Dhammapada Verse 386
Annatarabrahmana Vatthu
Jhayim viraja' masinam
katakicca' manasavam
uttamattha' manuppattam
tamaham brumi brahmanam.
Verse 386: Him I call a brahmana, who dwells
in seclusion practising Tranquility and Insight Meditation and is free from
taints (of moral defilements); who has performed his duties, and is free from
moral intoxicants (asavas) and has reached the highest goal (arahatship).
The Story of a Certain Brahmin
While residing at the Jetavana
monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (386) of this book, with reference to a
brahmin.
One day, a brahmin thought to
himself, "Gotama Buddha calls his disciples 'brahmana'. I also am a brahmin
by caste. Shouldn't I also be called a brahmana?" So thinking, he went to
the Buddha and posed this question. To him the Buddha replied, "I do not
call one a brahmana simply because of his caste; I only call him a brahmana, who
has attained arahatship."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
Verse 386: Him I call
a brahmana, who dwells in seclusion practising Tranquility and Insight
Meditation and is free from taints (of moral defilements); who has
performed his duties, and is free from moral intoxicants (asavas) and
has reached the highest goal (arahatship). |
At the end of the discourse the brahmin attained Sotapatti Fruition.