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Sutta Nipāta 1.7

Vasalasutta

The Lowlife · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Tena kho pana samayena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesane aggi pajjalito hoti āhuti paggahitā.
Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Now at that time in the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s home the sacred flame had been kindled and the oblation prepared. Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, the Buddha approached Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s house.

Addasā kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.
Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“tatreva, muṇḍaka;
tatreva, samaṇaka;
tatreva, vasalaka, tiṭṭhāhī”ti.

Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper saw the Buddha coming off in the distance and said to him, “Stop right there, shaveling! Right there, fake ascetic! Right there, lowlife!”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā aggikabhāradvājaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca:
“jānāsi pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti?
“Na khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, jānāmi vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme;
sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo tathā dhammaṁ desetu, yathāhaṁ jāneyyaṁ vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti.
“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi.
Bhagavā etadavoca:

When he said this, the Buddha said to him, “But brahmin, do you know what is a lowlife or what are the qualities that make you a lowlife?” “No I do not, worthy Gotama. Please, worthy Gotama, teach me this matter so I can understand what is a lowlife or what are the qualities that make you a lowlife.” “Well then, brahmin, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, worthy sir,” Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper replied. The Buddha said this:

“Kodhano upanāhī ca,
pāpamakkhī ca yo naro;
Vipannadiṭṭhi māyāvī,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

“Irritable and acrimonious, wicked and offensive, a man deficient in view, deceitful: know him as a lowlife.

Ekajaṁ vā dvijaṁ vāpi,
yodha pāṇaṁ vihiṁsati;
Yassa pāṇe dayā natthi,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He harms living creatures born of womb or of egg, and has no kindness for creatures: know him as a lowlife.

Yo hanti parirundhati,
gāmāni nigamāni ca;
Niggāhako samaññāto,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He destroys and devastates villages and towns, a notorious oppressor: know him as a lowlife.

Gāme vā yadi vā raññe,
yaṁ paresaṁ mamāyitaṁ;
Theyyā adinnamādeti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Whether in village or wilderness, he steals what belongs to others, taking what has not been given: know him as a lowlife.

Yo have iṇamādāya,
cujjamāno palāyati;
Na hi te iṇamatthīti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Having fallen into debt, when pressed to pay up he flees, saying ‘I don’t owe you anything!’: know him as a lowlife.

Yo ve kiñcikkhakamyatā,
panthasmiṁ vajantaṁ janaṁ;
Hantvā kiñcikkhamādeti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Wanting some item or other, he attacks a person in the street and takes it: know him as a lowlife.

Attahetu parahetu,
dhanahetu ca yo naro;
Sakkhipuṭṭho musā brūti,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

For his own sake or the sake of another, or for the sake of wealth, a man tells a lie when asked to bear witness: know him as a lowlife.

Yo ñātīnaṁ sakhīnaṁ vā,
dāresu paṭidissati;
Sāhasā sampiyena vā,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He is spied among the partners of relatives and friends, by force or seduction: know him as a lowlife.

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ;
Pahu santo na bharati,
taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Though able, he does not look after his mother and father when elderly, past their prime: know him as a lowlife.

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,
Bhātaraṁ bhaginiṁ sasuṁ;
Hanti roseti vācāya,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He hits or verbally abuses his mother or father, brother, sister, or mother-in-law: know him as a lowlife.

Yo atthaṁ pucchito santo,
Anatthamanusāsati;
Paṭicchannena manteti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

When asked about the good, he teaches what is bad, giving secretive advice: know him as a lowlife.

Yo katvā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
Mā maṁ jaññāti icchati;
Yo paṭicchannakammanto,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Having done a bad deed, he wishes, ‘May no one find me out!’ His deeds are underhand: know him as a lowlife.

Yo ve parakulaṁ gantvā,
Bhutvāna sucibhojanaṁ;
Āgataṁ nappaṭipūjeti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

When visiting another family he eats their delicious food, but does not return the honor: know him as a lowlife.

Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,
Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ;
Musāvādena vañceti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He deceives with lies ascetics and brahmins and other supplicants: know him as a lowlife.

Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,
Bhattakāle upaṭṭhite;
Roseti vācā na ca deti,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

When time comes to offer a meal to brahmins or ascetics, he abuses them and does not give: know him as a lowlife.

Asataṁ yodha pabrūti,
Mohena paliguṇṭhito;
Kiñcikkhaṁ nijigīsāno,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He talks about what never happened, being wrapped up in delusion, chasing after some item or other: know him as a lowlife.

Yo cattānaṁ samukkaṁse,
Pare ca mavajānāti;
Nihīno sena mānena,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He extols himself and disparages others, brought down by his pride: know him as a lowlife.

Rosako kadariyo ca,
Pāpiccho maccharī saṭho;
Ahiriko anottappī,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He’s a bully and a miser, of corrupt wishes, stingy, and devious, shameless, imprudent: know him as a lowlife.

Yo buddhaṁ paribhāsati,
Atha vā tassa sāvakaṁ;
Paribbājaṁ gahaṭṭhaṁ vā,
Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

He insults the Buddha or his disciple, whether lay or renunciate: know him as a lowlife.

Yo ve anarahaṁ santo,
Arahaṁ paṭijānāti;
Coro sabrahmake loke,
Eso kho vasalādhamo;
Ete kho vasalā vuttā,
Mayā yete pakāsitā.

He claims to be a perfected one, when he really is no such thing. In the world with its divinities, that crook is truly the lowest lowlife. These who are called lowlifes I have revealed to you.

Na jaccā vasalo hoti,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Kammunā vasalo hoti,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo.

You’re not a lowlife by birth, nor by birth are you a brahmin. You’re a lowlife by your deeds, by deeds you’re a brahmin.

Tadamināpi jānātha,
Yathāmedaṁ nidassanaṁ;
Caṇḍālaputto sopāko,
Mātaṅgo iti vissuto.

And also you should know according to this example. A corpse-worker’s son of the dog-eating caste became renowned as Mātaṅga.

So yasaṁ paramaṁ patto,
Mātaṅgo yaṁ sudullabhaṁ;
Āgacchuṁ tassupaṭṭhānaṁ,
Khattiyā brāhmaṇā bahū.

Mātaṅga achieved the highest fame so very hard to find. Lots of aristocrats and brahmins came to serve him.

Devayānaṁ abhiruyha,
Virajaṁ so mahāpathaṁ;
Kāmarāgaṁ virājetvā,
Brahmalokūpago ahu;
Na naṁ jāti nivāresi,
Brahmalokūpapattiyā.

He ascended the stainless highway that leads to the heavens; having discarded sensual desire, he was reborn in a realm of divinity. His birth did not prevent him from rebirth in the realm of divinity.

Ajjhāyakakule jātā,
Brāhmaṇā mantabandhavā;
Te ca pāpesu kammesu,
Abhiṇhamupadissare.

Those born in a brahmin family who recite as kinsmen of the hymns, are often discovered in the midst of wicked deeds.

Diṭṭheva dhamme gārayhā,
Samparāye ca duggati;
Na ne jāti nivāreti,
Duggatyā garahāya vā.

Blameworthy in this very life, and in lives to come, a bad destination. Their birth does not prevent them from blame or bad destiny.

Na jaccā vasalo hoti,
Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Kammunā vasalo hoti,
Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo”ti.

You’re not a lowlife by birth, nor by birth are you a brahmin. You’re a lowlife by your deeds, by deeds you’re a brahmin.”

Evaṁ vutte, aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
Vasalasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

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