MN 91

Brahmāyusutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā videhesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi.

With Brahmāyu

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Videhans together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants.

Tena kho pana samayena brahmāyu brāhmaṇo mithilāyaṁ paṭivasati jiṇṇo vuḍḍho mahallako addhagato vayoanuppatto, vīsavassasatiko jātiyā, tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ, padako, veyyākaraṇo, lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo.

Now at that time the brahmin Brahmāyu was residing in Mithilā. He was old, elderly, and senior, advanced in years, having reached the final stage of life; he was a hundred and twenty years old. He had mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man.

Assosi kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo: “samaṇo khalu bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito videhesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

He heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—is wandering in the land of the Videhans, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

Tena kho pana samayena brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa uttaro nāma māṇavo antevāsī hoti tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ, padako, veyyākaraṇo, lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo uttaraṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: “ayaṁ, tāta uttara, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito videhesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī’ti. Ehi tvaṁ, tāta uttara, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ jānāhi, yadi vā taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathā santaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato, yadi vā no tathā; yadi vā so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso, yadi vā na tādiso. Tathā mayaṁ taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ vedissāmā”ti.

Now at that time the brahmin Brahmāyu had a pupil named Uttara. He too had mastered the Vedic curriculum. Brahmāyu told Uttara of the Buddha’s presence in the land of the Videhans, and added: “Please, dear Uttara, go to the ascetic Gotama and find out whether or not he lives up to his reputation. Through you I shall learn about the worthy Gotama.”

“Yathā kathaṁ panāhaṁ, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ jānissāmi yadi vā taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathā santaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato, yadi vā no tathā; yadi vā so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso, yadi vā na tādiso”ti. “Āgatāni kho, tāta uttara, amhākaṁ mantesu dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yehi samannāgatassa mahāpurisassa dveyeva gatiyo bhavanti anaññā. Sace agāraṁ ajjhāvasati, rājā hoti cakkavattī dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato. Tassimāni satta ratanāni bhavanti, seyyathidaṁ— cakkaratanaṁ, hatthiratanaṁ, assaratanaṁ, maṇiratanaṁ, itthiratanaṁ, gahapatiratanaṁ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṁ. Parosahassaṁ kho panassa puttā bhavanti sūrā vīraṅgarūpā parasenappamaddanā. So imaṁ pathaviṁ sāgarapariyantaṁ adaṇḍena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasati. Sace kho pana agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajati, arahaṁ hoti sammāsambuddho loke vivaṭṭacchado. Ahaṁ kho pana, tāta uttara, mantānaṁ dātā; tvaṁ mantānaṁ paṭiggahetā”ti.

“But sir, how shall I find out whether or not the ascetic Gotama lives up to his reputation?” “Dear Uttara, the thirty-two marks of a great man have been handed down in our hymns. A great man who possesses these has only two possible destinies, no other. If he stays at home he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. His dominion extends to all four sides, he achieves stability in the country, and he possesses the seven treasures. He has the following seven treasures: the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure. He has over a thousand sons who are valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of his enemies. After conquering this land girt by sea, he reigns by principle, without rod or sword. But if he goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, he becomes a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, who has cast off the world’s veil. But, dear Uttara, I am the one who gives the hymns, and you are the one who receives them.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho uttaro māṇavo brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā videhesu yena bhagavā tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho uttaro māṇavo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni samannesi. Addasā kho uttaro māṇavo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena thapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya ca. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “passati kho me ayaṁ uttaro māṇavo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena thapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya cā”ti.

“Yes, worthy sir,” replied Uttara. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Brahmāyu, keeping him on his right, before setting out for the land of the Videhans where the Buddha was wandering. Traveling stage by stage, he came to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and scrutinized his body for the thirty-two marks of a great man. He saw all of them except two, which he had doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue. Then it occurred to the Buddha, “This student Uttara sees all the marks except two, which he has doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.”

Atha kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi yathā addasa uttaro māṇavo bhagavato kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā jivhaṁ ninnāmetvā ubhopi kaṇṇasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; ubhopi nāsikasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; kevalampi nalāṭamaṇḍalaṁ jivhāya chādesi.

So the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Uttara would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin. And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue.

Atha kho uttarassa māṇavassa etadahosi: “samannāgato kho samaṇo gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi. Yannūnāhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ anubandheyyaṁ, iriyāpathamassa passeyyan”ti. Atha kho uttaro māṇavo sattamāsāni bhagavantaṁ anubandhi chāyāva anapāyinī. Atha kho uttaro māṇavo sattannaṁ māsānaṁ accayena videhesu yena mithilā tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena mithilā yena brahmāyu brāhmaṇo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho uttaraṁ māṇavaṁ brahmāyu brāhmaṇo etadavoca: “kacci, tāta uttara, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathā santaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato, no aññathā? Kacci pana so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso, no aññādiso”ti? “Tathā santaṁyeva, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saddo abbhuggato, no aññathā; tādisova so bhavaṁ gotamo, no aññādiso. Samannāgato ca so bhavaṁ gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi.

Then Uttara thought, “The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks. Why don’t I follow him and observe his deportment?” So Uttara followed the Buddha like a shadow for seven months. When seven months had passed he set out wandering toward Mithilā. There he approached the brahmin Brahmāyu, bowed, and sat down to one side. Brahmāyu said to him, “Well, dear Uttara, does the worthy Gotama live up to his reputation or not?” “He does, sir. The worthy Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks.

Suppatiṭṭhitapādo kho pana bho bhavaṁ gotamo; idampi tassa bhoto gotamassa mahāpurisassa mahāpurisalakkhaṇaṁ bhavati. Heṭṭhā kho pana tassa bhoto gotamassa pādatalesu cakkāni jātāni sahassārāni sanemikāni sanābhikāni sabbākāraparipūrāni … Āyatapaṇhi kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Dīghaṅguli kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Mudutalunahatthapādo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Jālahatthapādo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Ussaṅkhapādo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Eṇijaṅgho kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Ṭhitako kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo anonamanto ubhohi pāṇitalehi jaṇṇukāni parimasati parimajjati … Kosohitavatthaguyho kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Suvaṇṇavaṇṇo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo kañcanasannibhattaco … Sukhumacchavi kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo. Sukhumattā chaviyā rajojallaṁ kāye na upalimpati … Ekekalomo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo; ekekāni lomāni lomakūpesu jātāni … Uddhaggalomo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo; uddhaggāni lomāni jātāni nīlāni añjanavaṇṇāni kuṇḍalāvaṭṭāni dakkhiṇāvaṭṭakajātāni … Brahmujugatto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Sattussado kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Sīhapubbaddhakāyo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Citantaraṁso kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Nigrodhaparimaṇḍalo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo; yāvatakvassa kāyo tāvatakvassa byāmo, yāvatakvassa byāmo tāvatakvassa kāyo … Samavaṭṭakkhandho kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Rasaggasaggī kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Sīhahanu kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Cattālīsadanto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Samadanto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Aviraḷadanto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Susukkadāṭho kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Pahūtajivho kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Brahmassaro kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo karavikabhāṇī … Abhinīlanetto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Gopakhumo kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo … Uṇṇā kho panassa bhoto gotamassa bhamukantare jātā odātā mudutūlasannibhā … Uṇhīsasīso kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo; idampi tassa bhoto gotamassa mahāpurisassa mahāpurisalakkhaṇaṁ bhavati. Imehi kho, bho, so bhavaṁ gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi samannāgato.

He has well-planted feet. On the soles of his feet there are thousand-spoked wheels, with rims and hubs, complete in every detail. He has stretched heels. He has long fingers. His hands and feet are soft and tender. He has serried hands and feet. The tops of his feet are arched. His calves are like those of an antelope. When standing upright and not bending over, the palms of both hands touch the knees. His private parts are sheathed in a foreskin. He is golden colored; his skin shines like lustrous gold. He has delicate skin, so delicate that dust and dirt don’t stick to his body. His hairs grow one per pore. His hairs stand up; they’re blue-black and curl clockwise. His body is tall and straight-limbed. He has bulging muscles in seven places. His chest is like that of a lion. He is filled out between the shoulders. He has the proportional circumference of a banyan tree: the span of his arms equals the height of his body. His torso is cylindrical. He has ridged taste buds. His jaw is like that of a lion. He has forty teeth. His teeth are even. His teeth have no gaps. His teeth are perfectly white. He has a large tongue. He has the voice of the Divinity, like a cuckoo’s call. His eyes are indigo. He has eyelashes like a cow’s. Between his eyebrows there grows a tuft, soft and white like cotton-wool. The crown of his head is like a turban. These are the thirty-two marks of a great man possessed by the worthy Gotama.

Gacchanto kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo dakkhiṇeneva pādena paṭhamaṁ pakkamati. So nātidūre pādaṁ uddharati, nāccāsanne pādaṁ nikkhipati; so nātisīghaṁ gacchati, nātisaṇikaṁ gacchati; na ca adduvena adduvaṁ saṅghaṭṭento gacchati, na ca gopphakena gopphakaṁ saṅghaṭṭento gacchati. So gacchanto na satthiṁ unnāmeti, na satthiṁ onāmeti; na satthiṁ sannāmeti, na satthiṁ vināmeti. Gacchato kho pana tassa bhoto gotamassa adharakāyova iñjati, na ca kāyabalena gacchati. Apalokento kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo sabbakāyeneva apaloketi; so na uddhaṁ ulloketi, na adho oloketi; na ca vipekkhamāno gacchati, yugamattañca pekkhati; tato cassa uttari anāvaṭaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ bhavati.

When he’s walking he takes the first step with the right foot. He doesn’t lift his foot too far or place it too near. He doesn’t walk too slow or too fast. He walks without knocking his knees or ankles together. When he’s walking he keeps his thighs neither too straight nor too bent, neither too tight nor too loose. When he walks, only the lower half of his body moves, and he walks effortlessly. When he turns to look he does so with the whole body. He doesn’t look directly up or down. He doesn’t look all around while walking, but focuses a plough’s length in front. Beyond that he has unhindered knowledge and vision.

So antaragharaṁ pavisanto na kāyaṁ unnāmeti, na kāyaṁ onāmeti; na kāyaṁ sannāmeti, na kāyaṁ vināmeti.

When entering an inhabited area he keeps his body neither too straight nor too bent, neither too tight nor too loose.

So nātidūre nāccāsanne āsanassa parivattati, na ca pāṇinā ālambitvā āsane nisīdati, na ca āsanasmiṁ kāyaṁ pakkhipati. So antaraghare nisinno samāno na hatthakukkuccaṁ āpajjati, na pādakukkuccaṁ āpajjati; na adduvena adduvaṁ āropetvā nisīdati; na ca gopphakena gopphakaṁ āropetvā nisīdati; na ca pāṇinā hanukaṁ upadahitvā nisīdati. So antaraghare nisinno samāno na chambhati na kampati na vedhati na paritassati. So achambhī akampī avedhī aparitassī vigatalomahaṁso. Vivekavatto ca so bhavaṁ gotamo antaraghare nisinno hoti.

He turns around neither too far nor too close to the seat. He doesn’t lean on his hand when sitting down. And he doesn’t just plonk his body down on the seat. When sitting in inhabited areas he doesn’t fidget with his hands or feet. He doesn’t sit with his knees or ankles crossed. He doesn’t sit with his hand holding his chin. When sitting in inhabited areas he doesn’t shake, tremble, quake, or get nervous, and so he is not nervous at all. When sitting in inhabited areas he still practices seclusion.

So pattodakaṁ paṭiggaṇhanto na pattaṁ unnāmeti, na pattaṁ onāmeti; na pattaṁ sannāmeti, na pattaṁ vināmeti.

When receiving water for rinsing the bowl, he holds the bowl neither too straight nor too bent, neither too tight nor too loose.

So pattodakaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti nātithokaṁ nātibahuṁ. So na khulukhulukārakaṁ pattaṁ dhovati, na samparivattakaṁ pattaṁ dhovati, na pattaṁ bhūmiyaṁ nikkhipitvā hatthe dhovati; hatthesu dhotesu patto dhoto hoti, patte dhote hatthā dhotā honti. So pattodakaṁ chaḍḍeti nātidūre nāccāsanne, na ca vicchaḍḍayamāno. So odanaṁ paṭiggaṇhanto na pattaṁ unnāmeti, na pattaṁ onāmeti; na pattaṁ sannāmeti, na pattaṁ vināmeti. So odanaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti nātithokaṁ nātibahuṁ. Byañjanaṁ kho pana bhavaṁ gotamo byañjanamattāya āhāreti, na ca byañjanena ālopaṁ atināmeti. Dvattikkhattuṁ kho bhavaṁ gotamo mukhe ālopaṁ samparivattetvā ajjhoharati; na cassa kāci odanamiñjā asambhinnā kāyaṁ pavisati, na cassa kāci odanamiñjā mukhe avasiṭṭhā hoti; athāparaṁ ālopaṁ upanāmeti. Rasapaṭisaṁvedī kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo āhāraṁ āhāreti, no ca rasarāgapaṭisaṁvedī. Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo āhāraṁ āhāreti— neva davāya, na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya, vihiṁsūparatiyā brahmacariyānuggahāya: ‘iti purāṇañca vedanaṁ paṭihaṅkhāmi navañca vedanaṁ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsuvihāro cā’ti.

He receives neither too little nor too much water. He rinses the bowl without making a sloshing noise, or spinning it around. He doesn’t put the bowl on the ground to rinse his hands; his hands and bowl are rinsed at the same time. He doesn’t throw the bowl rinsing water away too far or too near, or splash it about. When receiving rice, he holds the bowl neither too straight nor too bent, neither too close nor too loose. He receives neither too little nor too much rice. He eats sauce in a moderate proportion, and doesn’t put too much sauce on his portions. He chews over each portion two or three times before swallowing. But no grain of rice enters his body unchewed, and none remain in his mouth. Only then does he raise another portion to his lips. He eats experiencing the taste, but without experiencing greed for the taste. He eats food thinking of eight reasons: ‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to sustain this body, to avoid harm, and to support spiritual practice. In this way, I shall put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and I will have the means to keep going, blamelessness, and a comfortable abiding.’

So bhuttāvī pattodakaṁ paṭiggaṇhanto na pattaṁ unnāmeti, na pattaṁ onāmeti; na pattaṁ sannāmeti, na pattaṁ vināmeti. So pattodakaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti nātithokaṁ nātibahuṁ. So na khulukhulukārakaṁ pattaṁ dhovati, na samparivattakaṁ pattaṁ dhovati, na pattaṁ bhūmiyaṁ nikkhipitvā hatthe dhovati; hatthesu dhotesu patto dhoto hoti, patte dhote hatthā dhotā honti. So pattodakaṁ chaḍḍeti nātidūre nāccāsanne, na ca vicchaḍḍayamāno.

After eating, when receiving water for washing the bowl, he holds the bowl neither too straight nor too bent, neither too tight nor too loose. He receives neither too little nor too much water. He washes the bowl without making a sloshing noise, or spinning it around. He doesn’t put the bowl on the ground to wash his hands; his hands and bowl are washed at the same time. He doesn’t throw the bowl washing water away too far or too near, or splash it about.

So bhuttāvī na pattaṁ bhūmiyaṁ nikkhipati nātidūre nāccāsanne, na ca anatthiko pattena hoti, na ca ativelānurakkhī pattasmiṁ.

After eating he doesn’t put the bowl on the ground too far away or too close. He’s not careless with his bowl, nor does he spend too much time on it.

So bhuttāvī muhuttaṁ tuṇhī nisīdati, na ca anumodanassa kālamatināmeti. So bhuttāvī anumodati, na taṁ bhattaṁ garahati, na aññaṁ bhattaṁ paṭikaṅkhati; aññadatthu dhammiyā kathāya taṁ parisaṁ sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. So taṁ parisaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamati.

After eating he sits a while in silence, but doesn’t wait too long to give the verses of appreciation. After eating he expresses appreciation without criticizing the meal or expecting another one. Invariably, he educates, encourages, fires up, and inspires that assembly with a Dhamma talk. Then he gets up from his seat and leaves.

So nātisīghaṁ gacchati, nātisaṇikaṁ gacchati, na ca muccitukāmo gacchati;

He walks neither too fast nor too slow, without wanting to get out of there.

na ca tassa bhoto gotamassa kāye cīvaraṁ accukkaṭṭhaṁ hoti na ca accokkaṭṭhaṁ, na ca kāyasmiṁ allīnaṁ na ca kāyasmā apakaṭṭhaṁ; na ca tassa bhoto gotamassa kāyamhā vāto cīvaraṁ apavahati; na ca tassa bhoto gotamassa kāye rajojallaṁ upalimpati.

He wears his robe on his body neither too high nor too low, neither too clinging nor too loose. The wind doesn’t blow his robe off his body. And dust and dirt don’t stick to his body.

So ārāmagato nisīdati paññatte āsane. Nisajja pāde pakkhāleti; na ca so bhavaṁ gotamo pādamaṇḍanānuyogamanuyutto viharati. So pāde pakkhāletvā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So neva attabyābādhāya ceteti, na parabyābādhāya ceteti, na ubhayabyābādhāya ceteti; attahitaparahitaubhayahitasabbalokahitameva so bhavaṁ gotamo cintento nisinno hoti.

When he has gone to the monastery he sits on a seat spread out and washes his feet. But he doesn’t waste time with pedicures. When he has washed his feet, he sits down cross-legged, sets his body straight, and brings mindfulness to the present. He has no intention to hurt himself, hurt others, or hurt both. He only wishes for the welfare of himself, of others, of both, and of the whole world.

So ārāmagato parisati dhammaṁ deseti, na taṁ parisaṁ ussādeti, na taṁ parisaṁ apasādeti; aññadatthu dhammiyā kathāya taṁ parisaṁ sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato kho panassa bhoto gotamassa mukhato ghoso niccharati— vissaṭṭho ca, viññeyyo ca, mañju ca, savanīyo ca, bindu ca, avisārī ca, gambhīro ca, ninnādī ca. Yathāparisaṁ kho pana so bhavaṁ gotamo sarena viññāpeti, na cassa bahiddhā parisāya ghoso niccharati. Te tena bhotā gotamena dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamanti avalokayamānāyeva avijahitattā.

In the monastery when he teaches Dhamma to an assembly, he neither flatters them nor rebukes them. Invariably, he educates, encourages, fires up, and inspires that assembly with a Dhamma talk. The sound of his voice has eight qualities: it is clear, comprehensible, charming, audible, lucid, undistorted, deep, and resonant. He makes sure his voice is intelligible as far as the assembly goes, but the sound doesn’t extend outside the assembly. And when they’ve been inspired with a Dhamma talk by the worthy Gotama they get up from their seats and leave looking back at him alone, and not forgetting their lesson.

Addasāma kho mayaṁ, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ gacchantaṁ, addasāma ṭhitaṁ, addasāma antaragharaṁ pavisantaṁ, addasāma antaraghare nisinnaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ, addasāma antaraghare bhuñjantaṁ, addasāma bhuttāviṁ nisinnaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ, addasāma bhuttāviṁ anumodantaṁ, addasāma ārāmaṁ gacchantaṁ, addasāma ārāmagataṁ nisinnaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ, addasāma ārāmagataṁ parisati dhammaṁ desentaṁ. Ediso ca ediso ca so bhavaṁ gotamo, tato ca bhiyyo”ti.

I have seen the worthy Gotama walking and standing; entering inhabited areas, and sitting and eating there; sitting silently after eating, and expressing appreciation; going to the monastery, sitting silently there, and teaching Dhamma to an assembly there. Such is the worthy Gotama; such he is and more than that.”

Evaṁ vutte, brahmāyu brāhmaṇo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udāneti: “Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa. Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassāti. Appeva nāma mayaṁ kadāci karahaci tena bhotā gotamena samāgaccheyyāma? Appeva nāma siyā kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Brahmāyu rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and uttered this aphorism three times: “Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha! Hopefully, some time or other I’ll get to meet him, and we can have a discussion.”

Atha kho bhagavā videhesu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena mithilā tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā mithilāyaṁ viharati maghadevaambavane. Assosuṁ kho mithileyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā: “samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito videhesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi mithilaṁ anuppatto, mithilāyaṁ viharati maghadevaambavane. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

And then the Buddha, traveling stage by stage in the Videhan lands, arrived at Mithilā, where he stayed in the Maghadeva Mango Grove. The brahmins and householders of Mithilā heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Mithilā, where he is staying in the Maghadeva Mango Grove. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

Atha kho mithileyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā appekacce bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu; appekacce bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu, sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu; appekacce yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu; appekacce bhagavato santike nāmagottaṁ sāvetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu; appekacce tuṇhībhūtā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.

Then the brahmins and householders of Mithilā went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent.

Assosi kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo: “samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito mithilaṁ anuppatto, mithilāyaṁ viharati maghadevaambavane”ti. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo sambahulehi sāvakehi saddhiṁ yena maghadevaambavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho brahmāyuno brāhmaṇassa avidūre ambavanassa etadahosi: “na kho metaṁ patirūpaṁ yohaṁ pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyan”ti. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo aññataraṁ māṇavakaṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, māṇavaka, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘brahmāyu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti. Evañca vadehi: ‘brahmāyu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo jiṇṇo vuḍḍho mahallako addhagato vayoanuppatto, vīsavassasatiko jātiyā, tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ, padako, veyyākaraṇo, lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo. Yāvatā, bho, brāhmaṇagahapatikā mithilāyaṁ paṭivasanti, brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ bhogehi; brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ mantehi; brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ āyunā ceva yasasā ca. So bhoto gotamassa dassanakāmo’”ti. “Evaṁ, bho”ti kho so māṇavako brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho so māṇavako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “brahmāyu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati; evañca vadeti: ‘brahmāyu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo jiṇṇo vuḍḍho mahallako addhagato vayoanuppatto, vīsavassasatiko jātiyā, tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ, padako, veyyākaraṇo, lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo. Yāvatā, bho, brāhmaṇagahapatikā mithilāyaṁ paṭivasanti, brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ bhogehi; brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ mantehi; brahmāyu tesaṁ brāhmaṇo aggamakkhāyati— yadidaṁ āyunā ceva yasasā ca. So bhoto gotamassa dassanakāmo’”ti. “Yassadāni, māṇava, brahmāyu brāhmaṇo kālaṁ maññatī”ti.

The brahmin Brahmāyu also heard that the Buddha had arrived. So he went to the Maghadeva Mango Grove together with several disciples. Not far from the grove he thought, “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go to see the ascetic Gotama without letting him know beforehand.” So he addressed one of his young students: “Here, young student, go to the ascetic Gotama and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: ‘Worthy Gotama, the brahmin Brahmāyu is old, elderly, and senior, advanced in years, having reached the final stage of life; he is a hundred and twenty years old. He has mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knows them word-by-word, and their grammar. He is well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. Of all the brahmins and householders residing in Mithilā, Brahmāyu is said to be the foremost in wealth, hymns, lifespan, and fame. He wants to see the worthy Gotama.’” “Yes, worthy sir,” that young student replied. He did as he was asked, and the Buddha said, “Please, student, let Brahmāyu come at his convenience.”

Atha kho so māṇavako yena brahmāyu brāhmaṇo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca: “katāvakāso khomhi bhavatā samaṇena gotamena. Yassadāni bhavaṁ kālaṁ maññatī”ti.

The young student went back to Brahmāyu and said to him, “Your request for an audience with the ascetic Gotama has been granted. Please go at your convenience.”

Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Addasā kho sā parisā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna oramiya okāsamakāsi yathā taṁ ñātassa yasassino. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo taṁ parisaṁ etadavoca: “alaṁ, bho. Nisīdatha tumhe sake āsane. Idhāhaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa santike nisīdissāmī”ti.

Then the brahmin Brahmāyu went up to the Buddha. The assembly saw him coming off in the distance, and made way for him, as he was well-known and famous. Brahmāyu said to that retinue, “Enough, gentlemen. Please sit on your own seats. I shall sit here by the ascetic Gotama.”

Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni samannesi. Addasā kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya ca. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi: “Ye me dvattiṁsāti sutā, mahāpurisalakkhaṇā; Duve tesaṁ na passāmi, bhoto kāyasmiṁ gotama. Kacci kosohitaṁ bhoto, vatthaguyhaṁ naruttama; Nārīsamānasavhayā, kacci jivhā na dassakā. Kacci pahūtajivhosi, yathā taṁ jāniyāmase; Ninnāmayetaṁ pahūtaṁ, kaṅkhaṁ vinaya no ise. Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya, samparāyasukhāya ca; Katāvakāsā pucchāma, yaṁ kiñci abhipatthitan”ti.

Then the brahmin Brahmāyu went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and scrutinized the Buddha’s body for the thirty-two marks of a great man. He saw all of them except two, which he had doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue. Then Brahmāyu addressed the Buddha in verse: “I have learned of the thirty-two marks of a great man. There are two that I don’t see on the body of the worthy Gotama. Are the private parts sheathed in a foreskin, O supreme man? Though called by a word of the feminine gender, perhaps your tongue is a manly one? Perhaps your tongue is large, as we have been informed. Please stick it out in its full extent, and so, O seer, dispel my doubt. For my welfare and benefit in this life, and happiness in lives to come. And I ask you to grant the opportunity to ask whatever I desire.”

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “passati kho me ayaṁ brahmāyu brāhmaṇo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya cā”ti. Atha kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi yathā addasa brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavato kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā jivhaṁ ninnāmetvā ubhopi kaṇṇasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; ubhopi nāsikasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; kevalampi nalāṭamaṇḍalaṁ jivhāya chādesi. Atha kho bhagavā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ gāthāhi paccabhāsi:

Then it occurred to the Buddha, “Brahmāyu sees all the marks except two, which he has doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.” So the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Brahmāyu would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin. And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue. Then the Buddha replied to Brahmāyu in verse:

“Ye te dvattiṁsāti sutā, mahāpurisalakkhaṇā; Sabbe te mama kāyasmiṁ, mā te kaṅkhāhu brāhmaṇa. Abhiññeyyaṁ abhiññātaṁ, bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṁ; Pahātabbaṁ pahīnaṁ me, tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa. Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya, samparāyasukhāya ca; Katāvakāso pucchassu, yaṁ kiñci abhipatthitan”ti.

“The thirty-two marks of a great man that you have learned are all found on my body: so do not doubt, brahmin. I have known what should be known, and developed what should be developed, and given up what should be given up: and so, brahmin, I am a Buddha. For your welfare and benefit in this life, and happiness in lives to come: I grant you the opportunity to ask whatever you desire.”

Atha kho brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi: “katāvakāso khomhi samaṇena gotamena. Kiṁ nu kho ahaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ puccheyyaṁ: ‘diṭṭhadhammikaṁ vā atthaṁ samparāyikaṁ vā’”ti. Atha kho brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi: “kusalo kho ahaṁ diṭṭhadhammikānaṁ atthānaṁ. Aññepi maṁ diṭṭhadhammikaṁ atthaṁ pucchanti. Yannūnāhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ samparāyikaṁyeva atthaṁ puccheyyan”ti. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi: “Kathaṁ kho brāhmaṇo hoti, kathaṁ bhavati vedagū; Tevijjo bho kathaṁ hoti, sotthiyo kinti vuccati. Arahaṁ bho kathaṁ hoti, kathaṁ bhavati kevalī; Muni ca bho kathaṁ hoti, buddho kinti pavuccatī”ti.

Then Brahmāyu thought: “My request has been granted. Should I ask him about what is beneficial in this life or the next?” Then he thought, “I’m well versed in the benefits that apply to this life, and others ask me about this. Why don’t I ask the ascetic Gotama about the benefit that specifically applies to lives to come?” So Brahmāyu addressed the Buddha in verse: “How do you become a brahmin? And how do you become a knowledge master? How a master of the three knowledges? And how is one called a scholar? How do you become a perfected one? And how a consummate one? How do you become a sage? And how is one declared to be awakened?”

Atha kho bhagavā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ gāthāhi paccabhāsi: “Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedi, saggāpāyañca passati; Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto, abhiññā vosito muni. Cittaṁ visuddhaṁ jānāti, muttaṁ rāgehi sabbaso; Pahīnajātimaraṇo, brahmacariyassa kevalī; Pāragū sabbadhammānaṁ, buddho tādī pavuccatī”ti.

Then the Buddha replied to Brahmāyu in verse: “One who knows their past lives, sees heaven and places of loss, and has attained the end of rebirth: such a sage has perfect insight. They know their mind is pure, completely freed from greed; they’ve given up birth and death, and have completed the spiritual journey. Gone beyond all things, such a one is declared to be awakened.”

Evaṁ vutte, brahmāyu brāhmaṇo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavato pādāni mukhena ca paricumbati, pāṇīhi ca parisambāhati, nāmañca sāveti: “brahmāyu ahaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo; brahmāyu ahaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇo”ti.

When he said this, Brahmāyu got up from his seat and arranged his robe over one shoulder. He bowed with his head to the Buddha’s feet, caressing them and covering them with kisses, and pronounced his name: “I am the brahmin Brahmāyu, worthy Gotama! I am the brahmin Brahmāyu!”

Atha kho sā parisā acchariyabbhutacittajātā ahosi: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Yatra hi nāmāyaṁ brahmāyu brāhmaṇo ñāto yasassī evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karissatī”ti. Atha kho bhagavā brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca: “alaṁ, brāhmaṇa, uṭṭhaha nisīda tvaṁ sake āsane yato te mayi cittaṁ pasannan”ti. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo uṭṭhahitvā sake āsane nisīdi.

Then that assembly, their minds full of wonder and amazement, thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing, that Brahmāyu, who is so well-known and famous, should show the Buddha such utmost deference.” Then the Buddha said to Brahmāyu, “Enough, brahmin. Get up, and sit in your own seat, since your mind has such confidence in me.” So Brahmāyu got up and sat in his own seat.

Atha kho bhagavā brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ— dānakathaṁ, sīlakathaṁ, saggakathaṁ; kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi. Yadā bhagavā aññāsi brahmāyuṁ brāhmaṇaṁ kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā taṁ pakāsesi— dukkhaṁ, samudayaṁ, nirodhaṁ, maggaṁ. Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ vatthaṁ apagatakāḷakaṁ sammadeva rajanaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya; evameva brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa tasmiṁyeva āsane virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi: “yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman”ti. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo diṭṭhadhammo pattadhammo viditadhammo pariyogāḷhadhammo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then the Buddha taught him step by step, with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation. And when the Buddha knew that Brahmāyu’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Brahmāyu: “Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.” Then Brahmāyu saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions. He said to the Buddha:

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gataṁ. Adhivāsetu ca me bhavaṁ gotamo svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life. Would you and the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” The Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Brahmāyu rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocāpesi: “kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena brahmāyussa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.

And when the night had passed Brahmāyu had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, “It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.” Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Brahmāyu, where he sat down on the seat spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. For seven days, Brahmāyu served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

Atha kho bhagavā tassa sattāhassa accayena videhesu cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Atha kho brahmāyu brāhmaṇo acirapakkantassa bhagavato kālamakāsi. Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “brahmāyu, bhante, brāhmaṇo kālaṅkato. Tassa kā gati, ko abhisamparāyo”ti? “Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, brahmāyu brāhmaṇo paccapādi dhammassānudhammaṁ, na ca maṁ dhammādhikaraṇaṁ vihesesi. Brahmāyu, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇo pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti, tattha parinibbāyī, anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

When the seven days had passed, the Buddha left to wander in the Videhan lands. Not long after the Buddha left, Brahmāyu passed away. Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, Brahmāyu has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life?” “Mendicants, the brahmin Brahmāyu was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings. With the ending of the five lower fetters, he’s been reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.