SN 6.3

Brahmadevasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā brāhmaṇiyā brahmadevo nāma putto bhagavato santike agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti.

With Brahmadeva

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain brahmin lady had a son named Brahmadeva, who had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the Buddha.

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. “Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. Aññataro ca panāyasmā brahmadevo arahataṁ ahosi.

Then Venerable Brahmadeva, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life.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. He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the perfected.

Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena sakamātu nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti. Atha kho brahmuno sahampatissa etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti. Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ upasaṅkamitvā saṁvejeyyan”ti. Atha kho brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātu nivesane pāturahosi. Atha kho brahmā sahampati vehāsaṁ ṭhito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātaraṁ brāhmaṇiṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Brahmadeva robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, he approached his own mother’s home. Now at that time Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, was presenting a regular oblation to the Divinity. Then the divinity Sahampati thought, “This Venerable Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, offers up a regular oblation to the Divinity. Why don’t I go and stir up a sense of urgency in her?” Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the home of Brahmadeva’s mother. Then the divinity Sahampati, while standing in the air, addressed Brahmadeva’s mother in verse:

“Dūre ito brāhmaṇi brahmaloko, Yassāhutiṁ paggaṇhāsi niccaṁ; Netādiso brāhmaṇi brahmabhakkho, Kiṁ jappasi brahmapathaṁ ajānaṁ.

“Far from here is the realm of divinity, madam, to which you present a regular oblation. But the Divinity doesn’t eat that kind of food. Why pray, when you don’t know the path to divinity?

Eso hi te brāhmaṇi brahmadevo, Nirūpadhiko atidevapatto; Akiñcano bhikkhu anaññaposī, Yo te so piṇḍāya gharaṁ paviṭṭho.

This Brahmadeva, madam, free of attachments, has surpassed the gods. Owning nothing, providing for no other, a mendicant has entered your house for alms.

Āhuneyyo vedagu bhāvitatto, Narānaṁ devānañca dakkhiṇeyyo; Bāhitvā pāpāni anūpalitto, Ghāsesanaṁ iriyati sītibhūto.

He’s worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, a knowledge master, evolved. He’s worthy of a religious donation from gods and men. Having banished all evils, he’s unsullied. Cool at heart, he wanders searching for food.

Na tassa pacchā na puratthamatthi, Santo vidhūmo anigho nirāso; Nikkhittadaṇḍo tasathāvaresu, So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

He has no before and after, peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, with no need for hope, he has laid down the rod for all creatures firm and frail. So let him enjoy your offering of alms for the highest.

Visenibhūto upasantacitto, Nāgova danto carati anejo; Bhikkhu susīlo suvimuttacitto, So tyāhutiṁ bhuñjatu aggapiṇḍaṁ.

With peaceful mind, he has left the crowd, he wanders like a tamed elephant, unperturbed. He’s a mendicant fair in ethics, with heart well freed. So let him enjoy your offering of alms for the highest.

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā, Patiṭṭhapehi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye; Karohi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ, Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇi oghatiṇṇanti.

With unwavering confidence in him, present your religious donation to one who is worthy of it. Now that you’ve seen the sage who has crossed over, madam, make merit for the sake of future happiness!”

Tasmiṁ pasannā avikampamānā, Patiṭṭhapesi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye; Akāsi puññaṁ sukhamāyatikaṁ, Disvā muniṁ brāhmaṇī oghatiṇṇan”ti.

With unwavering confidence in him, she presented her religious donation to one who is worthy of it. After seeing the sage who had crossed over, the brahmin lady made merit for the sake of future happiness.