dhammapada26d

Chapter 26

BRAHMANA VAGGA (The Brahmana)

Contents

1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 An unusually long pregnancy - Sivali
32 A courtesan tempts a monk - Sundara Samuddha
33 How bhikkhu Jatila attained Arahanthood
34 The celestial mansion of Jotika
35 The monk who was a dancer - Nata Puttaka
36 The monk who was a dancer
37 Vangisa the skull-tapper
38 The wife who became a bhikkhuni - Dhammadinna
39 Anguli Mala and the elephant
40 The offering of Devahita

XXVI:31 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO CLINGS TO NAUGHT

Yo imam palipatham duggam - samsaram moham accaga
Tinno paragato jhayi - anejo akathamkathi
Anupadaya nibbuto - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He, who having traversed this dangerous swamp (of passion), this difficult road (of moral defilements), the ocean of life (samsara), and the darkness of ignorance (moha), and having crossed the fourfold flood¹ ; has reached the other shore (Nibbana), who practises tranquillity and insight meditation, who is free from craving and from doubt, who clings to nothing and remains in perfect peace, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:31 An unusually long pregnancy (Sivali)

Princess Suppavasa was in pregnancy for an unduly long period. When she was in labour pain for several days, she kept contemplating on the unique qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. Finally she sent her husband to the Buddha to pay respects on her behalf. When informed of the condition of the princess, the Buddha said, ‘May Suppavasa be free from danger and fear; may she safely give birth to a healthy noble son.’ As the verse was being recited, Suppavasa gave birth to a healthy son. On that very day, the Buddha and some bhikkhus were invited to the house for almsfood to celebrate the birth of the child.

When the child grew up he became a bhikkhu and was known as Sivali. He attained Arahanthood as soon as his head was shaved. Later he became famous as the bhikkhu who received offerings without any difficulty. As a recipient of offerings he was unsurpassed.

On one occasion, the bhikkhus asked the Buddha why Sivali had been confined to his mother’s womb for an unduly long period. The Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus, in a previous existence, Sivali was a prince who lost his kingdom to another king. In trying to regain the kingdom he had besieged the city on the advice of his mother. As a result, the people of the city were without food or water for several days. It was for this evil deed that Sivali and his mother had to suffer during the pregnancy and the delivery.

Note:

1.The four floods, - namely, sense-desires, becoming, false views, and ignorance.

XXVI:32 A BRAHMANA GIVES UP SENSE-DESIRES

Yo’ dha kame pahatvana -anagaro paribbaje
Kama bhava parikkinam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who in this world, giving up sense-desires, has renounced the worldly life and become a homeless one, he who has destroyed sense-desires and has come to the end of existence, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:32 A courtesan tempts a monk (Sundara Samudda)

Sundara Samudda was the son of a wealthy family from Savatthi. After he entered the Order, he left for Rajagaha, a distance away from Savatthi to practise meditation. One day while some festivals were going on in Savatthi, the parents of Sundara Samudda missed him very much. They felt very sorry for their son and both started to weep. At that time a courtesan saw them and enquired what the matter was. On hearing about their son, the courtesan said, ‘If I could make your son leave the Order and return to the life of a layman, how would you reward me?’ The parents answered that they would make her rich. The courtesan then asked for a large sum of money and left for Rajagaha.

At Rajagaha, she rented a house on the route where Sundara would come on his almsround. She prepared good food and waited for him. On the first few days, she offered almsfood to him at the door of her house. Later, she invited him to come inside. Meanwhile, she paid money to some children to come and play just outside the house about the time he usually came on his almsround. This gave her the excuse that it was very dusty and noisy on the ground floor.

With this excuse she invited him to the top floor to have his meal. He consented and went up and as soon as he had entered the room, the courtesan closed the door. Then she started seducing him. She said, ‘Venerable Sir! Please be my beloved husband, and I will be your dearly beloved wife. After our long and happy wedded life, we can both enter the Order and strive our very best to attain Nibbana.’ When he heard those words the monk suddenly realised his mistake and got alarmed. Then he said to himself, ‘I indeed, by being negligent and unmindful, have made a great mistake.’

At that instant, the Buddha realised what was happening to Sundara. He called Venerable Ananda and said to him, ‘Ananda! On an upper storey of a pinnacled building in Rajagaha, there now goes on a struggle between Sundara and a courtesan; but in the end the monk will be the winner.’ Using his supernormal power, the Buddha sent forth his radiance and exhorted him, ‘My son! Get rid of the craving for wealth and sensual pleasures and free yourself from lust.’ Reflecting mindfully on the advice given, Sundara attained Arahanthood.

XXVI:33 A BRAHMANA GIVES UP CRAVING

Yo’ dha tanham pahatvana - anagaro paribbaje
Tanha bhava parikkhinam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who in this world giving up craving, would renounce worldly life and become a homeless one, he who has destroyed craving and has come to the end of existence, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:33 How Bhikkhu Jatila attained Arahanthood

Soon after the passing away of the previous Buddha (Kassapa), an Arahant monk went round for donations to build a stupa where the relics of Kassapa Buddha were to be enshrined. The monk came to the house of a goldsmith who was at that time engaged in a heated quarrel with his wife. He shouted at the monk, ‘You had better throw away the relics and go back.’ His wife then said, ‘If you are angry with me you should abuse only me. You can even beat me if you like, but why do you have to abuse the Buddha and the monk? Surely you have done a grievous wrong!’ Hearing her remarks the goldsmith realised the enormity of the wrong he had done. Seeking to correct the wrong, he made some gold flowers, put them into three gold pots and offered them to the stupa of Kassapa Buddha.

In his present existence, he was conceived in the womb of a rich man’s daughter who had an illicit love affair. When the child was born, she put it into a pot and floated it down the stream. A young woman who was bathing in the stream saw the child; adopted him and named him Jatila. Later, on the advice of a monk, the woman sent Jatila to Taxila where he had his education. While at Taxila the monk arranged for him to stay at the house of a merchant who was a disciple of his. In due course, Jatila married the daughter of the merchant. Soon after the marriage a large mound of gold was discovered in the backyard of the house which was newly built for the couple. Three sons were born out of his marriage. After that, Jatila joined the Order and attained Arahanthood.

One day, as the Buddha went on an almsround with some bhikkhus, including Jatila, they came to the house of the sons of Jatila. The sons offered almsfood to the Buddha and his disciples for fifteen days. Some time afterwards, the bhikkhus asked Jatila whether he was still attached to his mound of gold and his sons and he answered that he had no more attachment to them. The bhikkhus then reported what Jatila had said to the Buddha and the Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus! Jatila has got rid of craving and pride. He has attained Arahanthood.’

XXVI:34 A BRAHMANA GIVES UP CRAVING

Yo’ dha tanham pahatvana - anagaro paribbaje
Tanha bhava parikkhinam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who in this world giving up craving, would renounce worldly life and become a homeless one, he who has destroyed craving and has come to the end of existence, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:34 The celestial mansion of Jotika

Jotika was a famous rich man from Rajagaha. He lived in a stately mansion. There were seven walls around his mansion, each of which had an entrance guarded by some spirits. The fame of his wealth spread far and wide, and many people came to see his mansion. On one occasion, King Bimbisara came to visit Jotika bringing his son Ajata Sattu with him. Ajata Sattu seeing the grandeur of Jotika’s mansion vowed that he would not allow Jotika to live in such a magnificent mansion when he became king. On the king’s departure from his house, Jotika presented the king with a large priceless ruby. It was the custom of Jotika to give presents to all visitors who came to see him.

When Ajata Sattu ascended the throne after killing his father, he came with his soldiers to take the mansion of Jotika by force. But as all the gates were guarded by the spirits, Ajata Sattu and his soldiers had to retreat. The king proceeded to the Veluvana monastery and he found Jotika listening to a discourse given by the Buddha. Seeing Jotika at the feet of the Buddha, the king exclaimed, ‘After making your guards fight me, you are now pretending to be listening to a discourse!’ Jotika realised that the king had gone to take his place by force and that he had been compelled to retreat.

In a past existence, Jotika had made a solemn wish that his property might not be taken away from him against his wish. And this wish had been fulfilled. So Jotika said to him, ‘O king! my property cannot be taken away against my wish.’ Saying this, he stretched out his ten fingers and asked the king to take off the rings he was wearing on his fingers. The king tried hard to take them off but did not succeed. Jotika then asked the king to spread out a piece of cloth and as Jotika put his fingers on the cloth, all the rings slipped out from his fingers and he presented them to the king. Then Jotika requested that he be permitted to join the Order. Soon after entering the Order, Jotika attained Arahanthood.

One day, when other bhikkhus asked him whether he had any more craving left in him for his mansion, his wealth, he answered that he did not. The bhikkhus asked the Buddha, ‘Venerable Sir! Jotika claims to have attained Arahanthood. Is it true?’ The Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus! Jotika speaks the truth; he does not have any more craving in him. He is now an Arahant.’

XXVI:35 A BRAHMANA DISCARDS ALL BONDS

Hitva manusakam yogam - dibbam yogam upaccaga
Sabba yoga visamyuttam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who, discarding human ties and transcending celestial ties, is completely delivered from all ties, - him I call a brahmana

XXVI:35 The monk who was a dancer (Nata Puttaka)

Once Nata Puttaka, the dancer, had the chance to listen to a discourse given by the Buddha. After listening to the discourse, he entered the Order and attained Arahanthood. One day, while the Buddha and the bhikkhus, including Nata Puttaka were going on an almsround, they met another dancer in the street. Seeing the young man dancing, the other bhikkhus asked Nata Puttaka whether he still liked dancing. He replied, ‘No, I don’t.’ The bhikkhus reported to the Buddha that Nata Puttaka claimed he did not like dancing anymore. Thereupon the Buddha said, ‘Bhikkhus! He has gone beyond all bonds of attachment: he has become an Arahant.’

XXVI:36 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO
HAS GIVEN UP LIKES AND DISLIKES

Hitva ratin ca aratin ca - sitibhutam nirupadhim
Sabba lokabhibhum viram - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who has given up likes,¹ and dislikes,² who is cooled and is without defilements,³ who has conquered the world ,⁴ and is strenuous, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:36 The monk who was a dancer

As in the previous story, the dancer had entered the Order and had attained Arahanthood. The Buddha said, ‘Bhikkhus! Nata Puttaka has given up taking delight in all things.’

Notes:

1.That is, attachment to sense-desires.

2.Arati = dislike for forest life. (Commentary)

3.Upadhi - there are four kinds of upadhi; - namely, the aggregates (khandha), the passions (kilesa), volitional activities (abhisamkhara), sense-desires (kama).

4.That is, the world of Aggregates.

XXVI:37 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS NOT ATTACHED

Cutim yo vedi sattanam - upapattin ca sabbaso
Asattam sugatam buddham - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who in every way knows the death and rebirth of beings, who is non-attached, well gone¹ and enlightened² - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:37 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS AN ARAHANT

Yassa gatim na jananti - deva gandhabba manusa
Khinasavam arahantam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He whose destiny neither gods nor gandhabbas³ nor men know, who has destroyed all corruption, and is far removed from passions (Arahant), - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:37 Vangisa the skull-tapper

Once in Rajagaha there was a brahmin by the name of Vangisa who by simply tapping the skull of a dead person could tell whether that person was reborn in the world of the devas, or the human beings, or a suffering state. The brahmins took Vangisa to many villages and people flocked to him and paid handsomely to find out from him where their various dead relatives were reborn.

On one occasion, Vangisa and his party came to a place not far from the Jetavana monastery. Seeing many people who were going to the Buddha, the brahmins invited them to come to Vangisa who could tell where their relatives had been reborn. But the people said to them, ‘What does Vangisa know! Our Teacher is one without a rival, he only is the Enlightened One.’ As a result there was a heated argument between the people and the brahmins. Finally one person said, ‘Come now, let us go and find out which of the two knows more, Vangisa or The Buddha.’ So they all went to the Jetavana Monastery.

The Buddha, knowing their intention, instructed a bhikkhu to bring the skull of a person reborn in hell, of a person reborn in the animal world, of a person reborn in the human world, of a person reborn in the Deva world and also that of an Arahant. The five were placed in a row.

When Vangisa was shown the skulls, he could tell where the owners of the first four skulls were reborn; but when he came to the skull of the Arahant, he was at a loss. The Buddha said, ‘Vangisa don’t you know? I know where the owner of that skull is.’ Vangisa then urged the Buddha to teach him the skill by which he would have the ability to tell where that particular person was reborn. The Buddha advised him to enter the Holy Order first before he would teach him the skill.

So Vangisa told his brahmin friends to wait for him while he entered the Holy Order to learn the skill. As a bhikkhu, he was instructed by the Buddha to contemplate on the thirty-two parts of the body. He diligently practised meditation as instructed and within a short time attained Arahanthood.

When the other brahmins came to ask him whether he had acquired the skill, Vangisa said, ‘You all had better go now. There is no need for me to learn the skill any more. I will no longer go along with you.’ Other bhikkhus hearing him asked the Buddha, ‘Venerable Sir! Vangisa claims to have attained Arahanthood. Is it true?’ The Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus! He really knows the death and rebirth of beings. He is an Arahant.’

Notes:

1.Sugatam = well gone in practice, that is, to Nibbana.

2.Buddham = he who has understood the four Noble Truths.

3.A class of celestial beings.

XXVI:38 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO YEARNS FOR NOTHING

Yassa pure ca paccha ca - majjhe ca natti kincanam
Akincanam anadanam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

He who does not cling to the past, future and the present khandha aggregates and who is free from moral defilement and attachment, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:38 The wife who became a bhikkhuni (Dhammadinna)

Once, there was a lay-disciple of the Buddha named Visakha in Rajagaha. After hearing the Buddha’s discourse, he attained the third stage of Sainthood and said to his wife, ‘Please accepts all my property. From today, I’m not going to take part in worldly affairs.’

His wife Dhammadinna replied that she would not accept his property and wealth and instead asked for permission to join the Order of bhikkhunis. After becoming a bhikkhuni, she went away from Rajagaha and practised meditation diligently. Within a short time, she attained Arahanthood.

Her husband, hearing that his former wife had returned, went to see her and asked some questions. When he asked her about the first three stages of Sainthood, she answered him, but when he asked her questions on Arahanthood, she said, ‘This matter is out of your depth. If you want, you may go and ask the Buddha.’ When he posed the same question, the Buddha said, ‘She has already answered your question. If you ask me I shall have to give you the same answer.’ Saying this, the Buddha confirmed that Dhammadinna had attained Arahanthood.

XXVI:39 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS ENLIGHTENED

Usabham pavaram viram - mahesim vijitavinam
Anejam nahatakam buddham - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

The fearless, the noble, the hero, the great sage, the conqueror, the desireless, the cleanser, (of defilements), the enlightened, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:39 Anguli Mala* and the elephant

On one ocassion, King Pasenadi and Queen Mallika made an alms offering to the Buddha and his bhikkhus on a scale which could not be surpassed by anyone else. At that ceremony, each bhikkhu was to have an elephant holding a white umbrella over his head as a sunshade. However, there was one elephant short and so they had to put in an untrained elephant and it was allotted to hold the umbrella over Venerable Anguli Mala. Every one was afraid that the untrained elephant might give trouble, but when brought near Anguli Mala, it became docile.

It was with reference to this incident that the bhikkhus later asked Anguli Mala whether he had been frightened. He answered that he was not. When the bhikkhus reported what he had said, the Buddha replied, ‘Bhikkhus! It is true that Anguli Mala was not afraid. Arahants who are like him are also not afraid.’

Notes:

Continuation of Chapter XIII, Story (10).

For the story on Anguli Mala, see Chapter XIII Story (6).

XXVI:40 A BRAHMANA IS HE WHO IS PERFECT

Pubbenivasam yo vedi - saggapayan ca passati
Atho jattikkhayam patto - abhinna vosito muni
Sabba vosita vosanam - tam aham brumi brahmanam.

That sage who knows his former abodes, who sees the blissful and the woeful states, who has reached the end of births, who, with superior wisdom, has perfected himself, who has completed (the holy life), and reached the end of all passions, - him I call a brahmana.

XXVI:40 The offering of Devahita

On one occasion, the Buddha suffered from a gastric ailment and he sent Venerable Upavana to get some hot water from Devahita, who was very pleased to have this rare opportunity to offer something to the Buddha. So, in addition to the hot water, he also gave him some molasses. At the monastery, Upavana prepared the warm bath for the Buddha. After the bath he offered him a mixture of molasses with the hot water. After drinking the mixture, the Buddha felt better. Devahita then came and asked, ‘Venerable Sir! An offering made to whom gives more benefit?’ The Buddha replied, ‘Devahita! An offering made to one who has given up all evil is the most beneficial.’

Chapter 26 : 21 - 30