Brahmadevasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.3

Linked Discourses 6.3

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. The Appeal

Brahmadevasutta

With Brahmadeva

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā brāhmaṇiyā brahmadevo nāma putto bhagavato santike agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti.

Now at that time a certain brahmin lady had a son named Brahmadeva, who had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the Buddha.

Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

Then Venerable Brahmadeva, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.

He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”

Aññataro ca panāyasmā brahmadevo arahataṁ ahosi.

And Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the perfected.

Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Then Brahmadeva robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena sakamātu nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, he approached his own mother’s home.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.

Now at that time Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, was presenting a regular oblation to the Divinity.

Atha kho brahmuno sahampatissa etadahosi:

Then the divinity Sahampati thought,

“ayaṁ kho āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.

“This Venerable Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, offers up a regular oblation to the Divinity.

Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ upasaṅkamitvā saṁvejeyyan”ti.

Why don’t I go and stir up a sense of urgency in her?”

Atha kho brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātu nivesane pāturahosi.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the home of Brahmadeva’s mother.

Atha kho brahmā sahampati vehāsaṁ ṭhito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātaraṁ brāhmaṇiṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then the divinity Sahampati, while standing in the air, addressed Brahmadeva’s mother in verse:

“Dūre ito brāhmaṇi brahmaloko,

“Far from here is the realm of divinity, madam,

Yassāhutiṁ paggaṇhāsi niccaṁ;

to which you present a regular oblation.

Netādiso brāhmaṇi brahmabhakkho,

But the Divinity doesn’t eat that kind of food.

Kiṁ jappasi brahmapathaṁ ajānaṁ.

Why pray,
when you don’t know the path to divinity?

Eso hi te brāhmaṇi brahmadevo,

This Brahmadeva, madam,

Nirūpadhiko atidevapatto;

free of attachments, has surpassed the gods.

Akiñcano bhikkhu anaññaposī,

Owning nothing, providing for no other,
a mendicant

Yo te so piṇḍāya gharaṁ paviṭṭho.

has entered your house for alms.

Āhuneyyo vedagu bhāvitatto,

He’s worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods,
a knowledge master, evolved.

Narānaṁ devānañca dakkhiṇeyyo;

He’s worthy of a religious donation
from gods and men.

Bāhitvā pāpāni anūpalitto,

Having banished all evils, he’s unsullied.

Ghāsesanaṁ iriyati sītibhūto.

Cool at heart, he wanders searching for food.

Na tassa pacchā na puratthamatthi,

He has no before and after,

Santo vidhūmo anigho nirāso;

peaceful, unclouded, untroubled,
with no need for hope,

Nikkhittadaṇḍo tasathāvaresu,

he has laid down the rod
for all creatures firm and frail.

So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

So let him enjoy your offering of alms for the highest.

Visenibhūto upasantacitto,

With peaceful mind, he has left the crowd,

Nāgova danto carati anejo;

he wanders like a tamed elephant, unperturbed.

Bhikkhu susīlo suvimuttacitto,

He’s a mendicant fair in ethics, with heart well freed.

So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

So let him enjoy your offering
of alms for the highest.

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā,

With unwavering confidence in him,

Patiṭṭhapehi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;

present your religious donation
to one who is worthy of it.

Karohi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ,

Now that you’ve seen the sage who has crossed over,
madam,

Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇi oghatiṇṇanti.

make merit for the sake of future happiness!”

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā,

With unwavering confidence in him,

Patiṭṭhapesi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;

she presented her religious donation
to one who is worthy of it.

Akāsi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ,

After seeing the sage who had crossed over,
the brahmin lady

Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇī oghatiṇṇan”ti.

made merit for the sake of future happiness.