Khuddakanikāya
Translators: sujato
Minor Collection
Dhammapada
Sayings of the Dhamma 383–423
Brāhmaṇavagga
26. Brahmins
Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu
Yadā dvayesu dhammesu,
When a brahmin
pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo;
has gone beyond two things,
Athassa sabbe saṁyogā,
then they consciously
atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.
make an end of all fetters.
Māravatthu
Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā,
One for whom there is no crossing over
pārāpāraṁ na vijjati;
or crossing back, or crossing over and back;
Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
stress-free, detached,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Ānandattheravatthu
Divā tapati ādicco,
The sun blazes by day,
rattimābhāti candimā;
the moon glows at night,
Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,
the aristocrat shines in armor,
jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;
and the brahmin shines in absorption.
Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,
But all day and all night,
buddho tapati tejasā.
the Buddha shines with glory.
Aññatarabrāhmaṇapabbajitavatthu
Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo,
A brahmin’s so-called <j>since they’ve banished evil,
Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati;
an ascetic’s so-called <j>since they live a serene life.
Pabbājayamattano malaṁ,
One who has renounced all stains
Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati.
is said to be a “renunciant”.
Sāriputtattheravatthu
Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya,
One should never strike a brahmin,
nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo;
nor should a brahmin retaliate.
Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ,
Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin,
tato dhī yassa muñcati.
and woe for the one who retaliates.
Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo,
Nothing is better for a brahmin
Yadā nisedho manaso piyehi;
than to hold their mind back from attachment.
Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati,
As cruelty in the mind gradually subsides,
Tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ.
suffering also subsides.
Mahāpajāpatigotamīvatthu
Yassa kāyena vācāya,
Who does nothing wrong
manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ;
by body, speech or mind,
Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi,
restrained in these three respects,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sāriputtattheravatthu
Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya,
You should graciously honor
sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;
the one from whom you learn the Dhamma
Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya,
taught by the awakened Buddha,
aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.
as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.
Kisāgotamīvatthu
Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ,
A person who wears robes of rags,
kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ;
lean, their limbs showing veins,
Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ,
meditating alone in the forest,
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Uggasenaseṭṭhiputtavatthu
Sabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā,
Having cut off all fetters
yo ve na paritassati;
they have no anxiety.
Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
They’ve slipped their chains and are detached:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Akkosakabhāradvājavatthu
Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca,
Abuse, killing, caging:
aduṭṭho yo titikkhati;
they endure these without anger.
Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ,
Patience is their powerful army:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sāriputtattheravatthu
Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ,
Not irritable or pretentious,
sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ;
dutiful in precepts and observances,
Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ,
tamed, bearing their final body:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Uppalavaṇṇāttherīvatthu
Vāri pokkharapatteva,
Like water from a lotus leaf,
āraggeriva sāsapo;
like a mustard seed off a pin-point,
Yo na limpati kāmesu,
sensual pleasures slip off them:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Khemābhikkhunīvatthu
Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ,
Deep in wisdom, intelligent,
maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ;
expert in what is the path <j>and what is not the path;
Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ,
arrived at the highest goal:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Pabbhāravāsitissattheravatthu
Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi,
Mixing with neither
anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ;
householders nor the homeless;
Anokasārimappicchaṁ,
a migrant with no shelter, few in wishes:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Aññatarabhikkhuvatthu
Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu,
They’ve laid aside violence
tasesu thāvaresu ca;
against creatures firm and frail;
Yo na hanti na ghāteti,
not killing or making others kill:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sāmaṇerānaṁvatthu
Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu,
Not fighting among those who fight,
attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ;
quenched among those who are armed,
Sādānesu anādānaṁ,
not grasping among those who grasp:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Mahāpanthakattheravatthu
Yassa rāgo ca doso ca,
They’ve discarded greed and hate,
māno makkho ca pātito;
along with conceit and contempt,
Sāsaporiva āraggā,
like a mustard seed off the point of a pin:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Pilindavacchattheravatthu
Akakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ,
The words they utter
giraṁ saccamudīraye;
are sweet, informative, and true,
Yāya nābhisaje kañci,
and don’t offend anyone:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Aññatarattheravatthu
Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā,
They don’t steal anything in the world,
aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ;
long or short,
Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati,
fine or coarse, beautiful or ugly:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sāriputtattheravatthu
Āsā yassa na vijjanti,
They have no hope
asmiṁ loke paramhi ca;
in this world or the next;
Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ,
with no need for hope, detached:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Mahāmoggallānattheravatthu
Yassālayā na vijjanti,
They have no clinging,
aññāya akathaṅkathī;
knowledge has freed them of indecision,
Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ,
they’ve plunged into freedom from death:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Revatattheravatthu
Yodha puññañca pāpañca,
They’ve escaped clinging
ubho saṅgamupaccagā;
to both good and bad deeds;
Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ,
sorrowless, stainless, pure:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Candābhattheravatthu
Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ,
Pure as the spotless moon,
vippasannamanāvilaṁ;
clear and undisturbed,
Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
they’ve ended delight and future lives:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sīvalittheravatthu
Yomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ,
They’ve got past this grueling swamp
saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā;
of delusion, transmigration.
Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī,
Meditating in stillness, free of indecision,
anejo akathaṅkathī;
they have crossed over to the far shore.
Anupādāya nibbuto,
They’re quenched by not grasping:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Sundarasamuddattheravatthu
Yodha kāme pahantvāna,
They’ve given up sensual stimulations,
anāgāro paribbaje;
and have gone forth from lay life;
Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Jaṭilattheravatthu
Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,
They’ve given up craving,
anāgāro paribbaje;
and have gone forth from lay life;
Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
they’ve ended craving to be reborn:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Jotikattheravatthu
Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna,
They’ve given up craving,
anāgāro paribbaje;
and have gone forth from lay life;
Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ,
they’ve ended craving to be reborn:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Naṭaputtakattheravatthu
Hitvā mānusakaṁ yogaṁ,
They’ve thrown off the human yoke,
dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā;
and slipped out of the heavenly yoke;
Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ,
unyoked from all yokes:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Naṭaputtakattheravatthu
Hitvā ratiñca aratiñca,
Giving up discontent and desire,
sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ;
they’re cooled and free of attachments;
Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ,
a hero, master of the whole world:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Vaṅgīsattheravatthu
Cutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ,
They know the passing away
upapattiñca sabbaso;
and rebirth of all beings;
Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ,
unattached, holy, awakened:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Yassa gatiṁ na jānanti,
Gods, centaurs, and humans
devā gandhabbamānusā;
don’t know their destiny;
Khīṇāsavaṁ arahantaṁ,
the perfected ones with defilements ended:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Dhammadinnāttherīvatthu
Yassa pure ca pacchā ca,
They have nothing before or after,
majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ;
or even in between.
Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ,
Having nothing, taking nothing:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.
Aṅgulimālattheravatthu
Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ,
Leader of the herd, excellent hero,
mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ;
great seer and victor;
Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ,
unstirred, washed, awakened:
tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
that’s who I call a brahmin.