I heard thus.

At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels’ sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Raajagaha. At that time venerable Saariputta was touring the southern hilly regions with a large community of bhikkhus. A certain bhikkhu who had spent the rains in Rajagaha approached venerable Saariputta and exchanged friendly greetings and sat on side.

Venerable Saariputta asked him.’Venerable one, is the Blessed One without ailments and has he a light living?’

‘Yes, venerable one, the Blessed One is without ailments and has a light living.’

‘How is the Community of bhikkhus, are they without ailments, and with a light living?’

‘Yes, venerable one, the Community of bhikkhus, too are without ailments and they too have a light living.’

‘Venerable one, there is the Brahmin Dhaananjaani, who has power over fields and grains. Is he without ailments and in good health?’

‘The Brahmin Dhaananjaani is powerful and in good health.’

‘How is he living diligently?’

‘Venerable one where’s diligence to the Brahmin Dhaananjaani? On account of the kings he plunders the Brahmin householders. On account of the Brahmin householders he plunders the kings. His wife who had faith, brought from a family, which had faith in the Blessed One, has died. Now he has brought a wife from a family, which has no faith and she has not faith.’

‘We heard something that should not be heard, about the negligence of the Brahmin Dhaananjaani. Indeed we should meet the brahamin Dhaananjaani and have a conversation about this.’

Venerable Saariputta abiding as long as he wished in the southern hilly regions, left on a tour to reach Rajagaha in stages. Venerable Saariputta was then abiding in the squirrels’ sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha. Venerable Saariputta put on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered Rajagaha for alms. At that time the Brahmin Dhaananjaani was milking the cows out side the city close to it. Venerable Saariputta having gone the alms round, and after the meal was over approached the Brahmin Dhaananjaani. The Brahmin, seeing venerable Saariputta approaching in the distance said.’Good sir, Saariputta, there is milk, the time to partake has not elapsed yet.’

‘Useless, Brahmin, I have finished with today’s meal, I will be spending the day under that tree come there.’

The Brahmin Dhaananjaani agreeing, after partaking his meal approached venerable Saariputta, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side. Then venerable Saariputta asked. ‘Brahmin, do you live diligently?’

‘Good, sir, Sariputta, where is diligence to me. I have to support my mother and father, sons and wife, my servants and workmen. I have to do what should be done for my friends and co-associates. I have to do what should be done for my blood relations and guests. I have to think of those who are dead and gone. Have to attend to the needs of recluses and Brahmins. Have to see to the needs of the king, and also please myself.’

‘Dhaananjaani, a certain person for the purpose of supporting mother and father was unvirtuous and misbehaved himself. He was pulled along to hell by the warders on account of misbehaving and lack of virtues. If he told the warders, I was unvirtuous and misbehaved to support my mother and father, would he be spared by the warders of hell? Or if the mother and father said, this one was unvirtuous and misbehaved for the purpose of supporting us, would he be spared? ‘Good sir, Saariputta, they would not spare, they would pull him.along even when wailing.’

If he told the warders, I was unvirtuous and misbehaved to support my sons and wife, would he be spared by the warders of hell? Or if the wife and children said, this one was unvirtuous and misbehaved for the purpose of supporting us, would he be spared?’