Chapter 26: Brahmins

“Cut the stream, striving! Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin. Knowing the ending of conditions, know the uncreated, brahmin.”

Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma, kāme panuda brāhmaṇa; Saṅkhārānaṁ khayaṁ ñatvā, akataññūsi brāhmaṇa.

“When a brahmin has gone beyond dualistic phenomena, then they consciously make an end of all fetters.”

Yadā dvayesu dhammesu, pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo; Athassa sabbe saṁyogā, atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.

“One for whom there is no crossing over or crossing back, or crossing over and back; stress-free, detached, that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā, pārāpāraṁ na vijjati; Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“Absorbed, rid of hopes, their task completed, without defilements, arrived at the highest goal: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Jhāyiṁ virajamāsīnaṁ, katakiccamanāsavaṁ; Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“The sun blazes by day, the moon radiates at night, the aristocrat shines in armor, and the brahmin shines in absorption. But all day and all night, the Buddha blazes with glory.”

Divā tapati ādicco, rattimābhāti candimā; Sannaddho khattiyo tapati, jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo; Atha sabbamahorattiṁ, buddho tapati tejasā.

“A brahmin’s so-called <j>since they’ve banished evil, an ascetic’s so-called <j>since they live a serene life. One who has renounced all stains is said to be a “renunciant”.”

Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo, Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati; Pabbājayamattano malaṁ, Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati.

“One should never strike a brahmin, nor should a brahmin retaliate. Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin, and woe for the one who retaliates.”

Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya, nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo; Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ, tato dhī yassa muñcati.

“Nothing is better for a brahmin than to hold their mind back from attachment. From wherever a cruel wish recoils, right there suffering subsides.”

Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo, Yadā nisedho manaso piyehi; Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati, Tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ.

“Who does nothing wrong by body, speech or mind, restrained in these three respects, that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Yassa kāyena vācāya, manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ; Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“You should graciously honor the one from whom you learn the Dhamma taught by the awakened Buddha, as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.”

Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya, sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ; Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya, aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.

“Not by matted hair or family, or birth is one a brahmin. Those who are truthful and principled: they are pure, they are brahmins.”

Na jaṭāhi na gottena, na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca, so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo.

“Why the matted hair, you simpleton, and why the skin of deer? The tangle is inside you, yet you polish up your outsides.”

Kiṁ te jaṭāhi dummedha, kiṁ te ajinasāṭiyā; Abbhantaraṁ te gahanaṁ, bāhiraṁ parimajjasi.

“A personage who wears robes of rags, lean, their limbs showing veins, meditating alone in the forest, that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ, kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ; Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ, 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.”

Na cāhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ brūmi, yonijaṁ mattisambhavaṁ; Bhovādi nāma so hoti, sace hoti sakiñcano; Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, 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.”

Sabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā, yo ve na paritassati; Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, 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.”

Chetvā naddhiṁ varattañca, sandānaṁ sahanukkamaṁ; Ukkhittapalighaṁ buddhaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“Abuse, killing, caging: they endure these without anger. Patience is their powerful army: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca, aduṭṭho yo titikkhati; Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“Not irritable or pretentious, dutiful in precepts and observances, tamed, bearing their final body: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ, sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ; Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ, 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.”

Vāri pokkharapatteva, āraggeriva sāsapo; Yo na limpati kāmesu, 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.”

Yo dukkhassa pajānāti, idheva khayamattano; Pannabhāraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, 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.”

Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ, maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ; Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, 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.”

Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi, anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ; Anokasārimappicchaṁ, 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.”

Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu, tasesu thāvaresu ca; Yo na hanti na ghāteti, 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.”

Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu, attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ; Sādānesu anādānaṁ, 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.”

Yassa rāgo ca doso ca, māno makkho ca pātito; Sāsaporiva āraggā, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“The words they utter are polished, informative, and true, and don’t offend anyone: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Akakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ, giraṁ saccamudīraye; Yāya nābhisaje kañci, 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.”

Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā, aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ; Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“They have no hope in this world or the next; with no need for hope, detached: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Āsā yassa na vijjanti, asmiṁ loke paramhi ca; Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, 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.”

Yassālayā na vijjanti, aññāya akathaṅkathī; Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“They’ve escaped the chain of both good and bad deeds; sorrowless, stainless, pure: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Yodha puññañca pāpañca, ubho saṅgamupaccagā; Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“Pure as the spotless moon, clear and unclouded, they’ve ended relish for rebirth: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ, vippasannamanāvilaṁ; Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, 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.”

Yomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ, saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā; Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī, anejo akathaṅkathī; Anupādāya nibbuto, 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 kāme pahantvāna, anāgāro paribbaje; Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, 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.”

Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna, anāgāro paribbaje; Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, 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 mānusakaṁ yogaṁ, dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā; Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ, 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.”

Hitvā ratiñca aratiñca, sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“They know the passing away and rebirth of all beings; unattached, holy, awakened: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Cutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ, upapattiñca sabbaso; Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ, 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 gatiṁ na jānanti, devā gandhabbamānusā; Khīṇāsavaṁ arahantaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“They have nothing before or after, or even in between. Having nothing, taking nothing: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Yassa pure ca pacchā ca, majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ; Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“Captain of the herd, excellent hero, great seer and victor; unstirred, washed, awakened: that’s who I declare a brahmin.”

Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ, mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ; Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

“One who knows their past lives, sees heaven and places of loss, and has attained the end of rebirth; a sage of perfect insight at the summit of spiritual perfection: that’s who I declare a brahmin. The Sayings of the Dhamma are complete.”

Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi, saggāpāyañca passati; Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto, abhiññāvosito muni; Sabbavositavosānaṁ, tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. Brāhmaṇavaggo chabbīsatimo. Ettāvatā sabbapaṭhame yamakavagge cuddasa vatthūni, appamādavagge nava, cittavagge nava, pupphavagge dvādasa, bālavagge pannarasa, paṇḍitavagge ekādasa, arahantavagge dasa, sahassavagge cuddasa, pāpavagge dvādasa, daṇḍavagge ekādasa, jarāvagge nava, attavagge dasa, lokavagge ekādasa, buddhavagge nava, sukhavagge aṭṭha, piyavagge nava, kodhavagge aṭṭha, malavagge dvādasa, dhammaṭṭhavagge dasa, maggavagge dvādasa, pakiṇṇakavagge nava, nirayavagge nava, nāgavagge aṭṭha, taṇhāvagge dvādasa, bhikkhuvagge dvādasa, brāhmaṇavagge cattālīsāti pañcādhikāni tīṇi vatthusatāni. Satevīsacatussatā, catusaccavibhāvinā; Satattayañca vatthūnaṁ, pañcādhikaṁ samuṭṭhitāti. Dhammapade vaggānamuddānaṁ Yamakappamādo cittaṁ, pupphaṁ bālena paṇḍito; Arahanto sahassañca, pāpaṁ daṇḍena te dasa. Jarā attā ca loko ca, buddho sukhaṁ piyena ca; Kodho malañca dhammaṭṭho, maggavaggena vīsati. Pakiṇṇaṁ nirayo nāgo, taṇhā bhikkhu ca brāhmaṇo; Ete chabbīsati vaggā, desitādiccabandhunā. Gāthānamuddānaṁ Yamake vīsati gāthā, appamādamhi dvādasa; Ekādasa cittavagge, pupphavaggamhi soḷasa. Bāle ca soḷasa gāthā, paṇḍitamhi catuddasa; Arahante dasa gāthā, sahasse honti soḷasa. Terasa pāpavaggamhi, daṇḍamhi dasa satta ca; Ekādasa jarā vagge, attavaggamhi tā dasa. Dvādasa lokavaggamhi, buddhavaggamhi ṭhārasa; Sukhe ca piyavagge ca, gāthāyo honti dvādasa. Cuddasa kodhavaggamhi, malavaggekavīsati; Sattarasa ca dhammaṭṭhe, maggavagge sattarasa. Pakiṇṇe soḷasa gāthā, niraye nāge ca cuddasa; Chabbīsa taṇhāvaggamhi, tevīsa bhikkhuvaggikā. Ekatālīsagāthāyo, brāhmaṇe vaggamuttame; Gāthāsatāni cattāri, tevīsa ca punāpare; Dhammapade nipātamhi, desitādiccabandhunāti. Dhammapadapāḷi samattā.