214 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
- ‘Now, Ambattha, to this supreme perfection in wisdom and goodness there are Four Leakages. And what are the four?’
‘In case, Ambattha, any recluse or Brahman, without having thoroughly attained unto this supreme perfection in wisdom and conduct, with his yoke on his shoulder (to carry fire-sticks, a water-pot, needles, and the rest of a mendicant friar’s outfit), should plunge into the depths of the forest, vowing to himself: “I will henceforth be one of those who live only on fruits that have fallen of themselves”—then, verily, he turns that out worthy only to be a servant unto him that hath attained to wisdom and rightsouness.’
‘And again, Ambattha, in case any recluse or Brahman, without having thoroughly attained unto this supreme perfection in wisdom and conduct, and without having attained to living only on fruits fallen of themselves, taking a hoe and a basket with him, should plunge into the depths of the forest, vowing to himself: “I will henceforth be one of those who live only on bulbs and roots of fruits.” Then, verily he turns out worthy only to be a servant unto him who hath attained to wisdom and righteousness.’
‘And again, Ambattha. in case any recluse or Brahman, without having thoroughly attained unto this supreme perfection in wisdom and conduct, and without having attained to living only on fruits fallen of themselves, and without having attained to living only on bulbs and’ roots and fruits, should build himself a fires-hrine near the boundries of some village or some town, and there dwell serving the fire-god,— then, verily he turns out worthy only to be a servant unto him that hath attained to wisdom and righteousness.’
‘And again, Ambattha, in case any recluse or Brahman, without having thoroughly attained unto this supreme perfection in wisdom and conduct, and without having attained to living only on fruits fallen of themselves, and without having attained to living only on bulbs and roots and fruits, and without having attained to serving the fire-god, should build himself a four-doored almshouse at a crossing where four high roads meet, and dwell there, saying to himself: “Whosoever, whether recluse or Brahman, shall pass here, from either of these four directions, him will I entertain according to my ability and according to my power—then, verily, he turns out worthy only to be a servant unto him who hath attained to wisdom and righteousness.’
‘These are the Four Leakages, Ambattha, to supreme perfection in righteousness and conduct.’
- ‘Now what think you. Ambattha ? Have you, as one of a class of pupils under the same teacher, been instructed in this supreme perfection of wisdom and conduct?’