Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Gaya on Gaya Head. At that time, during the cold winter nights between the ¡°eights¡± in the season of the snowfall, many Jatila ascetics at Gaya were plunging in and out (of the water), pouring water (over themselves), and performing the fire sacrifice, thinking that by these practices purity is obtained.
The Lord saw those Jatila ascetics ... plunging in and out (of the water), pouring water (over themselves), and performing the fire sacrifice ....
Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance: