Brāhmaṇavagga

Khuddakanikāya

Minor Collection

Dhammapada

Sayings of the Dhamma 383–423

Brāhmaṇavagga

26. Brahmins

Pasādabahulabrāhmaṇavatthu

Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma,

Cut the stream, striving!

kāme panuda brāhmaṇa;

Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin.

Saṅkhārānaṁ khayaṁ ñatvā,

Knowing the ending of conditions,

akataññūsi brāhmaṇa.

know the uncreated, brahmin.

Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu

Yadā dvayesu dhammesu,

When a brahmin has gone beyond

pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo;

dualistic phenomena,

Athassa sabbe saṁyogā,

then they consciously

atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.

make an end of all fetters.

Māravatthu

Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā,

One for whom there is no crossing over

pārāpāraṁ na vijjati;

or crossing back, or crossing over and back;

Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

stress-free, detached,

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aññatarabrāhmaṇavatthu

Jhāyiṁ virajamāsīnaṁ,

Absorbed, rid of hopes,

katakiccamanāsavaṁ;

their task completed, without defilements,

Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ,

arrived at the highest goal:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Ānandattheravatthu

Divā tapati ādicco,

The sun blazes by day,

rattimābhāti candimā;

the moon radiates at night,

Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,

the aristocrat shines in armor,

jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;

and the brahmin shines in absorption.

Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,

But all day and all night,

buddho tapati tejasā.

the Buddha blazes with glory.

Aññatarabrāhmaṇapabbajitavatthu

Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo,

A brahmin’s so-called
since they’ve banished evil,

Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati;

an ascetic’s so-called
since they live a serene life.

Pabbājayamattano malaṁ,

One who has renounced all stains

Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati.

is said to be a “renunciant”.

Sāriputtattheravatthu

Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya,

One should never strike a brahmin,

nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo;

nor should a brahmin retaliate.

Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ,

Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin,

tato dhī yassa muñcati.

and woe for the one who retaliates.

Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo,

Nothing is better for a brahmin

Yadā nisedho manaso piyehi;

than to hold their mind back from attachment.

Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati,

From wherever a cruel wish recoils,

Tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ.

right there suffering subsides.

Mahāpajāpatigotamīvatthu

Yassa kāyena vācāya,

Who does nothing wrong

manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ;

by body, speech or mind,

Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi,

restrained in these three respects,

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sāriputtattheravatthu

Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya,

You should graciously honor

sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;

the one from whom you learn the Dhamma

Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya,

taught by the awakened Buddha,

aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.

as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.

Jaṭilabrāhmaṇavatthu

Na jaṭāhi na gottena,

Not by matted hair or family,

na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;

or birth is one a brahmin.

Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca,

Those who are truthful and principled:

so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo.

they are pure, they are brahmins.

Kuhakabrāhmaṇavatthu

Kiṁ te jaṭāhi dummedha,

Why the matted hair, you simpleton,

kiṁ te ajinasāṭiyā;

and why the skin of deer?

Abbhantaraṁ te gahanaṁ,

The tangle is inside you,

bāhiraṁ parimajjasi.

yet you polish up your outsides.

Kisāgotamīvatthu

Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ,

A personage who wears robes of rags,

kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ;

lean, their limbs showing veins,

Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ,

meditating alone in the forest,

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Ekabrāhmaṇavatthu

Na cāhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ brūmi,

I don’t call someone a brahmin

yonijaṁ mattisambhavaṁ;

after the mother’s womb they’re born from.

Bhovādi nāma so hoti,

If they still have attachments,

sace hoti sakiñcano;

they’re just someone who says “worthy”.

Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ,

Having nothing, taking nothing:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Uggasenaseṭṭhiputtavatthu

Sabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā,

Having cut off all fetters

yo ve na paritassati;

they have no anxiety.

Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

They’ve slipped their chains and are detached:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Dvebrāhmaṇavatthu

Chetvā naddhiṁ varattañca,

They’ve cut the strap and harness,

sandānaṁ sahanukkamaṁ;

the halter and bridle too,

Ukkhittapalighaṁ buddhaṁ,

with cross-bar lifted, they’re awakened:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Akkosakabhāradvājavatthu

Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca,

Abuse, killing, caging:

aduṭṭho yo titikkhati;

they endure these without anger.

Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ,

Patience is their powerful army:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sāriputtattheravatthu

Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ,

Not irritable or pretentious,

sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ;

dutiful in precepts and observances,

Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ,

tamed, bearing their final body:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Uppalavaṇṇāttherīvatthu

Vāri pokkharapatteva,

Like water from a lotus leaf,

āraggeriva sāsapo;

like a mustard seed off the point of a pin,

Yo na limpati kāmesu,

sensual pleasures slip off them:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aññatarabrāhmaṇavatthu

Yo dukkhassa pajānāti,

They understand for themselves

idheva khayamattano;

the end of suffering in this life;

Pannabhāraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

with burden put down, detached:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Khemābhikkhunīvatthu

Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ,

Deep in wisdom, intelligent,

maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ;

expert in the path and what is not the path;

Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ,

arrived at the highest goal:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Pabbhāravāsitissattheravatthu

Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi,

Mixing with neither

anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ;

householders nor the homeless;

Anokasārimappicchaṁ,

a migrant with no bastion, few in wishes:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aññatarabhikkhuvatthu

Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu,

They’ve laid aside violence

tasesu thāvaresu ca;

against creatures firm and frail;

Yo na hanti na ghāteti,

not killing or making others kill:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sāmaṇerānaṁvatthu

Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu,

Not fighting among those who fight,

attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ;

quenched among those who have taken up arms,

Sādānesu anādānaṁ,

not grasping among those who grasp:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Mahāpanthakattheravatthu

Yassa rāgo ca doso ca,

They’ve discarded greed and hate,

māno makkho ca pātito;

along with conceit and contempt,

Sāsaporiva āraggā,

like a mustard seed off the point of a pin:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Pilindavacchattheravatthu

Akakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ,

The words they utter

giraṁ saccamudīraye;

are polished, informative, and true,

Yāya nābhisaje kañci,

and don’t offend anyone:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aññatarattheravatthu

Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā,

They don’t steal anything in the world,

aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ;

long or short,

Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati,

tiny or huge, beautiful or ugly:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sāriputtattheravatthu

Āsā yassa na vijjanti,

They have no hope

asmiṁ loke paramhi ca;

in this world or the next;

Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,

with no need for hope, detached:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Mahāmoggallānattheravatthu

Yassālayā na vijjanti,

They have no clinging,

aññāya akathaṅkathī;

knowledge has freed them of indecision,

Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ,

they’ve arrived at the objective, freedom from death:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Revatattheravatthu

Yodha puññañca pāpañca,

They’ve escaped the chain

ubho saṅgamupaccagā;

of both good and bad deeds;

Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ,

sorrowless, stainless, pure:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Candābhattheravatthu

Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ,

Pure as the spotless moon,

vippasannamanāvilaṁ;

clear and unclouded,

Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,

they’ve ended relish for rebirth:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sīvalittheravatthu

Yomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ,

They’ve got past this grueling swamp

saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā;

of delusion, transmigration.

Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī,

Meditating in stillness, free of indecision,

anejo akathaṅkathī;

they have crossed over to the far shore.

Anupādāya nibbuto,

They’re quenched by not grasping:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sundarasamuddattheravatthu

Yodha kāme pahantvāna,

They’ve given up sensual pleasures,

anāgāro paribbaje;

and have gone forth from lay life;

Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,

they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Jaṭilattheravatthu

Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,

They’ve given up craving,

anāgāro paribbaje;

and have gone forth from lay life;

Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,

they’ve ended craving to be reborn:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Jotikattheravatthu

Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,

They’ve given up craving,

anāgāro paribbaje;

and have gone forth from lay life;

Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,

they’ve ended craving to be reborn:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Naṭaputtakattheravatthu

Hitvā mānusakaṁ yogaṁ,

They’ve thrown off the human yoke,

dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā;

and slipped out of the heavenly yoke;

Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ,

unyoked from all yokes:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Naṭaputtakattheravatthu

Hitvā ratiñca aratiñca,

Giving up desire and discontent,

sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;

they’re cooled and free of attachments;

Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ,

a hero, master of the whole world:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Vaṅgīsattheravatthu

Cutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ,

They know the passing away

upapattiñca sabbaso;

and rebirth of all beings;

Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ,

unattached, holy, awakened:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yassa gatiṁ na jānanti,

Gods, centaurs, and humans

devā gandhabbamānusā;

don’t know their destiny;

Khīṇāsavaṁ arahantaṁ,

the perfected ones with defilements ended:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Dhammadinnāttherīvatthu

Yassa pure ca pacchā ca,

They have nothing before or after,

majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ;

or even in between.

Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ,

Having nothing, taking nothing:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aṅgulimālattheravatthu

Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ,

Captain of the herd, excellent hero,

mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ;

great seer and victor;

Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ,

unstirred, washed, awakened:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Devahitabrāhmaṇavatthu

Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi,

One who knows their past lives,

saggāpāyañca passati;

sees heaven and places of loss,

Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto,

and has attained the end of rebirth;

abhiññāvosito muni;

a sage of perfect insight

Sabbavositavosānaṁ,

at the summit of spiritual perfection:

tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Brāhmaṇavaggo chabbīsatimo.

Ettāvatā sabbapaṭhame yamakavagge cuddasa vatthūni, appamādavagge nava, cittavagge nava, pupphavagge dvādasa, bālavagge pannarasa, paṇḍitavagge ekādasa, arahantavagge dasa, sahassavagge cuddasa, pāpavagge dvādasa, daṇḍavagge ekādasa, jarāvagge nava, attavagge dasa, lokavagge ekādasa, buddhavagge nava, sukhavagge aṭṭha, piyavagge nava, kodhavagge aṭṭha, malavagge dvādasa, dhammaṭṭhavagge dasa, maggavagge dvādasa, pakiṇṇakavagge nava, nirayavagge nava, nāgavagge aṭṭha, taṇhāvagge dvādasa, bhikkhuvagge dvādasa, brāhmaṇavagge cattālīsāti pañcādhikāni tīṇi vatthusatāni.

Satevīsacatussatā,

catusaccavibhāvinā;

Satattayañca vatthūnaṁ,

pañcādhikaṁ samuṭṭhitāti.

Dhammapade vaggānamuddānaṁ

Yamakappamādo cittaṁ,

pupphaṁ bālena paṇḍito;

Arahanto sahassañca,

pāpaṁ daṇḍena te dasa.

Jarā attā ca loko ca,

buddho sukhaṁ piyena ca;

Kodho malañca dhammaṭṭho,

maggavaggena vīsati.

Pakiṇṇaṁ nirayo nāgo,

taṇhā bhikkhu ca brāhmaṇo;

Ete chabbīsati vaggā,

desitādiccabandhunā.

Gāthānamuddānaṁ

Yamake vīsati gāthā,

appamādamhi dvādasa;

Ekādasa cittavagge,

pupphavaggamhi soḷasa.

Bāle ca soḷasa gāthā,

paṇḍitamhi catuddasa;

Arahante dasa gāthā,

sahasse honti soḷasa.

Terasa pāpavaggamhi,

daṇḍamhi dasa satta ca;

Ekādasa jarā vagge,

attavaggamhi tā dasa.

Dvādasa lokavaggamhi,

buddhavaggamhi ṭhārasa;

Sukhe ca piyavagge ca,

gāthāyo honti dvādasa.

Cuddasa kodhavaggamhi,

malavaggekavīsati;

Sattarasa ca dhammaṭṭhe,

maggavagge sattarasa.

Pakiṇṇe soḷasa gāthā,

niraye nāge ca cuddasa;

Chabbīsa taṇhāvaggamhi,

tevīsa bhikkhuvaggikā.

Ekatālīsagāthāyo,

brāhmaṇe vaggamuttame;

Gāthāsatāni cattāri,

tevīsa ca punāpare;

Dhammapade nipātamhi,

desitādiccabandhunāti.

Dhammapadapāḷi samattā.

The Sayings of the Dhamma are complete.