SN 7.7

Suddhikasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ ajjhabhāsi:

With Bhāradvāja the Pure

At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Pure 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 spoke this verse in his presence:

“Na brāhmaṇo sujjhati koci, Loke sīlavāpi tapokaraṁ; Vijjācaraṇasampanno, So sujjhati na aññā itarā pajā”ti.

“No brahmin in the world is ever purified even though he’s ethical and mortifies himself. But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is purified, not these other commoners.”

“Bahumpi palapaṁ jappaṁ, na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo; Antokasambu saṅkiliṭṭho, kuhanaṁ upanissito.

“Even one who mutters many prayers is no brahmin by birth if they’re filthy and corrupt within, supporting themselves by fawning.

Khattiyo brāhmaṇo vesso, Suddo caṇḍālapukkuso; Āraddhavīriyo pahitatto, Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamo; Pappoti paramaṁ suddhiṁ, Evaṁ jānāhi brāhmaṇā”ti.

Regardless of whether you’re an aristocrat, a brahmin, peasant, menial, or a corpse-worker or scavenger— if you’re energetic and resolute, always staunchly vigorous, you’ll attain ultimate purity. Know that for a fact, brahmin.”

Evaṁ vutte, suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… aññataro ca panāyasmā bhāradvājo arahataṁ ahosīti.

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