Brāhmaṇavagga

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Dhammapada 383–423

26. Brahmins · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma,
kāme panuda brāhmaṇa;
Saṅkhārānaṁ khayaṁ ñatvā,
akataññūsi brāhmaṇa.

Cut the stream, striving! Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin. Knowing the ending of conditions, know the uncreated, brahmin.

Yadā dvayesu dhammesu,
pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo;
Athassa sabbe saṁyogā,
atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.

When a brahmin has gone beyond dualistic phenomena, then they consciously make an end of all fetters.

Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā,
pārāpāraṁ na vijjati;
Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

One for whom there is no crossing over or crossing back, or crossing over and back; stress-free, detached, that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Jhāyiṁ virajamāsīnaṁ,
katakiccamanāsavaṁ;
Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Absorbed, rid of hopes, their task completed, without defilements, arrived at the highest goal: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Divā tapati ādicco,
rattimābhāti candimā;
Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,
jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;
Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,
buddho tapati tejasā.

The sun blazes by day, the moon radiates at night, the aristocrat shines in armor, and the brahmin shines in absorption. But all day and all night, the Buddha blazes with glory.

Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo,
Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati;
Pabbājayamattano malaṁ,
Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati.

A brahmin’s so-called since they’ve banished evil, an ascetic’s so-called since they live a serene life. One who has renounced all stains is said to be a “renunciant”.

Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya,
nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo;
Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ,
tato dhī yassa muñcati.

One should never strike a brahmin, nor should a brahmin retaliate. Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin, and woe for the one who retaliates.

Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo,
Yadā nisedho manaso piyehi;
Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati,
Tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ.

Nothing is better for a brahmin than to hold their mind back from attachment. From wherever a cruel wish recoils, right there suffering subsides.

Yassa kāyena vācāya,
manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ;
Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Who does nothing wrong by body, speech or mind, restrained in these three respects, that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya,
sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;
Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya,
aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.

You should graciously honor the one from whom you learn the Dhamma taught by the awakened Buddha, as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.

Na jaṭāhi na gottena,
na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca,
so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo.

Not by matted hair or family, or birth is one a brahmin. Those who are truthful and principled: they are pure, they are brahmins.

Kiṁ te jaṭāhi dummedha,
kiṁ te ajinasāṭiyā;
Abbhantaraṁ te gahanaṁ,
bāhiraṁ parimajjasi.

Why the matted hair, you simpleton, and why the skin of deer? The tangle is inside you, yet you polish up your outsides.

Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ,
kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ;
Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

A personage who wears robes of rags, lean, their limbs showing veins, meditating alone in the forest, that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Na cāhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ brūmi,
yonijaṁ mattisambhavaṁ;
Bhovādi nāma so hoti,
sace hoti sakiñcano;
Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

I don’t call someone a brahmin after the mother’s womb they’re born from. If they still have attachments, they’re just someone who says “worthy”. Having nothing, taking nothing: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Sabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā,
yo ve na paritassati;
Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Having cut off all fetters they have no anxiety. They’ve slipped their chains and are detached: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Chetvā naddhiṁ varattañca,
sandānaṁ sahanukkamaṁ;
Ukkhittapalighaṁ buddhaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve cut the strap and harness, the halter and bridle too, with cross-bar lifted, they’re awakened: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca,
aduṭṭho yo titikkhati;
Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Abuse, killing, caging: they endure these without anger. Patience is their powerful army: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ,
sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ;
Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Not irritable or pretentious, dutiful in precepts and observances, tamed, bearing their final body: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Vāri pokkharapatteva,
āraggeriva sāsapo;
Yo na limpati kāmesu,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Like water from a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed off the point of a pin, sensual pleasures slip off them: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yo dukkhassa pajānāti,
idheva khayamattano;
Pannabhāraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They understand for themselves the end of suffering in this life; with burden put down, detached: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ,
maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ;
Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Deep in wisdom, intelligent, expert in the path and what is not the path; arrived at the highest goal: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi,
anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ;
Anokasārimappicchaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Mixing with neither householders nor the homeless; a migrant with no bastion, few in wishes: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu,
tasesu thāvaresu ca;
Yo na hanti na ghāteti,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve laid aside violence against creatures firm and frail; not killing or making others kill: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu,
attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ;
Sādānesu anādānaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Not fighting among those who fight, quenched among those who have taken up arms, not grasping among those who grasp: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yassa rāgo ca doso ca,
māno makkho ca pātito;
Sāsaporiva āraggā,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve discarded greed and hate, along with conceit and contempt, like a mustard seed off the point of a pin: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Akakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ,
giraṁ saccamudīraye;
Yāya nābhisaje kañci,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

The words they utter are polished, informative, and true, and don’t offend anyone: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā,
aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ;
Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They don’t steal anything in the world, long or short, tiny or huge, beautiful or ugly: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Āsā yassa na vijjanti,
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca;
Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They have no hope in this world or the next; with no need for hope, detached: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yassālayā na vijjanti,
aññāya akathaṅkathī;
Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They have no clinging, knowledge has freed them of indecision, they’ve arrived at the objective, freedom from death: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yodha puññañca pāpañca,
ubho saṅgamupaccagā;
Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve escaped the chain of both good and bad deeds; sorrowless, stainless, pure: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ,
vippasannamanāvilaṁ;
Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Pure as the spotless moon, clear and unclouded, they’ve ended relish for rebirth: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ,
saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā;
Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī,
anejo akathaṅkathī;
Anupādāya nibbuto,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve got past this grueling swamp of delusion, transmigration. Meditating in stillness, free of indecision, they have crossed over to the far shore. They’re quenched by not grasping: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yodha kāme pahantvāna,
anāgāro paribbaje;
Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve given up sensual pleasures, and have gone forth from lay life; they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,
anāgāro paribbaje;
Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
anāgāro paribbaje;
Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve given up craving, and have gone forth from lay life; they’ve ended craving to be reborn: that’s who I declare a brahmin. and have gone forth from lay life; they’ve ended craving to be reborn: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

Jotikattheravatthu
Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,

They’ve given up craving,

Hitvā mānusakaṁ yogaṁ,
dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā;
Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve thrown off the human yoke, and slipped out of the heavenly yoke; unyoked from all yokes: that’s who I declare a brahmin.

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