‹ Library

Sutta Nipāta 1.7

Vasalasutta

The Lowlife · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ having robed upnivāsetvā taking bowl and robepattacīvaramādāya Sāvatthīsāvatthiṁ for almspiṇḍāya enteredpāvisi.
at thatTena indeedkho nowpana timesamayena of Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiperaggikabhāradvājassa brahminbrāhmaṇassa homenivesane fireaggi kindledpajjalito washoti oblationāhuti preparedpaggahitā.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ indiscriminatelysapadānaṁ for almsfoodpiṇḍāya wanderingcaramāno whereyena of Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiperaggikabhāradvājassa brahminbrāhmaṇassa housenivesanaṁ approachedtenupasaṅkami.

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.

sawAddasā indeedkho Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiperaggikabhāradvājo brahminbrāhmaṇo the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ from afardūratova comingāgacchantaṁ.
having seenDisvāna the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
right there“tatreva, shavelingmuṇḍaka;
right theretatreva, fake asceticsamaṇaka;
right theretatreva, lowlifevasalaka, standtiṭṭhāhī”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!”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, the Blessed Onebhagavā Aggika Bhāradvājaaggikabhāradvājaṁ brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ said thisetadavoca:
do you know“jānāsi butpana youtvaṁ, brahminbrāhmaṇa, a lowlifevasalaṁ orvā qualities that make a lowlifevasalakaraṇe orvā qualitiesdhamme”ti?
not“Na I do notkhvāhaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama, I knowjānāmi a lowlifevasalaṁ orvā qualities that make a lowlifevasalakaraṇe orvā qualitiesdhamme;
pleasesādhu to meme worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo in such a waytathā the teachingdhammaṁ may he teachdesetu, so that Iyathāhaṁ I may knowjāneyyaṁ a lowlifevasalaṁ orvā qualities that make a lowlifevasalakaraṇe orvā qualitiesdhamme”ti.
well then“Tena certainlyhi, brahminbrāhmaṇa, listensuṇāhi, wellsādhukaṁ in the mindmanasi applykarohi; I will speakbhāsissāmī”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, worthybho”ti indeedkho Aggika Bhāradvājaaggikabhāradvājo brahminbrāhmaṇo to the Blessed Onebhagavato repliedpaccassosi.
the Blessed OneBhagavā said thisetadavoca:

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:

irritable“Kodhano acrimoniousupanāhī andca,
wicked and offensivepāpamakkhī andca whoyo a mannaro;
deficient in viewVipannadiṭṭhi deceitfulmāyāvī,
himtaṁ knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

born of wombEkajaṁ orvā born of eggdvijaṁ orvāpi,
who hereyodha creaturepāṇaṁ harmsvihiṁsati;
for whomYassa for creaturespāṇe kindnessdayā there is notnatthi,
himtaṁ one should knowjaññā lowlifevasalo quotation markeriti.

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

whoYo destroyshanti devastatesparirundhati,
villagesgāmāni and townsnigamāni andca;
a notorious oppressorNiggāhako notorioussamaññāto,
himtaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

in a villageGāme orvā ifyadi orvā in wildernessraññe,
that whichyaṁ of othersparesaṁ belongingmamāyitaṁ;
by theftTheyyā takes what has not been givenadinnamādeti,
himtaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo indeedhave having fallen into debtiṇamādāya,
being pressedcujjamāno he fleespalāyati;
notNa indeedhi to youte debt there isiṇamatthīti,
himtaṁ one should knowjaññā lowlifevasalo quotation markeriti.

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

whoYo indeedve wanting some item or otherkiñcikkhakamyatā,
on the roadpanthasmiṁ goingvajantaṁ personjanaṁ;
having attackedHantvā takes some item or otherkiñcikkhamādeti,
himtaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

for one's own sakeAttahetu for another's sakeparahetu,
for the sake of wealthdhanahetu orca whoyo a mannaro;
asked to bear witnessSakkhipuṭṭho a liemusā tellsbrūti,
himtaṁ knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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.

whoYo of relativesñātīnaṁ of friendssakhīnaṁ orvā,
among the partnersdāresu is spiedpaṭidissati;
by forceSāhasā by seductionsampiyena orvā,
himtaṁ knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoeverYo mothermātaraṁ fatherpitaraṁ orvā,
elderlyjiṇṇakaṁ past their primegatayobbanaṁ;
ablePahu beingsanto notna he looks afterbharati,
himtaṁ should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo mothermātaraṁ fatherpitaraṁ orvā,
brotherBhātaraṁ sisterbhaginiṁ mother-in-lawsasuṁ;
hitsHanti verbally abusesroseti with wordsvācāya,
himTaṁ knowjaññā lowlifevasalo quotation markeriti.

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

whoYo the goodatthaṁ askedpucchito beingsanto,
teaches what is badAnatthamanusāsati;
with secretivePaṭicchannena advisesmanteti,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo having donekatvā a badpāpakaṁ deedkammaṁ,
notMā memaṁ may knowjaññāti wishesicchati;
whoYo underhand in deedspaṭicchannakammanto,
himTaṁ knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo indeedve another familyparakulaṁ having visitedgantvā,
having eatenBhutvāna delicious foodsucibhojanaṁ;
the one who cameĀgataṁ does not return the honornappaṭipūjeti,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ asceticsamaṇaṁ orvā,
otherAññaṁ or evenvāpi supplicantvanibbakaṁ;
with liesMusāvādena deceivesvañceti,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoYo brahminbrāhmaṇaṁ asceticsamaṇaṁ orvā,
at mealtimeBhattakāle having arrivedupaṭṭhite;
abusesRoseti with speechvācā notna andca givesdeti,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

untrueAsataṁ hereyodha speaks aboutpabrūti,
with delusionMohena wrapped uppaliguṇṭhito;
some item or otherKiñcikkhaṁ chasing afternijigīsāno,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo quotation markeriti.

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

whoYo himselfcattānaṁ extolssamukkaṁse,
othersPare andca disparagesmavajānāti;
brought downNihīno by hissena pridemānena,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā a lowlifevasalo asiti.

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

a bullyRosako and a miserkadariyo andca,
of corrupt wishesPāpiccho stingymaccharī devioussaṭho;
shamelessAhiriko imprudentanottappī,
himTaṁ knowjaññā as a lowlifevasalo thusiti.

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

whoeverYo the Buddhabuddhaṁ insultsparibhāsati,
thenAtha orvā histassa disciplesāvakaṁ;
renunciateParibbājaṁ laygahaṭṭhaṁ orvā,
himTaṁ one should knowjaññā lowlifevasalo asiti.

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

whoYo indeedve not a worthy oneanarahaṁ beingsanto,
a perfected oneArahaṁ claimspaṭijānāti;
crookCoro with its divinitiessabrahmake in the worldloke,
thatEso trulykho the lowest lowlifevasalādhamo;
theseEte indeedkho lowlifesvasalā calledvuttā,
by meMayā theseyete revealedpakāsitā.

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.

notNa by birthjaccā a lowlifevasalo ishoti,
notNa by birthjaccā ishoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo;
by deedsKammunā a lowlifevasalo ishoti,
by deedsKammunā ishoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo.

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.

and this by thisTadamināpi you should knowjānātha,
according to thisYathāmedaṁ examplenidassanaṁ;
a corpse-worker's sonCaṇḍālaputto of the dog-eating castesopāko,
MātaṅgaMātaṅgo asiti became renownedvissuto.

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

heSo fameyasaṁ highestparamaṁ achievedpatto,
MātaṅgaMātaṅgo whichyaṁ so very hard to findsudullabhaṁ;
cameĀgacchuṁ to serve himtassupaṭṭhānaṁ,
aristocratsKhattiyā brahminsbrāhmaṇā manybahū.

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

the divine roadDevayānaṁ having ascendedabhiruyha,
the stainlessVirajaṁ heso the great roadmahāpathaṁ;
sensual desireKāmarāgaṁ having discardedvirājetvā,
reborn in a realm of divinityBrahmalokūpago wasahu;
notNa himnaṁ birthjāti did preventnivāresi,
from rebirth in a realm of divinityBrahmalokūpapattiyā.

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.

in a recitation familyAjjhāyakakule bornjātā,
brahminsBrāhmaṇā kinsmen of the hymnsmantabandhavā;
theyTe andca in wickedpāpesu deedskammesu,
are often discoveredAbhiṇhamupadissare.

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

in this very lifeDiṭṭheva in the dhammadhamme blameworthygārayhā,
in lives to comeSamparāye andca a bad destinationduggati;
notNa themne birthjāti preventsnivāreti,
from a bad destinyDuggatyā from blamegarahāya orvā.

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

notNa by birthjaccā a lowlifevasalo ishoti,
notNa by birthjaccā ishoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo;
by deedsKammunā a lowlifevasalo ishoti,
by deedsKammunā ishoti a brahminbrāhmaṇo”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.”

thusEvaṁ when spokenvutte, Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiperaggikabhāradvājo brahminbrāhmaṇo to the Buddhabhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
excellent“abhikkantaṁ, worthybho Gotamagotama ...…pe…
as a lay followerupāsakaṁ memaṁ worthybhavaṁ Gotamagotamo may he rememberdhāretu from this day forthajjatagge for lifepāṇupetaṁ refugesaraṇaṁ who has gonegatan”ti.
the Lowlife DiscourseVasalasuttaṁ seventhsattamaṁ.

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.”

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version