With Bhāradvāja the FarmerKasibhāradvājasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans in the Southern Hills near the brahmin village of Ekanāḷa.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā magadhesu viharati dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ ekanāḷāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme.

Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Farmer had harnessed around five hundred plows, it being the season for sowing.Tena kho pana samayena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa pañcamattāni naṅgalasatāni payuttāni honti vappakāle. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to where Bhāradvāja the Farmer was working.Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa kammanto tenupasaṅkami.

Now at that time Bhāradvāja the Farmer was distributing food.Tena kho pana samayena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa parivesanā vattati. Then the Buddha went to where the distribution was taking place and stood to one side.Atha kho bhagavā yena parivesanā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Bhāradvāja the Farmer saw him standing for almsAddasā kho kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ piṇḍāya ṭhitaṁ. and said to him,Disvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “I plough and sow, ascetic, and then I eat.“ahaṁ kho, samaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmi. You too should plough and sow, then you may eat.”Tvampi, samaṇa, kasassu ca vapassu ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjassū”ti.

“I too plough and sow, brahmin, and then I eat.”“Ahampi kho, brāhmaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmī”ti.

“I don’t see the worthy Gotama with a yoke or plow or plowshare or goad or oxen, yet he says:“Na kho mayaṁ passāma bhoto gotamassa yugaṁ vā naṅgalaṁ vā phālaṁ vā pācanaṁ vā balībadde vā, atha ca pana bhavaṁ gotamo evamāha: ‘I too plough and sow, brahmin, and then I eat.’”‘ahampi kho, brāhmaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmī’”ti.

Then Bhāradvāja the Farmer addressed the Buddha in verse:Atha kho kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“You claim to be a farmer,“Kassako paṭijānāsi, but I don’t see you farming.na ca passāmi te kasiṁ; Tell me how you’re a farmer when asked:Kassako pucchito brūhi, how am I to recognize your farming?”kathaṁ jānemu taṁ kasin”ti.

“Faith is my seed, fervor my rain,“Saddhā bījaṁ tapo vuṭṭhi, and wisdom is my yoke and plough.paññā me yuganaṅgalaṁ; Conscience is my draft-pole, mind my strap,Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ, mindfulness my plowshare and goad.sati me phālapācanaṁ.

Guarded in body and speech,Kāyagutto vacīgutto, I restrict my intake of food.āhāre udare yato; I use truth as my scythe,Saccaṁ karomi niddānaṁ, and gentleness is my release.soraccaṁ me pamocanaṁ.

Energy is my harnessed beast,Vīriyaṁ me dhuradhorayhaṁ, transporting me to sanctuary from the yoke.yogakkhemādhivāhanaṁ; Without turning back, it goesGacchati anivattantaṁ, to where there is no sorrow.yattha gantvā na socati.

That’s how to do the farmingEvamesā kasī kaṭṭhā, that has freedom from death as its fruit.sā hoti amatapphalā; When you finish this farmingEtaṁ kasiṁ kasitvāna, you’re released from all suffering.”sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

“May the worthy Gotama eat!“Bhuñjatu bhavaṁ gotamo. The worthy one is a farmer.Kassako bhavaṁ. For the worthy Gotama does the farming that has freedom from death as its fruit.”Yañhi bhavaṁ gotamo amatapphalampi kasiṁ kasatī”ti.

“Food enchanted by a verse isn’t fit for me to eat.“Gāthābhigītaṁ me abhojaneyyaṁ, That’s not the principle of those who see, brahmin.Sampassataṁ brāhmaṇa nesa dhammo; The Buddhas cast aside things enchanted with verses.Gāthābhigītaṁ panudanti buddhā, Since there is such a principle, brahmin, <j>that’s how they live.Dhamme sati brāhmaṇa vuttiresā.

Serve with other food and drinkAññena ca kevalinaṁ mahesiṁ, the consummate one, the great seer,Khīṇāsavaṁ kukkuccavūpasantaṁ; with defilements ended and remorse stilled.Annena pānena upaṭṭhahassu, For he is the field for the seeker of merit.”Khettañhi taṁ puññapekkhassa hotī”ti.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Farmer said to the Buddha,Evaṁ vutte, kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Excellent, worthy Gotama …“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.