Brahmins
The longest chapter redefines the word brahmin. The verses treat it as a title claimed by birth and family, or by outward signs such as matted hair and deerskin; the speaker says no one is a brahmin by any of these, but by what they have done. The refrain “that’s who I declare a brahmin” closes verse after verse describing someone who does nothing wrong in body, speech or mind, endures abuse without anger, does not kill or steal, speaks polished, true and inoffensive words, and has let go of craving, greed, hate, conceit and clinging. The tangle, one verse says, is inside you, yet you polish up your outside.
A note on these verses. Verses 413–423 speak of ending repeated births, knowing past lives and seeing heaven and “places of loss”; verse 399 mentions enduring abuse, killing and caging.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · public domain (CC0) · about 5 min · on SuttaCentral
383Cut the stream, striving!Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin.Knowing the ending of conditions,know the uncreated, brahmin.
384When a brahmin has gone beyonddualistic phenomena,then they consciouslymake an end of all fetters.
385One for whom there is no crossing overor crossing back, or crossing over and back;stress-free, detached,that’s who I declare a brahmin.
386Absorbed, rid of hopes,their task completed, without defilements,arrived at the highest goal:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
387The sun blazes by day,the moon radiates at night,the aristocrat shines in armor,and the brahmin shines in absorption.But all day and all night,the Buddha blazes with glory.
388A brahmin’s so-calledsince they’ve banished evil,an ascetic’s so-calledsince they live a serene life.One who has renounced all stainsis said to be a “renunciant”.
389One should never strike a brahmin,nor should a brahmin retaliate.Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin,and woe for the one who retaliates.
390Nothing is better for a brahminthan to hold their mind back from attachment.From wherever a cruel wish recoils,right there suffering subsides.
391Who does nothing wrongby body, speech or mind,restrained in these three respects,that’s who I declare a brahmin.
392You should graciously honorthe one from whom you learn the Dhammataught by the awakened Buddha,as a brahmin honors the sacred flame.
393Not by matted hair or family,or birth is one a brahmin.Those who are truthful and principled:they are pure, they are brahmins.
394Why the matted hair, you simpleton,and why the skin of deer?The tangle is inside you,yet you polish up your outsides.
395A personage who wears robes of rags,lean, their limbs showing veins,meditating alone in the forest,that’s who I declare a brahmin.
396I don’t call someone a brahminafter the mother’s womb they’re born from.If they still have attachments,they’re just someone who says “worthy”.Having nothing, taking nothing:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
397Having cut off all fettersthey have no anxiety.They’ve slipped their chains and are detached:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
398They’ve cut the strap and harness,the halter and bridle too,with cross-bar lifted, they’re awakened:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
399Abuse, killing, caging:they endure these without anger.Patience is their powerful army:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
400Not irritable or pretentious,dutiful in precepts and observances,tamed, bearing their final body:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
401Like water from a lotus leaf,like a mustard seed off the point of a pin,sensual pleasures slip off them:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
402They understand for themselvesthe end of suffering in this life;with burden put down, detached:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
403Deep in wisdom, intelligent,expert in the path and what is not the path;arrived at the highest goal:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
404Mixing with neitherhouseholders nor the homeless;a migrant with no bastion, few in wishes:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
405They’ve laid aside violenceagainst creatures firm and frail;not killing or making others kill:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
406Not fighting among those who fight,quenched among those who have taken up arms,not grasping among those who grasp:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
407They’ve discarded greed and hate,along with conceit and contempt,like a mustard seed off the point of a pin:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
408The words they utterare polished, informative, and true,and don’t offend anyone:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
409They don’t steal anything in the world,long or short,tiny or huge, beautiful or ugly:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
410They have no hopein this world or the next;with no need for hope, detached:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
411They have no clinging,knowledge has freed them of indecision,they’ve arrived at the objective, freedom from death:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
412They’ve escaped the chainof both good and bad deeds;sorrowless, stainless, pure:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
413Pure as the spotless moon,clear and unclouded,they’ve ended relish for rebirth:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
414They’ve got past this grueling swampof delusion, transmigration.Meditating in stillness, free of indecision,they have crossed over to the far shore.They’re quenched by not grasping:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
415They’ve given up sensual pleasures,and have gone forth from lay life;they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
416They’ve given up craving,and have gone forth from lay life;they’ve ended craving to be reborn:that’s who I declare a brahmin.They’ve given up craving,and have gone forth from lay life;they’ve ended craving to be reborn:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
417They’ve thrown off the human yoke,and slipped out of the heavenly yoke;unyoked from all yokes:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
418Giving up desire and discontent,they’re cooled and free of attachments;a hero, master of the whole world:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
419They know the passing awayand rebirth of all beings;unattached, holy, awakened:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
420Gods, centaurs, and humansdon’t know their destiny;the perfected ones with defilements ended:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
421They have nothing before or after,or even in between.Having nothing, taking nothing:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
422Captain of the herd, excellent hero,great seer and victor;unstirred, washed, awakened:that’s who I declare a brahmin.
423One who knows their past lives,sees heaven and places of loss,and has attained the end of rebirth;a sage of perfect insightat the summit of spiritual perfection:that’s who I declare a brahmin.The Sayings of the Dhamma are complete.