dhammapada26b

Chapter 26

BRAHMANA VAGGA (The Brahmana)

Contents

1 - 10
11 It is not easy to mislead the wise
12 The Buddha praises Kisa Gotami
13 One cannot become a brahmana by birth
14 One who has cut off, fetters has no fear - Uggasena
15 Cut the strap of craving
16 The Buddha subdues the abusive brothers
17 Venerable Sariputta is reviled by his mother
18 An Arahant does not cling to sensual pleasures
19 The bond-servant who became an Arahant
20 The Buddha praises Khema
21 - 30
31 - 40

XXVI:11 BE PURE WITHIN

Kim te jatahi dummedha - kim te ajina satiya
Abbhantaram te gahanam - bahiram parimajjasi.

O foolish one! What is the use of your matted hair? What is the use of your wearing a garment made of antelope skin? Within, you are full of passions; without, you embellish yourself.¹

XXVI:11 It is not easy to mislead the wise

Once, a deceitful brahmin climbed up a tree near the city-gate of Vesali and kept himself hanging up side down like a bat from one of the branches of the tree. From this very awkward position, he kept on muttering, ‘O People! Give me a hundred head of cattle. Give me money. Give me a woman slave. If you don’t bring these to me and if I were to fall down from this tree and die, the city of yours will surely come to ruin.’ The ignorant people of the city, fearing that their city might be destroyed if the brahmin were to fall down and die, brought all the things he demanded and pleaded with him to come down.

The bhikkhus related the incident to the Buddha who said that the deceitful one could only cheat the ignorant people but not the wise ones.

Note:

1.With the paraphernalia of the ascetics.

XXVI:12 A BRAHMANA MEDITATES ALONE IN THE FOREST

Pamsukula dharam jantum - kisam dhamani santhatam
Ekam vanasmim jhayantam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

The person who wears dust-heap robes,^l who is lean, whose veins stand out, who meditates alone in the forest, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:12 The Buddha praises Kisa Gotami*

On one occasion, Sakka, king of the Devas came with his followers to pay homage to the Buddha. At the same time, Bhikkhuni Kisa Gotami, by her supernormal power came through the sky to pay homage to the Buddha.

But when she saw Sakka and his entourage paying homage, she retreated. Sakka on seeing her asked whom the lady was. The Buddha replied ‘O Sakka! She is my daughter Kisa Gotami. Once she came to me in sorrow and distress through the loss of her son and I made her see the impermanent nature of all component things. As a consequence of that she comprehended the Dhamma, joined the Order, and attained Arahanthood. She is one of my eminent female disciples.’

Note:

1.Robes made of cast-off rags.

This is the continuation of Chapter VIII, Story (13).

XXVI:13 THE NON-POSSESSIVE AND THE
NON-ATTACHED PERSON IS A BRAHMANA

Na c’aham brahmanam brumi - yonijam mattisambhavam
Bhovadi nama so hoti - sa ce hoti sakincano
Akincanam anadanam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

I do not call him a brahmana merely because he is born of a (brahmin) womb or sprung from a (brahmin) mother. He is merely a ‘Dear-addresser’,¹ if he be with impediments. He who is free from impediments, free from clinging, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:13 One cannot become a brahmana by birth

Once, a brahmin from Savatthi thought that since the Buddha called his disciples ‘brahmana’ he should also be called a ‘brahmana’ because he was born of brahmin parents. When the brahmin told the Buddha about this, he replied, ‘O brahmin, I don’t call one a brahmana just because he is born of brahmin parents. I call a brahmana only one who is free from defilements and who has cut off all clinging to existence.’

Note:

1. Bho is a familiar form of address which even the Buddha used in addressing laymen. The term Bho-vadi is applied to the Buddha as well.

XXVI:14 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO
HAS DESTROYED ALL FETTERS

Sabba sannojanam chetva - yo ve na paritassati
Sangatigam visamyuttam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who has cut off all fetters and is fearless, who is beyond attachment and is free from moral defilement, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:14 One who has cut off fetters has no fear (Uggasena)*

After marrying a dancer from a theatrical troupe, Uggasena was trained by his father-in-law who was an acrobat, and became very skilful in acrobatics. One day while he was demonstrating his skill, the Buddha came to the scene. After hearing the Buddha’s teaching, Uggasena attained Arahanthood while he was still on top of the long bamboo pole. After that, he climbed down from the pole and requested the Buddha to accept him as a disciple and was accordingly admitted into the Order.

One day, when questioned, Uggasena told some bhikkhus that he had felt no fear when he was on top of the bamboo pole. The bhikkhus asked the Buddha, ‘Venerable Sir! Uggasena claims to be an Arahant. Is it true?’ The Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus, one who has cut off all fetters like Uggasena, has no fear. He is indeed an Arahant.’

Note:

This is the continuation of Chapter XXIV, Story (6).

XXVI:15 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO HAS NO HATRED

Chetva naddhim varattan ca - sandamam sahanukkamam
Ukkhitta paligham buddham - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who has cut the strap (hatred), the thong (craving), and the rope (heresies), together with the appendages (latent tendencies), who has thrown up the cross-bar (ignorance), who is enlightened¹(Buddha), - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:15 Cut the strap of craving

Once there lived in Savatthi two brahmins, each of whom owned an ox. Each claimed that his ox was better and stronger. At last they agreed to put their animals to the test. So they went to the bank of a river and there they filled up the cart with sand. One after the other, the oxen pulled the cart, but they only pulled in vain, because the cart did not move and the ropes broke off.

On seeing this, the bhikkhus reported to the Buddha who said, ‘Bhikkhus! It is easy to break off the straps, which you can see with your own eyes; anyone can break them or cut them. But my sons, a bhikkhu should cut the straps of anger and craving which are within you and which bind you.’

Note:

1.Who has understood the four Noble Truths.

XXVI:16 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS PATIENT

Akkosam vadha bandhan ca - aduttho yo titikkhati
Khanti balam balanikam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who, without anger, endures abuse, flogging and punishments, whose strength of patience is like the strength of an army, him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:16 The Buddha subdues the abusive brothers

Once there was a brahmin, whose wife was in the habit of blurting out a string of words whenever she sneezed or when something or someone touched her accidentally. One day, the brahmin invited some of his friends to a meal and suddenly she blurted out some words. Since she had attained the first stage of Sainthood, the words ‘Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa’ automatically came out of her mouth. These words of veneration to the Buddha angered her husband.

So, in anger he went to the Buddha hoping to put some challenging questions. His first question was ‘What do we have to kill to be able to live peacefully?’ and his second question was, ‘What do we have to kill to be able to live happily?’ The Buddha replied, ‘O brahmin, to be able to live happily and peacefully, one will have to kill anger (dosa). Killing one’s anger is liked and praised by the Buddhas and Arahants.’ The brahmin was so impressed and satisfied with the answer, that he entered the Order and later became an Arahant.

When the younger brother heard that his eldest brother had joined the Order, he became furious. He went straight away to the monastery to abuse the Buddha, but in turn the Buddha asked, ‘O brahmin, let us suppose you offered some food to some guests and they left the house without taking the food. Since the guests did not accept your food, to whom would that food belong?’ The brahmin replied that the food would be his.

On receiving that answer, the Buddha said, ‘In the same way, O brahmin, since I don’t accept your abuse, the abuse would only go back to you.’* The brahmin instantly realised the sagacity of those words and felt a great respect for the Buddha. He also entered the Order and in due course became an Arahant.

After that his two younger brothers came with the same intention of abusing the Buddha. The Buddha made them to see the light and they also, in their turn entered the Order. Eventually they too became Arahants.

One evening, the bhikkhus remarked ‘O how wonderful and how great are the virtues of the Buddha! These four brahmin brothers abused our Teacher but through his infinite wisdom he helped them realise the Truth and became their refuge.’ The Buddha then replied, ‘My sons, because I am patient and forbearing and do no wrong to those who do me wrong, I have become a refuge to many.’

Note:

This should be the correct Buddhist attitude to adopt whenever we are faced with unjust criticism or abuse.

XXVI:17 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS NOT WRATHFUL

Akkodhanam vatavantam - silavantam anussutam
Dantam antima sariram - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who is free from anger, but is dutiful,¹ virtuous, free from craving, self-controlled and bears his final body,² - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:17 Venerable Sariputta is reviled by his mother

While the Buddha was in residence at the Veluvana monastery, the Venerable Sariputta, accompanied by a group of bhikkhus, entered Nalaka Village and stood at the door of the house of his own mother for alms food. His mother invited them into the house. But while she was offering food to her son she said, ‘O you consumer of left-over, you have abandoned all wealth to become a bhikkhu, you have ruined us.’ Then she offered alms food to the other bhikkhus and said to them rudely, ‘You all have used my son as your attendant; now eat your food.’ Sariputta said nothing and just maintained his noble silence. Back at the monastery, the bhikkhus related how Sariputta had patiently borne the scolding and abuse of his mother. The Buddha commented that Arahants never get angry and they never lose their temper.

Notes:

1.Devoted to religious austerity.

2.’Final body’ because he, having destroyed the passions, would be reborn no more. He is an Arahant.

XXVI:18 A BRAHMANA CLINGS NOT TO SENSUAL PLEASURES

Varipokkharapatt’ eva - aragger’ iva sasapo
Yo na limpati kamesu - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

Like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle, he who clings not to sensual pleasures, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:18 An Arahant does not cling to sensual pleasures*

Once, some bhikkhus were talking about the Arahant bhikkhuni Uppala Vanna being raped by a young man. In this connection, they asked the Buddha whether Arahants do enjoy sensual pleasures as they have the same physical make-up like other people. The Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus! Arahants do not enjoy sensual pleasures; they do not indulge in sensual pleasures, for they do not cling to objects of sense and to sensual pleasures, just as water does not cling to the lotus leaf.’

Note:

This is the continuation of Chapter V, Story (10).

XXVI:19 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO HAS LAID THE BURDEN ASIDE

Yo dukkhassa pajanati - idh’ eva khayam attano
Pannabharam visamyuttam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who realises here in this world the destruction of his sorrow, who has laid the burden¹ aside and is emancipated² - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:19 The bond-servant who became an Arahant

Once there was a young bond-servant of a brahmin who fled from the house of his master and joined the Order of the bhikkhus. In due course, he attained Arahanthood. One day, while he went on alms round with the Buddha, his former master, the brahmin, saw him and grabbed him firmly by the robe. When asked what the matter was, the brahmin explained that the bhikkhu had been his bond-servant at one time. The Buddha replied, ‘This bhikkhu has laid down the burden of his life.’ The brahmin took that to mean that his slave had become an Arahant. So to make sure, he asked whether it was true that the young bhikkhu had become an Arahant, and the Buddha confirmed his statement.

Notes:

1.The burden of the Aggregate.

2.From all defilements.

XXVI:20 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO
HAS REACHED HIS ULTIMATE GOAL

Gambhira pannam medhavim - maggamaggassa kovidam
Uttamattham anuppattam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He whose knowledge is deep, who is wise, who is skilled in the right and wrong way,¹ who has reached the highest goal, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:20 The Buddha praises Khema*

One night, Sakka, king of the devas came with his followers to pay homage to the Buddha. At the same time, Bhikkhuni Khema by her supernormal power also came through the sky to pay homage to the Buddha. When she saw Sakka and his company were there, she just paid her respects and left. Sakka asked who, that bhikkhuni was and the Buddha replied, ‘She is one of my eminent female disciples. She is matchless amongst the bhikkhunis in wisdom.’

Note:

1. Who knows the way to the woeful states, to the blissful states, and to Nibbana.

See also Chapter XXIV Story (5)

Chapter 26 : 1 - 10
Chapter 26 : 21 - 30