In short: Chapter 26 of the Dhammapada, Brahmins (Brāhmaṇavagga), verses 383 to 423. Who is truly noble: not by birth, but by conduct, calm and freedom.
Cut the stream, striving! Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin. Knowing the ending of conditions, know the uncreated, brahmin.
Dhammapada 383, the chapter's first verse.
Pāli and English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral. The introduction is ANEW's.
The verses in Pāli and English
| Verse | Pāli | English |
|---|---|---|
| 383 | Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma, | Cut the stream, striving! |
| kāme panuda brāhmaṇa; | Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin. | |
| Saṅkhārānaṁ khayaṁ ñatvā, | Knowing the ending of conditions, | |
| akataññūsi brāhmaṇa. | know the uncreated, brahmin. | |
| 384 | Yadā dvayesu dhammesu, | When a brahmin has gone beyond |
| pāragū hoti brāhmaṇo; | dualistic phenomena, | |
| Athassa sabbe saṁyogā, | then they consciously | |
| atthaṁ gacchanti jānato. | make an end of all fetters. | |
| 385 | Yassa pāraṁ apāraṁ vā, | One for whom there is no crossing over |
| pārāpāraṁ na vijjati; | or crossing back, or crossing over and back; | |
| Vītaddaraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, | stress-free, detached, | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 386 | Jhāyiṁ virajamāsīnaṁ, | Absorbed, rid of hopes, |
| katakiccamanāsavaṁ; | their task completed, without defilements, | |
| Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, | arrived at the highest goal: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 387 | Divā tapati ādicco, | The sun blazes by day, |
| rattimābhāti candimā; | the moon radiates at night, | |
| Sannaddho khattiyo tapati, | the aristocrat shines in armor, | |
| jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo; | and the brahmin shines in absorption. | |
| Atha sabbamahorattiṁ, | But all day and all night, | |
| buddho tapati tejasā. | the Buddha blazes with glory. | |
| 388 | Bāhitapāpoti brāhmaṇo, | A brahmin’s so-called since they’ve banished evil, |
| Samacariyā samaṇoti vuccati; | an ascetic’s so-called since they live a serene life. | |
| Pabbājayamattano malaṁ, | One who has renounced all stains | |
| Tasmā “pabbajito”ti vuccati. | is said to be a “renunciant”. | |
| 389 | Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya, | One should never strike a brahmin, |
| nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo; | nor should a brahmin retaliate. | |
| Dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ, | Woe to the one who hurts a brahmin, | |
| tato dhī yassa muñcati. | and woe for the one who retaliates. | |
| 390 | Na brāhmaṇassetadakiñci seyyo, | Nothing is better for a brahmin |
| Yadā nisedho manaso piyehi; | than to hold their mind back from attachment. | |
| Yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati, | From wherever a cruel wish recoils, | |
| Tato tato sammatimeva dukkhaṁ. | right there suffering subsides. | |
| 391 | Yassa kāyena vācāya, | Who does nothing wrong |
| manasā natthi dukkaṭaṁ; | by body, speech or mind, | |
| Saṁvutaṁ tīhi ṭhānehi, | restrained in these three respects, | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 392 | Yamhā dhammaṁ vijāneyya, | You should graciously honor |
| sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ; | the one from whom you learn the Dhamma | |
| Sakkaccaṁ taṁ namasseyya, | taught by the awakened Buddha, | |
| aggihuttaṁva brāhmaṇo. | as a brahmin honors the sacred flame. | |
| 393 | Na jaṭāhi na gottena, | Not by matted hair or family, |
| na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; | or birth is one a brahmin. | |
| Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca, | Those who are truthful and principled: | |
| so sucī so ca brāhmaṇo. | they are pure, they are brahmins. | |
| 394 | Kiṁ te jaṭāhi dummedha, | Why the matted hair, you simpleton, |
| kiṁ te ajinasāṭiyā; | and why the skin of deer? | |
| Abbhantaraṁ te gahanaṁ, | The tangle is inside you, | |
| bāhiraṁ parimajjasi. | yet you polish up your outsides. | |
| 395 | Paṁsukūladharaṁ jantuṁ, | A personage who wears robes of rags, |
| kisaṁ dhamanisanthataṁ; | lean, their limbs showing veins, | |
| Ekaṁ vanasmiṁ jhāyantaṁ, | meditating alone in the forest, | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 396 | Na cāhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ brūmi, | I don’t call someone a brahmin |
| yonijaṁ mattisambhavaṁ; | after the mother’s womb they’re born from. | |
| Bhovādi nāma so hoti, | If they still have attachments, | |
| sace hoti sakiñcano; | they’re just someone who says “worthy”. | |
| Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, | Having nothing, taking nothing: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 397 | Sabbasaṁyojanaṁ chetvā, | Having cut off all fetters |
| yo ve na paritassati; | they have no anxiety. | |
| Saṅgātigaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, | They’ve slipped their chains and are detached: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 398 | Chetvā naddhiṁ varattañca, | They’ve cut the strap and harness, |
| sandānaṁ sahanukkamaṁ; | the halter and bridle too, | |
| Ukkhittapalighaṁ buddhaṁ, | with cross-bar lifted, they’re awakened: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 399 | Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañca, | Abuse, killing, caging: |
| aduṭṭho yo titikkhati; | they endure these without anger. | |
| Khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ, | Patience is their powerful army: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 400 | Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ, | Not irritable or pretentious, |
| sīlavantaṁ anussadaṁ; | dutiful in precepts and observances, | |
| Dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ, | tamed, bearing their final body: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 401 | Vāri pokkharapatteva, | Like water from a lotus leaf, |
| āraggeriva sāsapo; | like a mustard seed off the point of a pin, | |
| Yo na limpati kāmesu, | sensual pleasures slip off them: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 402 | Yo dukkhassa pajānāti, | They understand for themselves |
| idheva khayamattano; | the end of suffering in this life; | |
| Pannabhāraṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, | with burden put down, detached: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 403 | Gambhīrapaññaṁ medhāviṁ, | Deep in wisdom, intelligent, |
| maggāmaggassa kovidaṁ; | expert in the path and what is not the path; | |
| Uttamatthamanuppattaṁ, | arrived at the highest goal: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 404 | Asaṁsaṭṭhaṁ gahaṭṭhehi, | Mixing with neither |
| anāgārehi cūbhayaṁ; | householders nor the homeless; | |
| Anokasārimappicchaṁ, | a migrant with no bastion, few in wishes: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 405 | Nidhāya daṇḍaṁ bhūtesu, | They’ve laid aside violence |
| tasesu thāvaresu ca; | against creatures firm and frail; | |
| Yo na hanti na ghāteti, | not killing or making others kill: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 406 | Aviruddhaṁ viruddhesu, | Not fighting among those who fight, |
| attadaṇḍesu nibbutaṁ; | quenched among those who have taken up arms, | |
| Sādānesu anādānaṁ, | not grasping among those who grasp: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 407 | Yassa rāgo ca doso ca, | They’ve discarded greed and hate, |
| māno makkho ca pātito; | along with conceit and contempt, | |
| Sāsaporiva āraggā, | like a mustard seed off the point of a pin: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 408 | Akakkasaṁ viññāpaniṁ, | The words they utter |
| giraṁ saccamudīraye; | are polished, informative, and true, | |
| Yāya nābhisaje kañci, | and don’t offend anyone: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 409 | Yodha dīghaṁ va rassaṁ vā, | They don’t steal anything in the world, |
| aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ; | long or short, | |
| Loke adinnaṁ nādiyati, | tiny or huge, beautiful or ugly: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 410 | Āsā yassa na vijjanti, | They have no hope |
| asmiṁ loke paramhi ca; | in this world or the next; | |
| Nirāsāsaṁ visaṁyuttaṁ, | with no need for hope, detached: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 411 | Yassālayā na vijjanti, | They have no clinging, |
| aññāya akathaṅkathī; | knowledge has freed them of indecision, | |
| Amatogadhamanuppattaṁ, | they’ve arrived at the objective, freedom from death: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 412 | Yodha puññañca pāpañca, | They’ve escaped the chain |
| ubho saṅgamupaccagā; | of both good and bad deeds; | |
| Asokaṁ virajaṁ suddhaṁ, | sorrowless, stainless, pure: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 413 | Candaṁva vimalaṁ suddhaṁ, | Pure as the spotless moon, |
| vippasannamanāvilaṁ; | clear and unclouded, | |
| Nandībhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, | they’ve ended relish for rebirth: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 414 | Yomaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ, | They’ve got past this grueling swamp |
| saṁsāraṁ mohamaccagā; | of delusion, transmigration. | |
| Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato jhāyī, | Meditating in stillness, free of indecision, | |
| anejo akathaṅkathī; | they have crossed over to the far shore. | |
| Anupādāya nibbuto, | They’re quenched by not grasping: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 415 | Yodha kāme pahantvāna, | They’ve given up sensual pleasures, |
| anāgāro paribbaje; | and have gone forth from lay life; | |
| Kāmabhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, | they’ve ended rebirth in the sensual realm: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 416 | Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna, | They’ve given up craving, |
| anāgāro paribbaje; | and have gone forth from lay life; | |
| Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, | they’ve ended craving to be reborn: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| Yodha taṇhaṁ pahantvāna, | They’ve given up craving, | |
| anāgāro paribbaje; | and have gone forth from lay life; | |
| Taṇhābhavaparikkhīṇaṁ, | they’ve ended craving to be reborn: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 417 | Hitvā mānusakaṁ yogaṁ, | They’ve thrown off the human yoke, |
| dibbaṁ yogaṁ upaccagā; | and slipped out of the heavenly yoke; | |
| Sabbayogavisaṁyuttaṁ, | unyoked from all yokes: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 418 | Hitvā ratiñca aratiñca, | Giving up desire and discontent, |
| sītibhūtaṁ nirūpadhiṁ; | they’re cooled and free of attachments; | |
| Sabbalokābhibhuṁ vīraṁ, | a hero, master of the whole world: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 419 | Cutiṁ yo vedi sattānaṁ, | They know the passing away |
| upapattiñca sabbaso; | and rebirth of all beings; | |
| Asattaṁ sugataṁ buddhaṁ, | unattached, holy, awakened: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 420 | Yassa gatiṁ na jānanti, | Gods, centaurs, and humans |
| devā gandhabbamānusā; | don’t know their destiny; | |
| Khīṇāsavaṁ arahantaṁ, | the perfected ones with defilements ended: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 421 | Yassa pure ca pacchā ca, | They have nothing before or after, |
| majjhe ca natthi kiñcanaṁ; | or even in between. | |
| Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, | Having nothing, taking nothing: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 422 | Usabhaṁ pavaraṁ vīraṁ, | Captain of the herd, excellent hero, |
| mahesiṁ vijitāvinaṁ; | great seer and victor; | |
| Anejaṁ nhātakaṁ buddhaṁ, | unstirred, washed, awakened: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| 423 | Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi, | One who knows their past lives, |
| saggāpāyañca passati; | sees heaven and places of loss, | |
| Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto, | and has attained the end of rebirth; | |
| abhiññāvosito muni; | a sage of perfect insight | |
| Sabbavositavosānaṁ, | at the summit of spiritual perfection: | |
| tamahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ. | that’s who I declare a brahmin. | |
| Dhammapadapāḷi samattā. | The Sayings of the Dhamma are complete. |
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Questions people ask
What is chapter 26 of the Dhammapada about?
Who is truly noble: not by birth, but by conduct, calm and freedom.
Which verses are in Dhammapada chapter 26?
Chapter 26, Brahmins (Brāhmaṇavagga), contains verses 383 to 423.