3. The Chapter about Brahmins (PDHP34-49)

Patna Dhammapada

3. The Chapter about Brahmins

Strive and cut off the thread, remove continuity, brahmin,

knowing the destruction of the conditioned, you are … brahmin

That one from whom one learned Dhamma, whether old or young,

with respect bow down to him, like a brahmin bows at fire-sacrifice.

That one from whom one learned Dhamma taught by the Perfect Sambuddha,

you should honor him, like a brahmin honors the fire-sacrifice.

Not because of matted hair, family or birth is one a true brahmin,

he who wards off wickedness, small or great, in every way,

through warding off wickedness, he is called a brahmin.

Like water on the lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on a needle,

he who is unsmeared by desires, that one I say is a brahmin.

The sun is radiant when it rises, the moon shines by night,

the accoutred noble is radiant, the meditating brahmin is radiant,

yet during every day and night the Buddha is radiant through his power.

For whom the near shore, the far shore or both do not exist,

free of fever, detached, that one I say is a brahmin.

When a brahmin has, through two things, crossed over,

then, for one who knows, all the fetters are laid to rest.

He who destroyed the fetter, destroyed conceit and continued existence,

living in the Community, standing by Dhamma, the knowing one does not approach society.

Whoever should speak a word of truth that is informed and is not coarse,

through which no one would be cursed, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever doesn’t mix with either householders or the houseless,

wandering homeless, with few desires, that one I say is a brahmin.

For whom there is no wrong-doing bodily, verbally or mentally,

being restrained in these three things, that one I say is a brahmin.

A brahmin should not hit a brahmin, nor should he abandon him,

woe to the one who strikes a brahmin, and to the one who does not abandon him.

Destroying mother first, and then two noble kings,

destroying a kingdom and its followers, the brahmin lives untroubled.

The deeply wise sagacious one, skilled in what is path and not path,

who has reached the ultimate good, that one I say is a brahmin.

The meditator sitting down, the one who is dustless, who has done his duty, without pollutants,

who has reached the ultimate good, that one I say is a brahmin.

The Chapter about Brahmins