At one time the Buddha was staying in the Kosalan lands on the bank of the Sundarikā river.

Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā was serving the sacred flame and performing the fire sacrifice on the bank of the Sundarikā.

Then he looked all around the four quarters, wondering, “Now who might eat the leftovers of this offering?”

He saw the Buddha meditating at the root of a certain tree with his robe pulled over his head. Taking the leftovers of the offering in his left hand and a pitcher in the right he approached the Buddha. When he heard Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā’s footsteps the Buddha uncovered his head.

Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā thought, “This man is shaven, he is shaven!” And he wanted to turn back.

But he thought, “Even some brahmins are shaven. Why don’t I go to him and ask about his birth?”

Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā went up to the Buddha, and said to him, “Sir, what are you by birth?”

“Don’t ask about birth, ask about conduct;
for any kindling can kindle a flame.
A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family,
is a thoroughbred checked by conscience.
Tamed by truth, fulfilled by taming,
a complete knowledge master
who has completed the spiritual journey—
that’s who a sacrificer
should introduce themselves to,
and make a timely offering
to one worthy of a religious donation.”
“My sacrificial offering
must have been well performed,
since I have met such a knowledge master!
It’s because I’d never met anyone like you
that others ate the leftover offering.

Eat, Mister Gotama, you are truly a brahmin.”

“Food enchanted by a verse isn’t fit for me to eat.
That’s not the principle of those who see, brahmin.
The Buddhas reject things enchanted with verses.
Since there is such a principle, brahmin,
that’s how they live.
Serve with other food and drink
the consummate one, the great seer,
with defilements ended and remorse stilled.
For he is the field for the seeker of merit.”

“Then, Mister Gotama, to whom should I give the leftovers of this offering?”

“Brahmin, I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who can properly digest these leftovers, except for the Realized One or one of his disciples. Well then, brahmin, throw out those leftovers where there is little that grows, or drop them into water that has no living creatures.”

So Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā dropped the leftover offering in water that had no living creatures. And when those leftovers were placed in the water, they sizzled and hissed, steaming and fuming. Suppose there was an iron cauldron that had been heated all day. If you placed it in the water, it would sizzle and hiss, steaming and fuming. In the same way, when those leftovers were placed in the water, they sizzled and hissed, steaming and fuming.

Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā, shocked and awestruck, went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side. The Buddha addressed him in verse:

“When you’re kindling the wood, brahmin,
don’t imagine this is purity, for it’s just an external.
For those who are skilled say this is no way to purity,
when one seeks purity in externals.
I’ve given up kindling firewood, brahmin,
now I just light the inner flame.
Always blazing, always serene,
I am a perfected one leading the spiritual life.
Conceit, brahmin, is the burden of your possessions,
anger your smoke, and lies your ashes.
The tongue is the ladle and the heart the fire altar;
a well-tamed self is a person’s light.
The teaching is a lake with shores of ethics, brahmin,
unclouded, praised by the fine to the good.
There the knowledge masters go to bathe,
and cross to the far shore without getting wet.
Truth, principle, restraint, the spiritual life;
the attainment of the supreme based on the middle, brahmin.
Pay homage to the upright ones—
I declare that man to be
one who follows the teaching.”

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā said to the Buddha, “Excellent, Mister Gotama …” … And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the perfected.

The Linked Discourses

|_The Group of Linked Discourses With Verses

|__【7】SN7. Linked Discourses with Brahmins

|___I. The Chapter on the Perfected Ones

SN7.9 With Bhāradvāja of Sundarikā

Translations [3]

English

Việt Ngữ

पाळिभासा (Pāli)

Reference

Translations [3]

English

Việt Ngữ

पाळिभासा (Pāli)

Reference

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