26. BrahminsBrāhmaṇavagga

Cut the stream, striving!Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma, Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin.kāme panuda brāhmaṇa; Knowing the ending of conditions,Saṅkhārānaṁ khayaṁ ñatvā, know the uncreated, brahmin.akataññūsi brāhmaṇa.

When a brahmin has gone beyondYadā dvayesu dhammesu, dualistic phenomena,pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo; then they consciouslyAthassa sabbe saṁyogā, make an end of all fetters.atthaṁ gacchanti jānato.

One for whom there is no crossing overYassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā, or crossing back, or crossing over and back;pārāpāraṁ na vijjati; stress-free, detached,Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Absorbed, rid of hopes,Jhāyiṁ virajamāsīnaṁ, their task completed, without defilements,katakiccamanāsavaṁ; arrived at the highest goal:Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

The sun blazes by day,Divā tapati ādicco, the moon radiates at night,rattimābhāti candimā; the aristocrat shines in armor,Sannaddho khattiyo tapati, and the brahmin shines in absorption.jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo; But all day and all night,Atha sabbamahorattiṁ, the Buddha blazes with glory.buddho tapati tejasā.

A brahmin’s so-called <j>since they’ve banished evil,Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo, an ascetic’s so-called <j>since they live a serene life.Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati; One who has renounced all stainsPabbājayamattano malaṁ, is said to be a “renunciant”.Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati.

One should never strike a brahmin,Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya, nor should a brahmin retaliate.nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo; Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin,Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ, and woe for the one who retaliates.tato dhī yassa muñcati.

Who does nothing wrongYassa kāyena vācāya, by body, speech or mind,manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ; restrained in these three respects,Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

You should graciously honorYamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya, the one from whom you learn the Dhammasammāsambuddhadesitaṁ; taught by the awakened Buddha,Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya, as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo.

Not by matted hair or family,Na jaṭāhi na gottena, or birth is one a brahmin.na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; Those who are truthful and principled:Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca, they are pure, they are brahmins.so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo.

Why the matted hair, you simpleton,Kiṁ te jaṭāhi dummedha, and why the skin of deer?kiṁ te ajinasāṭiyā; The tangle is inside you,Abbhantaraṁ te gahanaṁ, yet you polish up your outsides.bāhiraṁ parimajjasi.

A personage who wears robes of rags,Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ, lean, their limbs showing veins,kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ; meditating alone in the forest,Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

I don’t call someone a brahminNa cāhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ brūmi, after the mother’s womb they’re born from.yonijaṁ mattisambhavaṁ; If they still have attachments,Bhovādi nāma so hoti, they’re just someone who says “worthy”.sace hoti sakiñcano; Having nothing, taking nothing:Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Having cut off all fettersSabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā, they have no anxiety.yo ve na paritassati; They’ve slipped their chains and are detached:Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve cut the strap and harness,Chetvā naddhiṁ varattañca, the halter and bridle too,sandānaṁ sahanukkamaṁ; with cross-bar lifted, they’re awakened:Ukkhittapalighaṁ buddhaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Abuse, killing, caging:Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca, they endure these without anger.aduṭṭho yo titikkhati; Patience is their powerful army:Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Not irritable or pretentious,Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ, dutiful in precepts and observances,sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ; tamed, bearing their final body:Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Like water from a lotus leaf,Vāri pokkharapatteva, like a mustard seed off the point of a pin,āraggeriva sāsapo; sensual pleasures slip off them:Yo na limpati kāmesu, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They understand for themselvesYo dukkhassa pajānāti, the end of suffering in this life;idheva khayamattano; with burden put down, detached:Pannabhāraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Deep in wisdom, intelligent,Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ, expert in the path and what is not the path;maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ; arrived at the highest goal:Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Mixing with neitherAsaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi, householders nor the homeless;anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ; a migrant with no bastion, few in wishes:Anokasārimappicchaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve laid aside violenceNidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu, against creatures firm and frail;tasesu thāvaresu ca; not killing or making others kill:Yo na hanti na ghāteti, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Not fighting among those who fight,Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu, quenched among those who have taken up arms,attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ; not grasping among those who grasp:Sādānesu anādānaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve discarded greed and hate,Yassa rāgo ca doso ca, along with conceit and contempt,māno makkho ca pātito; like a mustard seed off the point of a pin:Sāsaporiva āraggā, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

The words they utterAkakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ, are polished, informative, and true,giraṁ saccamudīraye; and don’t offend anyone:Yāya nābhisaje kañci, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They don’t steal anything in the world,Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā, long or short,aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ; tiny or huge, beautiful or ugly:Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They have no hopeĀsā yassa na vijjanti, in this world or the next;asmiṁ loke paramhi ca; with no need for hope, detached:Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They have no clinging,Yassālayā na vijjanti, knowledge has freed them of indecision,aññāya akathaṅkathī; they’ve arrived at the objective, freedom from death:Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve escaped the chainYodha puññañca pāpañca, of both good and bad deeds;ubho saṅgamupaccagā; sorrowless, stainless, pure:Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Pure as the spotless moon,Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ, clear and undisturbed,vippasannamanāvilaṁ; they’ve ended relish for rebirth:Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve got past this grueling swampYomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ, of delusion, transmigration.saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā; Meditating in stillness, free of indecision,Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī, they have crossed over to the far shore.anejo akathaṅkathī; They’re quenched by not grasping:Anupādāya nibbuto, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve given up sensual pleasures,Yodha kāme pahantvāna, and have gone forth from lay life;anāgāro paribbaje; they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm:Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve given up craving,Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna, and have gone forth from lay life;anāgāro paribbaje; they’ve ended craving to be reborn:Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve given up craving,Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna, and have gone forth from lay life;anāgāro paribbaje; they’ve ended craving to be reborn:Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They’ve thrown off the human yoke,Hitvā mānusakaṁ yogaṁ, and slipped out of the heavenly yoke;dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā; unyoked from all yokes:Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Giving up desire and discontent,Hitvā ratiñca aratiñca, they’re cooled and free of attachments;sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; a hero, master of the whole world:Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They know the passing awayCutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ, and rebirth of all beings;upapattiñca sabbaso; unattached, holy, awakened:Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

They have nothing before or after,Yassa pure ca pacchā ca, or even in between.majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ; Having nothing, taking nothing:Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Captain of the herd, excellent hero,Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ, great seer and victor;mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ; unstirred, washed, awakened:Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

One who knows their past lives,Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi, sees heaven and places of loss,saggāpāyañca passati; and has attained the end of rebirth;Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto, a sage of perfect insightabhiññāvosito muni; at the summit of spiritual perfection:Sabbavositavosānaṁ, that’s who I declare a brahmin.tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

The Sayings of the Dhamma are complete.Dhammapadapāḷi samattā.