1At Sāvatthī. Now on that occasion a brahmin named Sangarava was residing at Sāvatthī. He was a practitioner of water-purification, one who believed in purification by water, who dwelt devoted to the practice of immersing himself in water at dusk and at dawn.

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena parisuddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārati.

Then, in the morning, the Venerable Ānanda dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Having walked for alms in Sāvatthī, when he had returned from his alms round, after his meal he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, sn.i.183 and said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"Here, venerable sir, a brahmin named Sangarava is residing at Sāvatthī. He is a practitioner of water-purification … devoted to the practice of immersing himself in water at dusk and at dawn. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would approach the residence of the brahmin Sangarava out of compassion." The Blessed One consented by silence.

"idha, bhante, saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārati. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampāṁ upādāyā"ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

2Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking bowl and robe, approached the brahmin Sangarava's residence, where he sat down in the appointed seat. Then the brahmin Sangarava approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him, after which he sat down to one side. The Blessed One then said to him: "Is it true, brahmin, that you are a practitioner of water-purification, one who believes in purification by water, devoted to the practice of immersing yourself in water at dusk and at dawn?"

2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho saṅgāravaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "Saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārasī"ti?

"Yes, Master Gotama."

"Evaṁ, bho gotama".

"Considering what benefit do you do this, brahmin?"

"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakasuddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārasī"ti?

"Here, Master Gotama, whatever evil deed I have done during the day I wash away by bathing at dusk. Whatever evil deed I have done at night I wash away by bathing at dawn."

"Idha me, bho gotama, yaṁ divā pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti, taṁ sāyaṁ nhānena pavāhemi, yaṁ rattiṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti taṁ pātaṁ nhānena pavāhemi. Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccemi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharāmī"ti.

The Blessed One:

4When this was said, the brahmin Sangarava said to the Blessed One: "Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life." sn.i.184

4Evaṁ vutte, saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.