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Dhammapada 383–423

Brāhmaṇavagga

26. Brahmins · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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cutChinda the streamsotaṁ strivingparakkamma,
sensual pleasureskāme cast asidepanuda brahminbrāhmaṇa;
of conditionsSaṅkhārānaṁ the endingkhayaṁ knowingñatvā,
know the uncreatedakataññūsi brahminbrāhmaṇa.

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

whenYadā in dualitiesdvayesu in phenomenadhammesu,
gone beyondpāragū ishoti brahminbrāhmaṇo;
then for himAthassa allsabbe fetterssaṁyogā,
to an endatthaṁ they gogacchanti for the one who knowsjānato.

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

for whomYassa crossing overpāraṁ crossing backapāraṁ orvā,
crossing over and backpārāpāraṁ notna is foundvijjati;
stress-freeVītaddaraṁ detachedvisaṁyuttaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

absorbedJhāyiṁ rid of hopes, seatedvirajamāsīnaṁ,
task completed, without defilementskatakiccamanāsavaṁ;
arrived at the highest goalUttamatthamanuppattaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

by dayDivā blazestapati the sunādicco,
at night radiatesrattimābhāti the mooncandimā;
in armorSannaddho the aristocratkhattiyo shinestapati,
absorbedjhāyī shinestapati the brahminbrāhmaṇo;
butAtha all day and nightsabbamahorattiṁ,
the Buddhabuddho blazestapati with glorytejasā.

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.

since they've banished evilBāhitapāpoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo,
serene lifeSamacariyā an ascetic's so-calledsamaṇoti is calledvuccati;
having renounced one's own stainPabbājayamattano stainmalaṁ,
thereforeTasmā a renunciant“pabbajito”ti is calledvuccati.

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”.

notNa a brahminbrāhmaṇassa should strikepahareyya,
nor shouldnāssa should releasemuñcetha a brahminbrāhmaṇo;
woe toDhī a brahminbrāhmaṇassa the one who hurtshantāraṁ,
thentato woe fordhī the one whoyassa retaliatesmuñcati.

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.

notNa for a brahmin anythingbrāhmaṇassetadakiñci betterseyyo,
whenYadā holding backnisedho of the mindmanaso from attachmentspiyehi;
from whereverYato whereveryato a cruel wishhiṁsamano recoilsnivattati,
right thereTato theretato suffering subsides indeedsammatimeva sufferingdukkhaṁ.

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

for whomYassa by bodykāyena by speechvācāya,
by mindmanasā there is notnatthi wrongdoingdukkaṭaṁ;
restrainedSaṁvutaṁ in threetīhi respectsṭhānehi,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

from whomYamhā the Dhammadhammaṁ you should learnvijāneyya,
taught by the awakened Buddhasammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;
graciouslySakkaccaṁ himtaṁ you should honornamasseyya,
as the sacred flameaggihuttaṁva a brahminbrāhmaṇo.

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

notNa by matted hairjaṭāhi notna by familygottena,
notna by birthjaccā ishoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo;
in whomYamhi truth andsaccañca dhammadhammo andca,
heso puresucī heso andca a brahminbrāhmaṇo.

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

whyKiṁ yourte with matted hairjaṭāhi simpletondummedha,
whykiṁ yourte with deer-skin garmentajinasāṭiyā;
insideAbbhantaraṁ yourte tanglegahanaṁ,
outsidebāhiraṁ you polishparimajjasi.

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

wearing robes of ragsPaṁsukūladharaṁ personjantuṁ,
leankisaṁ with veins showingdhamanisanthataṁ;
aloneEkaṁ in the forestvanasmiṁ meditatingjhāyantaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

notNa and Icāhaṁ a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ I callbrūmi,
born from a wombyonijaṁ born from a mothermattisambhavaṁ;
one who says 'worthy'Bhovādi justnāma heso ishoti,
ifsace he ishoti with attachmentssakiñcano;
having nothingAkiñcanaṁ taking nothinganādānaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

all fettersSabbasaṁyojanaṁ having cut offchetvā,
whoyo indeedve notna has anxietyparitassati;
having gone beyond attachmentSaṅgātigaṁ detachedvisaṁyuttaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

having cutChetvā the strapnaddhiṁ and the harnessvarattañca,
the haltersandānaṁ and bridle toosahanukkamaṁ;
with cross-bar liftedUkkhittapalighaṁ awakenedbuddhaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

abuseAkkosaṁ and killing, cagingvadhabandhañca,
without angeraduṭṭho whoyo endurestitikkhati;
patience-powerKhantībalaṁ powerful armybalānīkaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

free from angerAkkodhanaṁ dutiful in observancesvatavantaṁ,
dutiful in preceptssīlavantaṁ not pretentiousanussadaṁ;
tamedDantaṁ bearing their final bodyantimasārīraṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

waterVāri like on a lotus leafpokkharapatteva,
like on the point of a needleāraggeriva a mustard seedsāsapo;
whoYo notna is stainedlimpati by sensual pleasureskāmesu,
himtamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

whoYo of sufferingdukkhassa understandspajānāti,
just hereidheva the end for oneselfkhayamattano;
with burden put downPannabhāraṁ detachedvisaṁyuttaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

deep in wisdomGambhīrapaññaṁ intelligentmedhāviṁ,
expert in the path and what is not the pathmaggāmaggassa expertkovidaṁ;
arrived at the highest goalUttamatthamanuppattaṁ,
that onetamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

not mixedAsaṁsaṭṭhaṁ with householdersgahaṭṭhehi,
with the homelessanāgārehi and bothcūbhayaṁ;
a migrant with no bastion, few in wishesAnokasārimappicchaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

having laid asideNidhāya violencedaṇḍaṁ against creaturesbhūtesu,
the frailtasesu the firmthāvaresu andca;
whoYo notna killshanti notna makes killghāteti,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

not fightingAviruddhaṁ among those who fightviruddhesu,
among those who have taken up armsattadaṇḍesu quenchednibbutaṁ;
among those who graspSādānesu not graspinganādānaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

whoseYassa greedrāgo andca hatedoso andca,
conceitmāno contemptmakkho andca discardedpātito;
like a mustard seedSāsaporiva off the pointāraggā,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

polishedAkakkasaṁ informativeviññāpaniṁ,
speechgiraṁ true, may one uttersaccamudīraye;
by whichYāya one does not offendnābhisaje anyonekañci,
that one Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

whoever hereYodha longdīghaṁ orva shortrassaṁ orvā,
tinyaṇuṁ hugethūlaṁ beautiful or uglysubhāsubhaṁ;
in the worldLoke not stolenadinnaṁ does not takenādiyati,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

hopesĀsā of whomyassa notna are foundvijjanti,
in thisasmiṁ worldloke in the nextparamhi orca;
with no need for hopeNirāsāsaṁ detachedvisaṁyuttaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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

for whom attachmentsYassālayā notna are foundvijjanti,
having knownaññāya free from indecisionakathaṅkathī;
arrived at the deathlessAmatogadhamanuppattaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

who hereYodha merit andpuññañca demerit and,pāpañca,
bothubho has overcome the attachmentsaṅgamupaccagā;
sorrowlessAsokaṁ stainlessvirajaṁ pure,suddhaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahmin.brāhmaṇaṁ.

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

like the moonCandaṁva spotlessvimalaṁ pure,suddhaṁ,
clear and unclouded;vippasannamanāvilaṁ;
they've ended relish for rebirth,Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahmin.brāhmaṇaṁ.

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

who thisYomaṁ swamppalipathaṁ gruelingduggaṁ,
transmigrationsaṁsāraṁ has got past delusionmohamaccagā;
crossed overTiṇṇo gone to the far shorepāraṅgato meditatingjhāyī,
free of indecisionanejo free of indecisionakathaṅkathī;
not graspingAnupādāya quenchednibbuto,
him Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

who hereYodha sensual pleasureskāme having given uppahantvāna,
homeless oneanāgāro wanders forthparibbaje;
ended rebirth in the sensual realmKāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
that one indeed Itamahaṁ declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

who hereYodha cravingtaṇhaṁ having given uppahantvāna,
homelessanāgāro should wander forthparibbaje;
with craving for becoming fully destroyedTaṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.
homelessanāgāro should wander forthparibbaje;
with craving for becoming fully destroyedTaṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
him Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi a brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ.

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.

Story of Jotika TheraJotikattheravatthu
who hereYodha cravingtaṇhaṁ having given uppahantvāna,

They’ve given up craving,

having abandonedHitvā humanmānusakaṁ yoke,yogaṁ,
heavenlydibbaṁ yokeyogaṁ slipped out ofupaccagā;
unyoked from all yokes,Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ,
that one Itamahaṁ I declarebrūmi brahmin.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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