SN 7.15

Mānatthaddhasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena mānatthaddho nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati. So neva mātaraṁ abhivādeti, na pitaraṁ abhivādeti, na ācariyaṁ abhivādeti, na jeṭṭhabhātaraṁ abhivādeti. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti. Atha kho mānatthaddhassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti. Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ. Sace maṁ samaṇo gotamo ālapissati, ahampi taṁ ālapissāmi. No ce maṁ samaṇo gotamo ālapissati, ahampi nālapissāmī”ti. Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tuṇhībhūto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Atha kho bhagavā taṁ nālapi. Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo: “nāyaṁ samaṇo gotamo kiñci jānātī”ti tatova puna nivattitukāmo ahosi. Atha kho bhagavā mānatthaddhassa brāhmaṇassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya mānatthaddhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Stuck-Up

At Sāvatthī. Now at that time a brahmin named Stuck-Up was residing in Sāvatthī. He didn’t bow to his mother or father, his tutor, or his oldest brother. Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Then Stuck-Up thought, “The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Why don’t I approach him? If he speaks to me, I’ll speak to him. But if he doesn’t speak, neither will I.” Then the brahmin Stuck-Up went up to the Buddha, and stood silently to one side. But the Buddha didn’t speak to him. Then Stuck-Up thought, “This ascetic Gotama knows nothing!” And he wanted to go back from there right away. Then the Buddha, knowing Stuck-Up’s train of thought, addressed him in verse:

“Na mānaṁ brāhmaṇa sādhu, atthikassīdha brāhmaṇa; Yena atthena āgacchi, tamevamanubrūhaye”ti.

“It’s not good to foster conceit if you want what’s good for you, brahmin. You should foster the goal which brought you here.”

Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo: “cittaṁ me samaṇo gotamo jānātī”ti tattheva bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavato pādāni mukhena ca paricumbati pāṇīhi ca parisambāhati, nāmañca sāveti: “mānatthaddhāhaṁ, bho gotama, mānatthaddhāhaṁ, bho gotamā”ti. Atha kho sā parisā abbhutavittajātā ahosi: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Ayañhi mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo neva mātaraṁ abhivādeti, na pitaraṁ abhivādeti, na ācariyaṁ abhivādeti, na jeṭṭhabhātaraṁ abhivādeti; atha ca pana samaṇe gotame evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karotī”ti. Atha kho bhagavā mānatthaddhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca: “alaṁ, brāhmaṇa, uṭṭhehi, sake āsane nisīda. Yato te mayi cittaṁ pasannan”ti. Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo sake āsane nisīditvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Stuck-Up thought, “The ascetic Gotama knows my mind!” He bowed with his head to the Buddha’s feet, caressing them and covering them with kisses, and pronounced his name: “Worthy Gotama, I am Stuck-Up! I am Stuck-Up!” Then that assembly was stunned: “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! This brahmin Stuck-Up doesn’t bow to his mother or father, his tutor, or his oldest brother. Yet he shows such utmost deference to the ascetic Gotama!” Then the Buddha said to the brahmin Stuck-Up, “Enough, brahmin. Get up, and take your own seat. For your mind has confidence in me.” Then Stuck-Up took his seat and said to the Buddha:

“Kesu na mānaṁ kayirātha, kesu cassa sagāravo; Kyassa apacitā assu, kyassu sādhu supūjitā”ti.

“Regarding whom should you not be conceited? Who should you respect? Who should you esteem? Who is it good to venerate properly?”

“Mātari pitari cāpi, atho jeṭṭhamhi bhātari; Ācariye catutthamhi, tesu na mānaṁ kayirātha; Tesu assa sagāravo, tyassa apacitā assu; Tyassu sādhu supūjitā.

“Your mother and father, and also your oldest brother, with tutor as fourth. Regarding these you should not be conceited. They are who you should respect. They are who you should esteem. And they’re who it’s good to venerate properly.

Arahante sītībhūte, katakicce anāsave; Nihacca mānaṁ athaddho, te namasse anuttare”ti.

And when with bent knee, not stiff with conceit, show supreme reverence for the perfected ones—cooled, their task complete, free of defilements.”

Evaṁ vutte, mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Stuck-Up said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”