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Bodhivaggo

1-9: Jañilasuttaü (9)
The Discourse about Those with Knotted Hair

Evaü me sutaü:
Thus I heard:

ekaü samayaü Bhagavà Gayàyaü viharati Gayàsãse.
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Gayà, on Gayà Peak.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulà jañilà,
Then at that time many knotted-haired ascetics,

sãtàsu Hemantikàsu rattãsu antaraññhake ⁰¹ himapàtasamaye,
in the cold Winter nights, in between `the eights', at the time of the snowfall,

The eights (aññhakà) refers to the eighth day after 3 of the Full Moons in Hemanta, i.e. at the coldest time of the year, at which times there were festivals when the bràhmaõas worshipped their ancestors (see SED, aùñakà). Antaraññhake therefore means between these times. See BHSD, s.v. aùñaka - ràtri (on Lalitavistara 251.6) and CPD s.v. atthakà, anatraññhaka.

The Commentary says that aññhakà means the last four days in Màgha and the first four in Phagguõa, in the season of Sisira, which shows an unexpected ignorance of bràhmaõical festivals, and is certainly wrong.

Gayàyaü ummujjanti pi, nimujjanti pi,
in the Gayà (river), were plunging out, and plunging in,

ummujjanimujjam-pi karonti,
were plunging out and in,

osiÿcanti pi, aggim-pi juhanti: ßIminà suddhãû ti.
were sprinkling (water), and were offering the fire sacrifice, (thinking): ßThrough this there is purity.û

Addasà kho Bhagavà te sambahule jañile,
The Gracious One saw that those many knotted-haired ascetics,

sãtàsu Hemantikàsu rattãsu antaraññhake himapàtasamaye,
in the Winter nights, in between `the eights', at the time of the snowfall,

Gayàyaü ummujjante pi, nimujjante pi,
in the Gayà (river), were plunging out and plunging in,

ummujjanimujjaü karonte pi,
were plunging out and in,

osiÿcante pi, aggim-pi juhante: ßIminà suddhãû ti.
were sprinkling (water), and were offering the fire sacrifice, (thinking): ßThrough this there is purity.û

Atha kho Bhagavà, etam-atthaü viditvà,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tàyaü velàyaü imaü udànaü udànesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: