XXVI.BRAHMANAVAGGA. THE BRAHMANA

383. Strive and cleave the stream; discard, O brãhmana, sense-desires, knowing the destruction of life's constituents, thou art, O brãhmana, a knower of the Uncreate (Nibbãna).

384. When in two states, a brãhmana goes to the farther shore, then all the fetters of that knowing one pass away.

385. For whom there exists neither the hither nor the farther shore, nor both the hither and the farther shore, he who is undistressed and unbound, him I call a brahmana.

386. He that is meditative, stainless, and settled; he that has done his duty and is free from the Corruptions; he that has attained the Highest Goal, him I call a brãhmana.

387. The sun shines by day, the moon is bright by night; armoured shines the warrior, meditating the brãhmana shines; but all day and night the Buddha shines in glory.

388. Because he has discarded evil, he is called a "brãhmana"; because he lives in quietude, he is called a,"samsana"; because he gives up the impurities, he is called a "pabbajita" (recluse).

389. One should not strike a brãhmana; a brãhmana should not vent (his wrath) on him. Shame on him who strikes a brãhmana! More shame on him who gives vent (to his wrath).

390. Unto a brãhmana that (non-retaliation) is of no small advantage. When the mind is weaned from things dear, whenever the intent to harm ceases, then and then only sorrow subsides.

391. He that does no evil through body, speech, or mind, who is restrained in these three respects, him I call a brahmana.

392. If from anybody one should understand the Doctrine preached by the Fully Enlightened One, devoutly should one reverence him, as a brãhmana reveres the sacrificial fire.

393. Not by matted hair, nor by family, nor by birth does one become a brãhmana; but in whom there exist both truth and righteousness, pure is he, a brãhmana is he.

394. What is the use of your matted hair, O witless man! What is the use of your antelope garment? Within you are full (of passions), without you embellish.

395. The person who wears dust-heap robes, who is lean, who is overspread with veins, who meditates alone in the forest, him I call a brãhmana.

396. I do not call him a brãhmana merely because he is born of a womb or sprung from a brãhmana mother. He is merely a "Dear addresser", if he is with impediments. He who is free from impediments, free from clinging, him I call a brãhmana.

397. He who has cut of all fetters, who trembles not, who has gone beyond ties, who is unbound, him I call a brãhmana.

398. He who has cut the strap (hatred), the thong (craving), and the rope (heresies), together with the appendages (latent tendencies), who has thrown up the cross-bar (ignorance), who is enlightened (buddha), him I call a brãhmana.

399. He who, without anger, endures reproach, flogging and punishments, whose power, the potent army, is patience, him I call a brãhmana.

400. He who is not wrathful, but is dutiful, virtuous, not moistened with craving, controlled, and bears his final body, him I call a brãhmana.

401. Like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle, he clings not to sensual pleasures, him I call a brãhmana.

402. He who realizes here in this world the destruction of his sorrow, who has laid the burden aside and is emancipated, him I call a brãhmana.

403. He whose knowledge is deep, who is wise, who is skilled in the right and wrong way, who has reached the highest goal, him I call a brãhmana.

404. He who is not intimate with both householders and homeless ones, who wanders without an abode, who is without desires, him I call a brãhmana.

405. He who has laid aside the cudgel towards being, whether feeble or strong, who neither kills nor causes to kill, him I call a brãhmana.

406. He who is friendly amongst the hostile, who is peaceful amongst the violent, who is unattached amongst the attached, him I call a brãhmana.

407. In whom lust, hatred, pride, detraction are fallen off like a mustard seed from the point of a needle, him I call a brãhmana.

408. He who utters gentle, instructive, true words, who gives offence to none, him I call a brãhmana.

409. He who in this world takes nothing that is not given, be it long or short, small or great, fair or foul, him I call a brãhmana.

410. He who has no desires, whether of this world or of the next, who is desireless and emancipated, him I call a brãhmana.

411. He who has no longings. who through knowledge is free from doubts, who has plunged into the Deathless (Nibbãna), him I call a brãhmana.

412. Herein he who has transcended both good and bad and the ties as well, who is sorrowless, stainless, and pure, him I call a brãhmana.

413. He who is spotless as the moon, who is pure, serene, and still, who has destroyed craving form becoming, him I call a brãhmana.

414. He who has passed beyond this quagmire, this difficult path, the ocean of life (samsãra), and delusion, who has crossed and gone beyond, who is meditative, free from craving and doubts, who, clinging to nought, has attained Nibbãna, him I call a brãhmana.

415. He who in this world giving up sensual pleasures, would renounce and become a homeless one, who has destroyed sense-desires and becoming, him I call a brãhmana.

416. He who in this world giving up craving, would renounce and become a homeless one, who has destroyed craving and becoming, him I call a brãhmana.

417. He who, disregarding human ties and transcending celestial ties, is completely delivered from all ties, him I call a brãhmana.

418. He who has given up likes and dislikes, who is cooled and is without substrata, who has conquered the world, and is strenuous, him I call a brãhmana.

419. He who, in every way, knows the death and rebirth of beings, who is detached, well-gone, and enlightened, him I call a brãhmana.

420. He whose destiny neither gods nor gandhabbas nor men know, who has destroyed all Defilements, and is an arahat, him I call a brãhmana.

421. He who has no clinging to aggregates that are past, future, or present, who is without clinging and grasping, him I call a brãhmana.

422. The fearless, the noble, the hero, the great sage, the conqueror, the desireless, the enlightened, him I call a brãhmana.

423. That sage who knows his former abodes, who sees heaven and hell, who has reached the end of births, who, with superior wisdom, has perfected himself, who has completed (the holy life) the end of all (passions), him I call a brãhmana.