With Bhāradvāja the Fiend (SN7.3)

Linked Discourses 7.3

1. The Perfected Ones

With Bhāradvāja the Fiend

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

The brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fiend heard a rumor to the effect that¹

a brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama. Angry and displeased he went to the Buddha and abused and insulted him with rude, harsh words.

But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

Then Bhāradvāja the Fiend said to the Buddha,

“You’re beaten, ascetic, you’re beaten!”

“‘Ha! I won!’ thinks the fool,

when speaking with harsh words.

The victory for one who understands

is that very endurance.

When you get angry at an angry person

you just make things worse for yourself.

When you don’t get angry at an angry person

you win a battle hard to win.

When you know that the other is angry,

you act for the good of both

yourself and the other

if you’re mindful and stay calm.

People inexpert in Dhamma

consider one who heals both

oneself and the other

to be a fool.”

When he had spoken, Bhāradvāja the Fiend said to the Buddha,

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! …” …

And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the perfected.