Dhammapada · Chapter 26
The Brahmin (Brāhmaṇa)
41 verses · The Buddha redefines the brahmin: not by birth, matted hair, or lineage but by inner attainment — one free of craving, fear, and clinging, who has crossed the stream and stands awake. The text closes with the portrait of the perfected muni.
Chapter 26
ब्राह्मणवग्गो
Brāhmaṇavagga
26.1
Cut the stream, strive with effort, brahmin; drive out sensual desires
26.2
When the brahmin has gone beyond two things — calm and insight — then for him, the…
26.3
He for whom there is neither this shore nor the further shore, nor both — who is free…
26.4
The one who is meditative, stainless, settled, who has done what was to be done, free…
26.5
The sun shines by day; the moon glows by night; the warrior shines in armor; the brahmin…
26.6
Because he has cast out evil, he is called a brahmin
26.7
One should not strike a brahmin, nor should the brahmin let loose his anger against the…
26.8
Nothing is better for a brahmin than holding back the mind from what is dear
26.9
He who does no wrong with body, speech, or mind — who is restrained in these three — him…
26.10
From whomever one learns the Dhamma taught by the Fully Awakened One — that teacher one…
26.11
Not by matted hair, nor by clan, nor by birth does one become a brahmin
26.12
What use is your matted hair, foolish one, what use is your antelope-skin garment
26.13
The one clothed in cast-off rags, lean, with veins showing on his body, who meditates…
26.14
I do not call one a brahmin merely because he is born from a brahmin mother or from a…
26.15
Having cut all fetters, who does not tremble, who is free from bonds and untied — him I…
26.16
Having cut the strap, the thong, and the cord with its harness, having lifted off the…
26.17
The one who endures abuse, beating, and imprisonment without anger — whose strength is…
26.18
The one who is free from anger, faithful to duty, virtuous, free from craving,…
26.19
Like water on a lotus leaf, like a mustard seed on the point of a needle — the one to…
26.20
He who knows right here the destruction of his own suffering, who has laid down the…
26.21
The one of deep wisdom, intelligent, skilled in path and non-path, who has reached the…
26.22
The one not intimate with householders nor with the homeless, who wanders without home,…
26.23
The one who has laid aside the rod toward all beings, whether moving or still, who does…
26.24
The one who is friendly among the hostile, peaceful among the violent, ungrasping among…
26.25
He from whom lust, hatred, conceit, and contempt have fallen away like a mustard seed…
26.26
The one who speaks truth, with words sweet and instructive, not giving offense to anyone…
26.27
He who takes nothing here in the world that is not given, whether long or short, small or…
26.28
The one in whom there is no longing for this world or the next, who is desireless and…
26.29
He in whom there are no attachments, who through knowledge is without doubt, who has…
26.30
He who in this world has gone beyond both merit and demerit, free from sorrow, dustless…
26.31
Like the moon, stainless, pure, clear, undisturbed — in whom the delight in existence has…
26.32
He who has transcended this difficult-to-cross, perilous path of saṃsāra and delusion,…
26.33
The one who, having abandoned sensual desires here, has gone forth as a homeless wanderer…
26.34
The one who, having abandoned craving here, has gone forth as a homeless wanderer — in…
26.35
Having abandoned human bonds, transcended divine bonds, free from all bonds — him I call…
26.36
The one who has abandoned attachment and aversion, who is cool and without acquisitions,…
26.37
The one who knows the falling-away of beings and their rising-up everywhere, unattached,…
26.38
He whose destination devas, gandhabbas, and humans do not know — the one who has…
26.39
He for whom there is no holding-on before, after, or in between, who possesses nothing…
26.40
The bull-like one, noble, hero, great sage, conqueror, unshaken, washed, awakened — him I…
26.41
He who knows his former lives, who sees both heavens and hells, who has reached the…