SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 6 Connected Discourses With Brahmā Gods – Brahmasaṁyutta > SN 6.3 With Brahmadeva

Linked Discourses 6.3 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.3

1. The Appeal – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 6.3 With Brahmadeva – Brahmadevasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Now at that time a certain brahmin lady had a son called Brahmadeva, who had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the Buddha.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā brāhmaṇiyā brahmadevo nāma putto bhagavato santike agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti.

Then Venerable Brahmadeva, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is no return to any state of existence.”

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.

And Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the perfected.

Aññataro ca panāyasmā brahmadevo arahataṁ ahosi.

Then Brahmadeva robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, he approached his own mother’s home.

Sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena sakamātu nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

Now at that time Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, was offering up a regular oblation to Brahmā.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.

Then Brahmā Sahampati thought,

Atha kho brahmuno sahampatissa etadahosi:

“This Venerable Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, offers up a regular oblation to Brahmā.

“ayaṁ kho āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.

Why don’t I go and stir up a sense of urgency in her?”

Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ upasaṅkamitvā saṁvejeyyan”ti.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in the home of Brahmadeva’s mother.

Atha kho brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātu nivesane pāturahosi.

Then Brahmā Sahampati, while standing in the air, addressed Brahmadeva’s mother in verse:

Atha kho brahmā sahampati vehāsaṁ ṭhito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātaraṁ brāhmaṇiṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Far from here is the Brahmā realm, madam,

“Dūre ito brāhmaṇi brahmaloko,

to which you offer a regular oblation.

Yassāhutiṁ paggaṇhāsi niccaṁ;

But Brahmā doesn’t eat that kind of food.

Netādiso brāhmaṇi brahmabhakkho,

Why pray, when you don’t know the path to Brahmā?

Kiṁ jappasi brahmapathaṁ ajānaṁ.

This Brahmadeva, madam,

Eso hi te brāhmaṇi brahmadevo,

free of attachments, has surpassed the gods.

Nirūpadhiko atidevapatto;

Owning nothing, providing for no other, a bhikkhu

Akiñcano bhikkhu anaññaposī,

has entered your house for alms.

Yo te so piṇḍāya gharaṁ paviṭṭho.

He’s worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, a knowledge master, evolved.

Āhuneyyo vedagu bhāvitatto,

He’s worthy of a religious donation from gods and men.

Narānaṁ devānañca dakkhiṇeyyo;

Having banished all evils, he’s unsullied.

Bāhitvā pāpāni anūpalitto,

Cool at heart, he wanders searching for food.

Ghāsesanaṁ iriyati sītibhūto.

He has no before and after,

Na tassa pacchā na puratthamatthi,

peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, with no need for hope,

Santo vidhūmo anigho nirāso;

he has laid down the rod for all creatures firm and frail.

Nikkhittadaṇḍo tasathāvaresu,

So let him enjoy your offering of choice alms.

So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

With peaceful mind, he has left the crowd,

Visenibhūto upasantacitto,

he wanders like a tamed elephant, unperturbed.

Nāgova danto carati anejo;

He’s a bhikkhu fair in ethics, with heart well freed.

Bhikkhu susīlo suvimuttacitto,

So let him enjoy your offering of choice alms.

So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

With unwavering confidence in him,

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā,

present your religious donation to one who is worthy of it.

Patiṭṭhapehi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;

Now that you’ve seen the sage who has crossed over, madam,

Karohi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ,

make merit for the sake of future happiness!”

Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇi oghatiṇṇanti.

With unwavering confidence in him,

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā,

she presented her religious donation to one who is worthy of it.

Patiṭṭhapesi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;

After seeing the sage who had crossed over, the brahmin lady

Akāsi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ,

made merit for the sake of future happiness.

Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇī oghatiṇṇan”ti.