The Dhammapada · Buddhist Sutras

Chapter 26: The Brahmana

The Dhammapada · 41 verses

The final chapter, on the Brāhmaṇa: whoever is free from anger and fully liberated — “him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa.”

1Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brāhmaṇa! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that which was not made.

2If the Brāhmaṇa has reached the other shore in both laws (in restraint and contemplation), all bonds vanish from him who has obtained knowledge.

3He for whom there is neither this nor that shore, nor both, him, the fearless and unshackled, I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa.

4He who is thoughtful, blameless, settled, dutiful, without passions, and who has attained the highest end, him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa.

5The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by night, the warrior is bright in his armour, the Brāhmaṇa is bright in his meditation; but Buddha, the Awakened, is bright with splendour day and night.

6Because a man is rid of evil, therefore he is called Brāhmaṇa; because he walks quietly, therefore he is called Samaṇa; because he has sent away his own impurities, therefore he is called PravraJita (Pabbajita, a pilgrim).

7No one should attack a Brāhmaṇa, but no Brāhmaṇa (if attacked) should let himself fly at his aggressor! Woe to him who strikes a Brāhmaṇa, more woe to him who flies at his aggressor!

8It advantages a Brāhmaṇa not a little if he holds his mind back from the pleasures of life; when all wish to injure has vanished, pain will cease.

9Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who does not offend by body, word, or thought, and is controlled on these three points.

10After a man has once understood the law as taught by the Well-awakened (Buddha), let him worship it carefully, as the Brāhmaṇa worships the sacrificial fire.

11A man does not become a Brāhmaṇa by his platted hair, by his family, or by birth; in whom there is truth and righteousness, he is blessed, he is a Brāhmaṇa.

12What is the use of platted hair, O fool! what of the raiment of goat-skins? Within thee there is ravening, but the outside thou makest clean.

13The man who wears dirty raiments, who is emaciated and covered with veins, who lives alone in the forest, and meditates, him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa.

14I do not call a man a Brāhmaṇa because of his origin or of his mother. He is indeed arrogant, and he is wealthy: but the poor, who is free from all attachments, him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa.

15Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who has cut all fetters, who never trembles, is independent and unshackled.

16Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who has cut the strap and the thong, the chain with all that pertains to it, who has burst the bar, and is awakened.

17Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who, though he has committed no offence, endures reproach, bonds, and stripes, who has endurance for his force, and strength for his army.

18Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, without appetite, who is subdued, and has received his last body.

19Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who does not cling to pleasures, like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle.

20Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who, even here, knows the end of his suffering, has put down his burden, and is unshackled.

21Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa whose knowledge is deep, who possesses wisdom, who knows the right way and the wrong, and has attained the highest end.

22Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who keeps aloof both from laymen and from mendicants, who frequents no houses, and has but few desires.

23Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who finds no fault with other beings, whether feeble or strong, and does not kill nor cause slaughter.

24Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who is tolerant with the intolerant, mild with fault-finders, and free from passion among the passionate.

25Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.

26Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who utters true speech, instructive and free from harshness, so that he offend no one.

27Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who takes nothing in the world that is not given him, be it long or short, small or large, good or bad.

28Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who fosters no desires for this world or for the next, has no inclinations, and is unshackled.

29Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who has no interests, and when he has understood (the truth), does not say How, how? and who has reached the depth of the Immortal.

30Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who in this world is above good and evil, above the bondage of both, free from grief from sin, and from impurity.

31Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who is bright like the moon, pure, serene, undisturbed, and in whom all gaiety is extinct.

32Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who has traversed this miry road; the impassable world and its vanity, who has gone through, and reached the other shore, is thoughtful, guileless, free from doubts, free from attachment, and content.

33Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who in this world, leaving all desires, travels about without a home, and in whom all concupiscence is extinct.

34Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who, leaving all longings, travels about without a home, and in whom all covetousness is extinct.

35Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who, after leaving all bondage to men, has risen above all bondage to the gods, and is free from all and every bondage.

36Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who has left what gives pleasure and what gives pain, who is cold, and free from all germs (of renewed life), the hero who has conquered all the worlds.

37Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who knows the destruction and the return of beings everywhere, who is free from bondage, welfaring (Sugata), and awakened (Buddha).

38Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa whose path the gods do not know, nor spirits (Gandharvas), nor men, whose passions are extinct, and who is an Arhat (venerable).

39Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who calls nothing his own, whether it be before, behind, or between, who is poor, and free from the love of the world.

40Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa, the manly, the noble, the hero, the great sage, the conqueror, the impassible, the accomplished, the awakened.

41Him I call indeed a Brāhmaṇa who knows his former abodes, who sees heaven and hell, has reached the end of births, is perfect in knowledge, a sage, and whose perfections are all perfect. [ i-1 ] See Feer, Journal Asiatique, 1871, p.

41 verses · classic public domain translation

‹ Ch. 25: The Bhikkhu

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