1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Atha kho suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.Then the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Pure went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

1.3Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side,1.4Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ ajjhabhāsi:and spoke this verse in his presence:

2.1“Na brāhmaṇo sujjhati koci,“No brahmin in the world is ever purified2.2Loke sīlavāpi tapokaraṁ;even though he’s ethical and mortifies himself.2.3Vijjācaraṇasampanno,But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct2.4So sujjhati na aññā itarā pajā”ti.is purified, not these other commoners.”¹

3.1“Bahumpi palapaṁ jappaṁ,“Even one who mutters many prayers3.2na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;is no brahmin by birth3.3Antokasambu saṅkiliṭṭho,if they’re filthy and corrupt within,3.4kuhanaṁ upanissito.supporting themselves by fawning.

4.1Khattiyo brāhmaṇo vesso,Regardless of whether you’re an aristocrat,4.2Suddo caṇḍālapukkuso;a brahmin, peasant, menial, <j>or a corpse-worker or scavenger—4.3Āraddhavīriyo pahitatto,if you’re energetic and resolute,4.4Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamo;always staunchly vigorous,4.5Pappoti paramaṁ suddhiṁ,you’ll attain ultimate purity.4.6Evaṁ jānāhi brāhmaṇā”ti.Know that for a fact, brahmin.”

5.1Evaṁ vutte, suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Pure said to the Buddha,5.2“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…“Excellent, worthy Gotama …” …5.3aññataro ca panāyasmā bhāradvājo arahataṁ ahosīti.And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the perfected.