1-7-1 Arahantavaggo | Samyutta

Chapter VII

7 Brāhmaṇasaṃyutta
Connected Discourses with Brahmins

I. The Arahants

1 (1) Dhanañjānī

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

Now on that occasion the wife of a certain Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, a Brahmin lady named Dhanañjānī, had full confidence in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha.

Once, while the Brahmin lady Dhanañjānī was bringing the Brahmin his meal, she stumbled, whereupon she uttered three times this inspired utterance:

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One! Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One!

When this was said, the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to her:

For the slightest thing this wretched woman spouts out praise of that shaveling ascetic! Now, wretched woman, I am going to refute the doctrine of that teacher of yours.

I do not see anyone, Brahmin, in this world with its Devas, Māra, and Brahmā, in this generation with its ascetics and Brahmins, its Devas and humans, who could refute the doctrine of the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One.

But go, Brahmin. When you have gone, you will understand.

Then the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, angry and displeased, approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and addressed the Blessed One in verse:

613 Having slain what does one sleep soundly?
Having slain what does one not sorrow?
What is the one thing, O Gotama,
Whose killing you approve?

[The Blessed One:]

614 Having slain anger, one sleeps soundly;
Having slain anger, one does not sorrow;
The killing of anger, O Brahmin,
With its poisoned root and honeyed tip:
This is the killing the noble ones praise,
For having slain that, one does not sorrow.

When this was said, the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One:

Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama!

The Dhamma has been made clear in many ways by Master Gotama, as though he were turning upright what had been turned upside down, revealing what was hidden,

showing the way to one who was lost, or holding up a lamp in the dark for those with eyesight to see forms.

I go for refuge to Master Gotama, and to the Dhamma, and to the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. May I receive the going forth under Master Gotama, may I receive the higher ordination?

Then the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan received the going forth under the Blessed One, he received the higher ordination.

And soon, not long after his higher ordination, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, the Venerable Bhāradvāja, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge,

in this very life entered and dwelt in that unsurpassed goal of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness. He directly knew:

Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.

And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

2 (2) Abuse

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

The Brahmin Akkosaka Bhāradvāja, Bhāradvāja the Abusive, heard:

It is said that the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan has gone forth from the household life into homelessness under the ascetic Gotama.

Angry and displeased, he approached the Blessed One and abused and reviled him with rude, harsh words.

When he had finished speaking, the Blessed One said to him:

What do you think, Brahmin? Do your friends and colleagues, kinsmen and relatives, as well as guests come to visit you?

Sometimes they come to visit, Master Gotama.

Do you then offer them some food or a meal or a snack?

Sometimes I do, Master Gotama.

But if they do not accept it from you, then to whom does the food belong?

If they do not accept it from me, then the food still belongs to us.

So too, Brahmin, we—who do not abuse anyone, who do not scold anyone, who do not rail against anyone—refuse to accept from you the abuse and scolding and tirade you let loose at us.

It still belongs to you, Brahmin! It still belongs to you, Brahmin!

Brahmin, one who abuses his own abuser, who scolds the one who scolds him, who rails against the one who rails at him—he is said to partake of the meal, to enter upon an exchange.

But we do not partake of your meal; we do not enter upon an exchange. It still belongs to you, Brahmin! It still belongs to you, Brahmin!

The king and his retinue understand the ascetic Gotama to be an Arahant, yet Master Gotama still gets angry.

[The Blessed One:]

615 How can anger arise in one who is angerless,
In the tamed one of righteous living,
In one liberated by perfect knowledge,
In the Stable One who abides in peace?

616 One who repays an angry man with anger
Thereby makes things worse for himself.
Not repaying an angry man with anger,
One wins a battle hard to win.

617 He practises for the welfare of both—
His own and the other’s—
When, knowing that his foe is angry,
He mindfully maintains his peace.

618 When he achieves the cure of both—
His own and the other’s—
The people who consider him a fool
Are unskilled in the Dhamma.

When this was said, the Brahmin Akkosaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One:

Magnificent, Master Gotama!…

I go for refuge to Master Gotama, and to the Dhamma, and to the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. May I receive the going forth under Master Gotama, may I receive the higher ordination?

Then the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan received the going forth under the Blessed One, he received the higher ordination.

And soon, not long after his higher ordination, dwelling alone … … the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

3 (3) Asurindaka

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

The Brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja heard:

 It is said that the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan has gone forth from the household life into homelessness under the ascetic Gotama.

Angry and displeased, he approached the Blessed One and abused and reviled him with rude, harsh words.

When he had finished speaking, the Blessed One remained silent.

Then the Brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: You’re beaten, ascetic! You’re beaten, ascetic!

[The Blessed One:]

619 The fool thinks victory is won
When, by speech, he bellows harshly;
But for one who understands,
Patient endurance is the true victory.

620–22 One who repays an angry man with anger
… (verses = 616–18) …
Are unskilled in the Dhamma.

When this was said, the Brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

4 (4) Bilaṅgika

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

The Brahmin Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja heard:

It is said that the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan has gone forth from the household life into homelessness under the ascetic Gotama.

Angry and displeased, he approached the Blessed One and silently stood to one side.

Then the Blessed One, having known with his own mind the reflection in the Brahmin Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja’s mind, addressed him in verse:

623 If one wrongs an innocent man,
A pure person without blemish,
The evil falls back on the fool himself
Like fine dust thrown against the wind.

When this was said, the Brahmin Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

5 (5) Ahiṃsaka

At Sāvatthī. Then the Brahmin Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja, Bhāradvāja the Harmless, approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One:

I am Ahiṃsaka the Harmless, Master Gotama. I am Ahiṃsaka the Harmless, Master Gotama.

 [The Blessed One:]

624 If one were as one’s name implies
You would be a harmless one.
But it is one who does no harm at all
By body, speech, or mind,
Who really is a harmless one
As he does not harm others.

When this was said, the Brahmin Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Ahiṃsaka Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

6 (6) Tangle

At Sāvatthī. Then the Brahmin Jaṭā Bhāradvāja, Bhāradvāja of the Tangle, approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and addressed the Blessed One in verse:

625 A tangle inside, a tangle outside,
This generation is entangled in a tangle.
I ask you this, O Gotama,
Who can disentangle this tangle?

[The Blessed One:]

626 A man established on virtue, wise,
Developing the mind and wisdom,
A Bhikkhu ardent and discreet:
He can disentangle this tangle.

627 Those for whom lust and hatred
Along with ignorance have been expunged,
The Arahants with taints destroyed:
For them the tangle is disentangled.

628 Where name-and-form ceases,
Stops without remainder,
And also impingement and perception of form:
It is here this tangle is cut.

When this was said, the Brahmin Jaṭā Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

7 (7) Suddhika

At Sāvatthī. Then the Brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him.

When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

629 In the world no Brahmin is ever purified
Though he be virtuous and austere in practice;
One accomplished in knowledge and conduct is purified,
Not the others, the common folk.

[The Blessed One:]

630 Even though one mutters many chants,
One does not become a Brahmin by birth
If one is rotten within and defiled,
Supporting oneself by fraudulent means.

631 Whether khattiya, Brahmin, vessa, sudda,
Caṇḍāla or scavenger,
If one is energetic and resolute,
Always firm in exertion,
One attains the supreme purity:
Know, O Brahmin, that this is so.

When this was said, the Brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

8 (8) Aggika

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

Now on that occasion milk-rice with ghee had been set out for the Brahmin Aggika Bhāradvāja, who had thought: I will offer a fire sacrifice, I will perform the fire oblation.

Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.

Walking for alms on uninterrupted alms round in Rājagaha, the Blessed One approached the residence of the Brahmin Aggika Bhāradvāja and stood to one side.

The Brahmin Aggika Bhāradvāja saw the Blessed One standing for alms and addressed him in verse:

632 One endowed with the triple knowledge,
Of proper birth, of ample learning,
Accomplished in knowledge and conduct,
Might partake of this milk-rice meal.

[The Blessed One:]

633 Even though one mutters many chants,
One does not become a Brahmin by birth
If one is rotten within and defiled,
With followers gained by fraudulent means.

634 One who has known his past abodes,
Who sees heaven and the plane of woe,
Who has reached the destruction of birth,
A sage consummate in direct knowledge:

635 By means of these three kinds of knowledge
One is a triple-knowledge Brahmin.
This one accomplished in knowledge and conduct
Might partake of this milk-rice meal.

[The Brahmin Aggika Bhāradvāja:]

Let Master Gotama eat.
The worthy is a Brahmin.

[The Blessed One:]

636 Food over which verses have been sung
Is not fit to be eaten by me.
This, Brahmin, is not the principle
Observed by those who see.
The Enlightened Ones reject such food
Over which verses have been sung.
As such a principle exists, O Brahmin,
This is their rule of conduct.

637 Serve with other food and drink
The consummate one, the great seer
With taints destroyed and remorse stilled,
For he is the field for one seeking merit.

When this was said, the Brahmin Aggika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Aggika Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

9 (9) Sundarika

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans on the bank of the river Sundarika.

Now on that occasion the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja was offering a fire sacrifice and performing the fire oblation on the bank of the river Sundarika.

Then the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja, having offered the fire sacrifice and performed the fire oblation, rose from his seat and surveyed the four quarters all around, wondering:

Who now might eat this sacrificial cake?

The Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja saw the Blessed One sitting at the foot of a tree with his head covered.

Having seen him, he took the sacrificial cake in his left hand and the water pot in his right hand and approached the Blessed One.

When the Blessed One heard the sound of the Brahmin’s footsteps, he uncovered his head.

Then the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja, thinking, This worthy is shaven-headed, this worthy is a shaveling, wanted to turn back; but it occurred to him:

Some Brahmins here are also shaven-headed. Let me approach him and inquire about his birth.

Then the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja approached the Blessed One and said to him:

What is the worthy one’s birth?

[The Blessed One:]

638 Ask not of birth but ask of conduct:
Fire is indeed produced from any wood.
A resolute sage, though from low family,
Is a thoroughbred restrained by a sense of shame.

639 The sacrificer should invoke this one:
One tamed by truth, perfect by taming,
Who has reached the end of knowledge,
A fulfiller of the holy life.
Then he makes a timely oblation
To one worthy of offerings.

[The Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja:]

640 Surely my sacrifice is well performed
As I have seen such a knowledge-master.
Because I had not seen those like yourself
Other people ate the sacrificial cake.

Let Master Gotama eat. The worthy is a Brahmin.

[The Blessed One:]

641–42 Food over which verses have been sung
… (verses = 636–37) …
For he is the field for one seeking merit.

Then, Master Gotama, should I give this sacrificial cake to someone else?

I do not see anyone, Brahmin, in this world with its Devas, Māra, and Brahmā, in this generation with its ascetics and Brahmins, its Devas and humans, who could eat and properly digest this sacrificial cake except the Tathāgata or a disciple of the Tathāgata.

Therefore, Brahmin, throw away the sacrificial cake in a place where there is sparse vegetation or dispose of it in water where there are no living beings.

Then the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja disposed of that sacrificial cake in water where there were no living beings.

When it was disposed of in the water, that sacrificial cake sizzled and hissed and gave off steam and smoke.

Just as a ploughshare, heated all day, sizzles and hisses and gives off steam and smoke if placed in water, so too that sacrificial cake, when disposed of in the water, sizzled and hissed and gave off steam and smoke.

Then the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja, shocked and terrified, approached the Blessed One and stood to one side. The Blessed One then addressed him with verses:

643 When kindling wood, Brahmin, do not imagine
This external deed brings purity;
For experts say no purity is gained
By one who seeks it outwardly.

644 Having given up the fire made from wood,
I kindle, O Brahmin, the inner light alone.
Always ablaze, my mind always concentrated,
I am an Arahant living the holy life.

645 Conceit, O Brahmin, is your shoulder-load,
Anger the smoke, false speech the ashes;
The tongue is the ladle, the heart the altar,
A well-tamed self is the light of a man.

646 The Dhamma is a lake with fords of virtue—
Limpid, praised by the good to the good—
Where the knowledge-masters go to bathe,
And, dry-limbed, cross to the far shore.

647 Truth, Dhamma, restraint, the holy life,
Attainment of Brahmā based on the middle:
Pay homage, O Brahmin, to the upright ones;
I call that person one impelled by Dhamma.

When this was said, the Brahmin Sundarika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Sundarika Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.

10 (10) Many Daughters

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans in a certain woodland thicket. Now on that occasion 14 oxen belonging to a certain Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan had gotten lost.

Then the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, while searching for those oxen, went to the woodland thicket where the Blessed One was staying.

There he saw the Blessed One sitting with his legs folded crosswise, holding his body erect, having set up mindfulness in front of him.

Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

648 Surely this ascetic does not have
Fourteen oxen [that have gotten lost],
Not seen now for the past six days:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

649 Surely this ascetic does not have
A field of blighted sesame plants,
Some with one leaf, some with two:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

650 Surely this ascetic does not have
Rats inside an empty barn
Dancing around merrily:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

651 Surely this ascetic does not have
A blanket that for 7 months
Has been covered with swarms of vermin:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

652 Surely this ascetic does not have
7 daughters left for widows,
Some with one son, some with two:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

653 Surely this ascetic does not have
A tawny wife with pockmarked face
Who wakes him up with a kick:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

654 Surely this ascetic does not have
Creditors who call at dawn,
Chiding him, ‘Pay up! Pay up!’:
Hence this ascetic is happy.

[The Blessed One:]

655 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
Fourteen oxen [that have gotten lost],
Not seen now for the past six days:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

656 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
A field of blighted sesame plants,
Some with one leaf, some with two:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

657 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
Rats inside an empty barn
Dancing around merrily:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

658 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
A blanket that for 7 months
Has been covered with swarms of vermin:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

659 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
7 daughters left for widows,
Some with one son, some with two:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

660 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
A tawny wife with pockmarked face
Who wakes me up with a kick:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

661 Surely, Brahmin, I do not have
Creditors who call at dawn,
Chiding me, ‘Pay up! Pay up!’:
Hence, O Brahmin, I am happy.

When this was said, the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: Magnificent, Master Gotama!… And the Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.