The Brahmana (Arhat)

383. Stop the stream valiantly, drive away the desires, O Brahmana! When you have understood the destruction of all that was made, you will understand that which was not made.

383. Bravely stop the stream and drive away desires, Brahmana! When you understand the destruction of all that was made, you will understand what was not made.

384. If the Brahmana has reached the other shore in both laws (in restraint and contemplation), all bonds vanish from him who has obtained knowledge.

384. If the Brahmana has reached the other shore through both restraint and contemplation, all bonds fall away from him, for he has gained knowledge.

385. He for whom there is neither this nor that shore, nor both, him, the fearless and unshackled, I call indeed a Brahmana.

385. For such a man, there is neither this shore nor the other shore, nor both. Fearless and unshackled, he is one I truly call a Brahmana.

386. He who is thoughtful, blameless, settled, dutiful, without passions, and who has attained the highest end, him I call indeed a Brahmana.

386. He is thoughtful, blameless, steady, dutiful, free from passions, and has reached the highest goal. I call such a man a true Brahmana.

387. The sun is bright by day, the moon shines by night, the warrior is bright in his armour, the Brahmana is bright in his meditation; but Buddha, the Awakened, is bright with splendour day and night.

387. The sun shines by day. The moon shines by night. The warrior shines in his armor. The Brahmana shines in his meditation. But Buddha, the Awakened, shines with splendor day and night.

388. Because a man is rid of evil, therefore he is called Brahmana; because he walks quietly, therefore he is called Samana; because he has sent away his own impurities, therefore he is called Pravragita (Pabbagita, a pilgrim).

388. A man is called Brahmana because he is free of evil. He is called Samana because he walks quietly. He is called Pravragita (Pabbagita, a pilgrim) because he has cast out his own impurities.

389. No one should attack a Brahmana, but no Brahmana (if attacked) should let himself fly at his aggressor! Woe to him who strikes a Brahmana, more woe to him who flies at his aggressor!

389. No one should attack a Brahmana. But if attacked, no Brahmana should lash out at his attacker! Woe to anyone who strikes a Brahmana. Even greater woe to the Brahmana who lashes out at his attacker!

390. It advantages a Brahmana not a little if he holds his mind back from the pleasures of life; when all wish to injure has vanished, pain will cease.

390. A Brahmana benefits greatly if he keeps his mind from dwelling on life's pleasures. When all desire to harm has vanished, pain will cease.

391. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not offend by body, word, or thought, and is controlled on these three points.

391. I call someone a true Brahmana who does no wrong in body, speech, or thought and controls all three.

392. After a man has once understood the law as taught by the Well-awakened (Buddha), let him worship it carefully, as the Brahmana worships the sacrificial fire.

392. Once a man understands the law taught by the Well-awakened (Buddha), he should honor that law with care. He should do so as the Brahmana honors the sacrificial fire.

393. A man does not become a Brahmana by his platted hair, by his family, or by birth; in whom there is truth and righteousness, he is blessed, he is a Brahmana.

393. A man does not become a Brahmana through braided hair, family, or birth. A man who lives by truth and righteousness is blessed. He is a Brahmana.

394. What is the use of platted hair, O fool! what of the raiment of goat-skins? Within thee there is ravening, but the outside thou makest clean.

394. What use is braided hair, you fool! What use are goatskin clothes? You are full of greed inside, but you keep the outside clean.

395. The man who wears dirty raiments, who is emaciated and covered with veins, who lives alone in the forest, and meditates, him I call indeed a Brahmana.

395. The man wears dirty clothes and is painfully thin, with veins showing all over his body. He lives alone in the forest and meditates. I call such a man a true Brahmana.

396. I do not call a man a Brahmana because of his origin or of his mother. He is indeed arrogant, and he is wealthy: but the poor, who is free from all attachments, him I call indeed a Brahmana.

396. I do not call a man a Brahmana because of his ancestry or his mother. He is indeed arrogant and wealthy. But I call a poor man who is free from all attachments a true Brahmana.

397. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut all fetters, who never trembles, is independent and unshackled.

397. I call a man a true Brahmana if he has broken all bonds and never trembles. He is independent and free from restraints.

398. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has cut the strap and the thong, the chain with all that pertains to it, who has burst the bar, and is awakened.

398. I call a man a true Brahmana when he has cut the strap, the thong, and the chain with everything attached to the chain. He has also broken through the bar and is awakened.

399. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who, though he has committed no offence, endures reproach, bonds, and stripes, who has endurance for his force, and strength for his army.

399. I call a man a true Brahmana if, though innocent, he endures insults, imprisonment, and beatings. Endurance is his force, and strength is his army.

400. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, without appetite, who is subdued, and has received his last body.

400. I call a man a true Brahmana when he is free from anger, dutiful, virtuous, and without desire. He is also self-controlled and has been born for the last time.

401. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who does not cling to pleasures, like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle.

401. I call someone a true Brahmana if he does not cling to pleasures. He is like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the tip of a needle.

402. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who, even here, knows the end of his suffering, has put down his burden, and is unshackled.

402. I call someone a true Brahmana who knows the end of his suffering even here. He has laid down his burden and is free from his chains.

403. Him I call indeed a Brahmana whose knowledge is deep, who possesses wisdom, who knows the right way and the wrong, and has attained the highest end.

403. I call a man a true Brahmana when he has deep knowledge and wisdom, knows the right path from the wrong, and has reached the highest goal.

404. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who keeps aloof both from laymen and from mendicants, who frequents no houses, and has but few desires.

404. I call a man a true Brahmana if he keeps his distance from both laypeople and wandering monks. He visits no households and has few desires.

405. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who finds no fault with other beings, whether feeble or strong, and does not kill nor cause slaughter.

405. I call a man a true Brahmana if he finds no fault with other beings, whether weak or strong. He neither kills nor causes others to kill.

406. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is tolerant with the intolerant, mild with fault-finders, and free from passion among the passionate.

406. I call a man a true Brahmana if he is tolerant toward the intolerant and gentle with fault-finders. He remains free from passion among the passionate.

407. Him I call indeed a Brahmana from whom anger and hatred, pride and envy have dropt like a mustard seed from the point of a needle.

407. I call a man a true Brahmana when anger, hatred, pride, and envy have fallen away from him like a mustard seed from the tip of a needle.

408. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who utters true speech, instructive and free from harshness, so that he offend no one.

408. I call a man a true Brahmana if his words are truthful, instructive, and free from harshness, so that he offends no one.

409. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who takes nothing in the world that is not given him, be it long or short, small or large, good or bad.

409. I call a man a true Brahmana if he takes nothing in the world that is not given to him. This applies whether the thing is long or short, small or large, good or bad.

410. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who fosters no desires for this world or for the next, has no inclinations, and is unshackled.

410. I call a man a true Brahmana if he desires nothing in this world or the next, has no attachments, and is free from all bonds.

411. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has no interests, and when he has understood (the truth), does not say How, how? and who has reached the depth of the Immortal.

411. I call a man a true Brahmana if he has no desires. Once he has understood the truth, he does not ask How, how? And he has reached the depths of the Immortal.

412. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world is above good and evil, above the bondage of both, free from grief from sin, and from impurity.

412. I truly call a man a Brahmana if he rises above good and evil in this world. He is free from the bonds of both, and free from grief, sin, and impurity.

413. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who is bright like the moon, pure, serene, undisturbed, and in whom all gaiety is extinct.

413. I truly call a man a Brahmana who is bright like the moon, pure, calm, and undisturbed. In him, all merriment has died out.

414. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has traversed this miry road, the impassable world and its vanity, who has gone through, and reached the other shore, is thoughtful, guileless, free from doubts, free from attachment, and content.

414. I truly call a man a Brahmana if he has crossed this muddy road, the impassable world and its vanity. He has made it through and reached the other shore. He is thoughtful, free from deceit, doubt, and attachment, and content.

415. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who in this world, leaving all desires, travels about without a home, and in whom all concupiscence is extinct.

415. I call a man a true Brahmana if he gives up all desires in this world and wanders homeless. All lust in him must also have died out.

416. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who, leaving all longings, travels about without a home, and in whom all covetousness is extinct.

416. I call a man a true Brahmana if he leaves all longings behind and wanders without a home. All greed in him must also be gone.

417. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who, after leaving all bondage to men, has risen above all bondage to the gods, and is free from all and every bondage.

417. I call a man a true Brahmana if he has left behind all bondage to men. He has then risen above all bondage to the gods and is free from every kind of bondage.

418. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who has left what gives pleasure and what gives pain, who is cold, and free from all germs (of renewed life), the hero who has conquered all the worlds.

418. I truly call him a Brahmana who has left behind what brings pleasure and what brings pain. He is calm and free from all seeds (of renewed life), a hero who has conquered all the worlds.

419. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who knows the destruction and the return of beings everywhere, who is free from bondage, welfaring (Sugata), and awakened (Buddha).

419. I call a man a true Brahmana who knows how beings everywhere die and are reborn. He is free from bondage, has followed the good path (Sugata), and is awakened (Buddha).

420. Him I call indeed a Brahmana whose path the gods do not know, nor spirits (Gandharvas), nor men, whose passions are extinct, and who is an Arhat (venerable).

420. I call a man a true Brahmana when neither gods, spirits (Gandharvas), nor men know his path. His passions have died out, and he is an Arhat (a venerable one).

421. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who calls nothing his own, whether it be before, behind, or between, who is poor, and free from the love of the world.

421. I call someone a true Brahmana who claims nothing as his own, whether before, behind, or between. He is poor and free from attachment to the world.

422. Him I call indeed a Brahmana, the manly, the noble, the hero, the great sage, the conqueror, the impassible, the accomplished, the awakened.

422. I truly call this man a Brahmana: courageous, noble, a hero, and a great sage. He is a conqueror, beyond suffering, accomplished, and awakened.

423. Him I call indeed a Brahmana who knows his former abodes, who sees heaven and hell, has reached the end of births, is perfect in knowledge, a sage, and whose perfections are all perfect.

423. I call a man a true Brahmana who knows his past lives and sees heaven and hell. He has reached the end of rebirth and is perfect in knowledge. He is a sage, and all his virtues are perfect.