fly between them.’ [n.411] Kukkuṭasampātikā. Mp: "‘Cocks’ flying between them’ (kukkuṭasampāto) is cocks’ flying from the rooftops in one village to the rooftops in another. When they are so situated, it is said they are ‘so close that cocks could fly between them.’ There is also the reading kukkuṭasampādikā (‘so close that cocks could walk between them’). ‘Cocks’ walking between them’ (kukkuṭasampādo) is cocks’ going on foot from one village to another. When they are so situated, it is said they are ‘so close that cocks could walk between them.’" Why is it, Master Gotama, that at present the number of people has declined, depopulation is seen, [n.412] Tanuttaṁ paññāyati. Lit., "the diminution (of human beings) is seen." and villages, towns, cities, and districts have vanished?" [n.413] Gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā honti. Lit., "villages have become non-villages, towns have become non-towns, cities have become non-cities, and provinces have become non-provinces."

2(1) "At present, brahmin, people are excited by illicit lust, overcome by unrighteous greed, afflicted by wrong Dhamma. [n.414] Mp: "Illicit lust (adhammarāga): Lust is exclusively contrary to the Dhamma (adhamma), but it is not ‘illicit lust’ when it arises in relation to one's own possessions. It is only ‘illicit lust’ when it arises in regard to the possessions of others. Unrighteous greed (visamalobha): Though greed is never actually righteous, greed arisen for an object that belongs to oneself is called righteous greed. The greed arisen for an object belonging to another is called unrighteous greed. Wrong Dhamma (micchādhamma): indulgence in what is not a base." Mp-ṭ: "Indulgence in some base of lust (rāgassa vatthuṭṭhānaṁ) other than that considered good by the world's standards." As a result, they take up weapons and slay one another. Hence many people die. This is a reason why at present the number of people has declined, depopulation is seen, and villages, towns, cities, and districts have vanished.

3(2) "Again, at present people are excited by illicit lust, overcome by unrighteous greed, afflicted by wrong Dhamma. When this happens, sufficient rain does not fall. As a result, there is a famine, a scarcity of grain; the crops become blighted and turn to straw. Hence many people die. This is another reason why at present the number of people has declined, depopulation is seen, and villages, towns, cities, and districts have vanished.

4(3) "Again, at present people are excited by illicit lust, overcome by unrighteous greed, afflicted by wrong Dhamma. When this happens, the yakkhas release wild spirits. [n.415] I read with Be, Ee, and Mp (Ce and Be): yakkhā vāḷe amanusse ossajjanti. Ce of AN has manusse for amanusse. Yakkhas are demonic spirits, sometimes depicted as killing human beings and devouring their flesh, but also capable of goodness and even realization of the Dhamma. Mp: "‘Yakkhas’ are the ruling yakkhas. They release fierce yakkhas on the paths of humans, and when these (yakkhas) get the chance, they deprive the people of their lives" (yakkhā ti yakkhādhipatino. Vāḷe amanusse ossajjantī ti caṇḍayakkhe manussapathe vissajjenti, te laddhokāsā mahājanaṁ jīvitakkhayaṁ pāpenti). Though I follow Mp, I wonder if a more original reading of the text would construe the verb as passive and put all the substantives in nominative plural: yakkhā vāḷā amanussā ossajjanti. "Yakkhas—wild, nonhuman—are released." Hence many people die. This is yet another reason why at present the number of people has declined, depopulation is seen, and villages, towns, cities, and districts have vanished."

5"Excellent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama consider me a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life."

1Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇamahāsālo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:.

"sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, pubbakānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ: ‘pubbe sudaṁ ayaṁ loko avīci maññe phuṭo ahosi manussehi, kukkuṭasaṁpātikā gāmanigamarājadhāniyo’ti. Ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā hontī"ti?

2"Etarahi, brāhmaṇa, manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā. Te adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā tiṇhāni satthāni gahetvā aññamaññaṁ jīvitā voropenti, tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā honti.

3Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, etarahi manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā. Tesaṁ adhammarāgarattānaṁ visamalobhābhibhūtānaṁ micchādhammaparetānaṁ devo na sammādhāraṁ anuppavecchati. Tena dubbhikkhaṁ hoti dussassaṁ setaṭṭhikaṁ salākāvuttaṁ. Tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā honti.

4Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, etarahi manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā. Tesaṁ adhammarāgarattānaṁ visamalobhābhibhūtānaṁ micchādhammaparetānaṁ yakkhā vāḷe amanusse ossajjanti, tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti. Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā hontī"ti.

5"Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.