심층 주해

This Dhamma verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery and is related to two Brahmins. The story goes that these two Brahmins each owned a cow, one called Little Red (Culla Rohita) and the other called Big Red (Maha Rohita). One day, the two Brahmins argued, each claiming, “My cow is the strongest!” Exhausted from arguing, they devised a test of strength. They immediately took their ox carts to the bank of the Aciravati River, piled the carts with sand and stones, and urged their oxen to pull. Despite their efforts, the carts did not move, and suddenly the ropes broke. At that time, the monks who were bathing in the river saw this and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha said: “Monks, these are external ropes; they can be broken. But a true ascetic must break the inner ropes of anger and greed.” Living in the world bound by ignorance and karma, disputes over superiority and defeat are common. Such conflicts naturally arise from pride and desire to prevail, leading to hatred, violence, and killing. Even today, the chaotic and tumultuous state of the world stems from human disputes over superiority and gain. Victors may become kings, losers may become rebels; in both battlefields and marketplaces, cunning strategies are used to win, often causing injury or death to countless beings. How dreadful is human malice! The story of the two Brahmins shows that even minor disputes, if anger is not restrained, can escalate into lethal conflict. The flames of anger, once ignited, can consume everything, just as a small spark can set an entire forest ablaze. When the carts broke, the monks reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha taught: “An ascetic must sever the inner ropes of anger and craving.” Only by cutting these inner bonds can one attain liberation from all suffering. External ropes, however numerous, are irrelevant to ending mental defilements. Yet people often value external possessions more than overcoming inner defilements. Hence, beings remain trapped in the suffering of the world.