The Chapter about Brahmins (DHP383-423)

Strive and cut off the stream, remove desire, brahmin,
knowing the destruction of the conditioned, be one who knows that which is not made,
brahmin.
When a brahmin has, through two things, crossed over,
then, for one who knows, all the fetters are laid to rest.

For whom the near shore, the far shore or both do not exist,
free of anxiety, being detached, 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 sun is radiant by day, the moon shines by night,
the accoutred noble is radiant, the meditating brahmin is radiant,
yet every day and night the Buddha is radiant through his power.

Warding off wickedness one is called a brahmin,
one living austerely is said to be an ascetic,
because of driving forth all stain from oneself
one is said to be one who has gone forth.

A brahmin should not hit a brahmin, nor should he abandon him,
woe to the one who strikes a brahmin, further: woe to the one who abandons him.

It is no little good for the brahmin:
when the mind is held back from what is dear,
whenever his mind turns back from violence,
then there is a calming of suffering.

For whom there is no wrong-doing bodily, verbally or mentally,
being restrained in these three things, that one I say is a brahmin.

That one from whom one learned Dhamma taught by the Perfect Sambuddha,
with respect bow down to him, like brahmin bows at fire-sacrifice.

Not because of matted hair, family or birth is one a true brahmin,
in whom there is truth and Dhamma, that one is pure, that one is surely a brahmin.

Why do you have your hair matted, stupid one, and why your deer-skin?
Within you there is a jungle, you only polish the outside.

That one who wears discarded clothes, who is lean with protruding veins,
who meditates alone in the forest, that one I say is a brahmin.

I do not call one a brahmin simply because of being born from a certain womb,
that one is just one who says ‘bho’ if he is attached;
having nothing and unattached, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever has cut off all the fetters surely does not tremble,
surmounting attachments, detached, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever has cut off the thong, the strap, the rope, together with the bridle,
who has thrown off the obstacle and is awakened, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever, being pure, forbears with punishment, bondage and abuse,
having the strength of endurance, having an army of strengths,, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever is controlled of mind, dutiful, virtuous, taint-free,
well-trained and in his last body, that one I say is 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.

Whoever knows right here the destruction of his suffering,
putting down the burden, detached, that one I say is a brahmin.

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.

Whoever doesn’t mix with either householders or the houseless,
wandering homeless, with few desires, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever has laid down the stick used against fearful and fearless beings,
who neither hurts nor kills, that one I say is a brahmin.

Being friendly with the hostile, calm amongst those holding a stick,
not attached amongst those attached, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever has dropped off passion and hatred, conceit and anger,
like a mustard seed from a needle, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever speaks a word of truth that is informed and is not coarse,
through which no one would be angry, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever in the world does not take what is not given, long, short,
small, large, attractive or unattractive, that one I say is a brahmin.

For the one who has no longings in this world or in the next world,
being without longings, detached, that one I say is a brahmin.

For the one who has no desires, who, through knowledge, is without doubt,
who has reached immersion in the deathless, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever here has overcome clinging to both merit and demerit,
who is griefless, dustless and pure, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever just like the moon is stainless, pure, clear and undisturbed,
has destroyed joy in existence, that one I say is a brahmin.

He who has crossed the difficult and dangerous path through births and deaths and delusion,
the meditator who has crossed over to the further shore, free of lust and free of doubt,
unattached and cooled down, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever, giving up sensual desires, would wander homeless here,
destroying desires and existence, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever, giving up craving, would wander homeless here,
destroying craving and existence, that one I say is a brahmin.

Abandoning the human yoke, overcoming the divine yoke,
being unattached to all yokes, that one I say is a brahmin.

Abandoning delight and aversion, cooled off and free from cleaving,
a hero who vanquished the whole world, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever knows in every way beings’ passing and their rebirth,
unattached, fortunate, awake, that one I say is a brahmin.

For the one whose destiny is unknown to gods, gandhabbas and men –
being pollutant-free, an Arahat, that one I say is a brahmin.

For whom there is nothing in the past, the future or the present,
having nothing and unattached, that one I say is a brahmin.

A noble leader, heroic, a great seer, victorious,
free of lust, cleansed and awakened, that one I say is a brahmin.

Whoever knows their former lives, and sees heaven and the downfall,
and has attained birth’s destruction, the sage, accomplished in deep knowledge,
who is accomplished in all accomplishments, that one I say is a brahmin.

Translated by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu.

2nd edition, November 2017.

The text and translation, together with detailed notes and discussions, may be found in multiple formats on the translator’s website, Ancient Buddhist Texts.

Used by kind permission of Bhikkhu Ānandajoti.

The original translation was released under the following licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Aminah Borg-Luck.