84 



CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



chula kamma wib'hanga suttan, or sub'ha suttan. 



THE DISCOURSE ON THE MINOR RESULTS OF CONDUCT, 

 OR THE DISCOURSE ADDRESSED TO SUBHA. 



TRANSLATED BT THE REV. D. J. GOGERLY. 



{Bead August 17, 1846.) 



The following discourses of Gautama, a translation of 

 which I have the pleasure to lay before the Society, will 

 tend in some measure to illustrate the ethics of Budhism. 

 The first of them is exceedingly popular, and is regarded 

 as a perfect solution of the difficulties connected with the 

 unequal distribution of prosperity and adversity in the 

 present state. But in this solution a discriminating Pro- 

 vidence is not recognized: No judge, — -no examination- 

 no sentence of an intelligent being, whether supreme or 

 otherwise, is acknowledged ; but the whole is referred to an 

 occult power, an irresistible fate, resulting from the merit 

 or demerit of actions performed in a previous state of exis- 

 tence. 



In the discourses attributed to Budha there are many 

 verbal repetitions which add nothing to the meaning, al- 

 though in the original they are supposed to contribute both 

 to the elegance and force of the passages. A contrary ef« 

 feet, however, results from a literal translation of them into 

 English, in consequence of which I have frequently omitted 

 them, still preserving the sense entire. 



When Bagawa was residing near Sewat, in the monastery 

 founded by Anatha Pindiko at Jetawany, a young man 

 named Subha, the son of Todeyya, came to his residence, 

 and after a respectful salutation sat down. Being seated he 

 said. Venerable Goutamo, From what cause or by what 

 means is it, that among mankind some persons are in pros- 

 perous and others in adverse circumstances ? It is seen, 

 Venerable Goutamo, that some men are short lived, while 

 others live long ; some are much diseased while others have 

 good health; some are disgusting in appearance while 

 others are beautiful; some are without influence while 

 others powerful ; some are poor while others are rich ; some 

 are ignoble while others are high born ; some are wise while 

 others are foolish, From what cause,, Venerable Goutamo, 



