With Vāseṭṭha · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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Paccattañca sarīresu, Manussesvetaṁ na vijjati; Vokārañca manussesu, Samaññāya pavuccati.
In specific human bodies you can’t find such distinctions. The distinctions among humans are spoken of by convention.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Gorakkhaṁ upajīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Kassako so na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off keeping cattle: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a farmer, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Puthusippena jīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Sippiko so na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off various professions: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a professional, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Vohāraṁ upajīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Vāṇijo so na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off trade: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a trader, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Parapessena jīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Pessiko so na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off serving others: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a servant, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Adinnaṁ upajīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Coro eso na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off stealing: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a bandit, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Issatthaṁ upajīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Yodhājīvo na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off archery: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a warrior, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Porohiccena jīvati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Yājako eso na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who lives off priesthood: know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a sacrificer, not a brahmin.
Yo hi koci manussesu, Gāmaṁ raṭṭhañca bhuñjati; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, Rājā eso na brāhmaṇo.
Anyone among humans who taxes village and nation, know them, Vāseṭṭha, as a ruler, not 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 for 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 clinging to 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.
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.
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.
Hitvā ratiñca aratiṁ, Sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
Giving up desire and discontent, they’re cooled and free of attachments; a hero, master of the whole world: that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Cutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ, Upapattiñca sabbaso; Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
They know the passing away and rebirth of all beings; unattached, holy, awakened: that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Yassa gatiṁ na jānanti, Devā gandhabbamānusā; Khīṇāsavaṁ arahantaṁ, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
Gods, centaurs, and humans don’t know their destiny; the perfected ones with defilements ended: that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Yassa pure ca pacchā ca, Majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ; Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
They have nothing before or after, or even in between. Having nothing, taking nothing: that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ, Mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ; Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
Captain of the herd, excellent hero, great seer and victor; unstirred, washed, awakened: that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi, Saggāpāyañca passati; Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto, Tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
They who know their past lives, see heaven and places of loss, and have attained the ending of rebirth, that’s who I declare a brahmin.
Samaññā hesā lokasmiṁ, Nāmagottaṁ pakappitaṁ; Sammuccā samudāgataṁ, Tattha tattha pakappitaṁ.
For name and clan are formulated as mere convention in the world. Produced by mutual agreement, they’re formulated in each case.
Dīgharattamanusayitaṁ, Diṭṭhigatamajānataṁ; Ajānantā no pabruvanti, Jātiyā hoti brāhmaṇo.
For a long time this misconception has prejudiced those who don’t understand. Ignorant, they declare that one is a brahmin by birth.
Na jaccā brāhmaṇo hoti, Na jaccā hoti abrāhmaṇo; Kammunā brāhmaṇo hoti, Kammunā hoti abrāhmaṇo.
You’re not a brahmin by birth, nor by birth a non-brahmin. You’re a brahmin by your deeds, and by deeds a non-brahmin.
Kassako kammunā hoti, Sippiko hoti kammunā; Vāṇijo kammunā hoti, Pessiko hoti kammunā.
You’re a farmer by your deeds, by deeds you’re a professional; you’re a trader by your deeds, by deeds are you a servant;
Coropi kammunā hoti, Yodhājīvopi kammunā; Yājako kammunā hoti, Rājāpi hoti kammunā.
you’re a bandit by your deeds, by deeds you’re a warrior; you’re a sacrificer by your deeds, by deeds you’re a ruler.
Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ, Kammaṁ passanti paṇḍitā; Paṭiccasamuppādadassā, Kammavipākakovidā.
In this way the astute regard deeds in accord with truth. Seeing dependent origination, they’re expert in deeds and their results.
Kammunā vattati loko, Kammunā vattati pajā; Kammanibandhanā sattā, Rathassāṇīva yāyato.
Deeds make the world go on, deeds make people go on; sentient beings are bound by deeds, like a moving chariot’s linchpin.
Tapena brahmacariyena, Saṁyamena damena ca; Etena brāhmaṇo hoti, Etaṁ brāhmaṇamuttamaṁ.
By fervor and spiritual practice, by restraint and by self-control: that’s how to become a brahmin, this is the supreme brahmin.
Tīhi vijjāhi sampanno, santo khīṇapunabbhavo; Evaṁ vāseṭṭha jānāhi, brahmā sakko vijānatan”ti.
Accomplished in the three knowledges, peaceful, with rebirth ended, know them, Vāseṭṭha, as the Divinity and Sakka to the wise.”
Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭhabhāradvājā māṇavā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti. Vāseṭṭhasuttaṁ navamaṁ.
When he had spoken, Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja said to him, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”
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