The Lowlife

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Tena kho pana samayena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesane aggi pajjalito hoti āhuti paggahitā.

Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

Addasā kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“tatreva, muṇḍaka;

tatreva, samaṇaka;

tatreva, vasalaka, tiṭṭhāhī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā aggikabhāradvājaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca:

“jānāsi pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti?

“Na khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, jānāmi vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme;

sādhu me bhavaṁ gotamo tathā dhammaṁ desetu, yathāhaṁ jāneyyaṁ vasalaṁ vā vasalakaraṇe vā dhamme”ti.

“Tena hi, brāhmaṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato paccassosi.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Kodhano upanāhī ca,

pāpamakkhī ca yo naro;

Vipannadiṭṭhi māyāvī,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Ekajaṁ vā dvijaṁ vāpi,

yodha pāṇaṁ vihiṁsati;

Yassa pāṇe dayā natthi,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo hanti parirundhati,

gāmāni nigamāni ca;

Niggāhako samaññāto,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Gāme vā yadi vā raññe,

yaṁ paresaṁ mamāyitaṁ;

Theyyā adinnamādeti,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo have iṇamādāya,

cujjamāno palāyati;

Na hi te iṇamatthīti,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo ve kiñcikkhakamyatā,

panthasmiṁ vajantaṁ janaṁ;

Hantvā kiñcikkhamādeti,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Attahetu parahetu,

dhanahetu ca yo naro;

Sakkhipuṭṭho musā brūti,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo ñātīnaṁ sakhīnaṁ vā,

dāresu paṭidissati;

Sāhasā sampiyena vā,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,

jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ;

Pahu santo na bharati,

taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā,

Bhātaraṁ bhaginiṁ sasuṁ;

Hanti roseti vācāya,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo atthaṁ pucchito santo,

Anatthamanusāsati;

Paṭicchannena manteti,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo katvā pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

Mā maṁ jaññāti icchati;

Yo paṭicchannakammanto,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo ve parakulaṁ gantvā,

Bhutvāna sucibhojanaṁ;

Āgataṁ nappaṭipūjeti,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,

Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ;

Musāvādena vañceti,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā,

Bhattakāle upaṭṭhite;

Roseti vācā na ca deti,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Asataṁ yodha pabrūti,

Mohena paliguṇṭhito;

Kiñcikkhaṁ nijigīsāno,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo cattānaṁ samukkaṁse,

Pare ca mavajānāti;

Nihīno sena mānena,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Rosako kadariyo ca,

Pāpiccho maccharī saṭho;

Ahiriko anottappī,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo buddhaṁ paribhāsati,

Atha vā tassa sāvakaṁ;

Paribbājaṁ gahaṭṭhaṁ vā,

Taṁ jaññā vasalo iti.

Yo ve anarahaṁ santo,

Arahaṁ paṭijānāti;

Coro sabrahmake loke,

Eso kho vasalādhamo;

Ete kho vasalā vuttā,

Mayā yete pakāsitā.

Na jaccā vasalo hoti,

Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;

Kammunā vasalo hoti,

Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo.

Tadamināpi jānātha,

Yathāmedaṁ nidassanaṁ;

Caṇḍālaputto sopāko,

Mātaṅgo iti vissuto.

So yasaṁ paramaṁ patto,

Mātaṅgo yaṁ sudullabhaṁ;

Āgacchuṁ tassupaṭṭhānaṁ,

Khattiyā brāhmaṇā bahū.

Devayānaṁ abhiruyha,

Virajaṁ so mahāpathaṁ;

Kāmarāgaṁ virājetvā,

Brahmalokūpago ahu;

Na naṁ jāti nivāresi,

Brahmalokūpapattiyā.

Ajjhāyakakule jātā,

Brāhmaṇā mantabandhavā;

Te ca pāpesu kammesu,

Abhiṇhamupadissare.

Diṭṭheva dhamme gārayhā,

Samparāye ca duggati;

Na ne jāti nivāreti,

Duggatyā garahāya vā.

Na jaccā vasalo hoti,

Na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;

Kammunā vasalo hoti,

Kammunā hoti brāhmaṇo”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

Vasalasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.

SC 1Thus have I heard:

SC 2At one time the Radiant One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then in the morning the Radiant One dressed and, taking bowl and robes, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood. At that time the sacrificial fire was burning in the house of the brahmin Aggika-Bhāradvāja and the offering was held aloft. Then the Radiant One walking in almsround, house by house within Sāvatthī, came to the house of brahmin Aggika-Bhāradvāja. The brahmin saw the Radiant One coming from a distance and called out this to him: “Stop there, mere shaveling, stop there, vile ascetic, stop there, foul outcaste!” When this was said, the Radiant One said to the brahmin: “Do you know, brahmin, what an outcaste is or what things make a person ‘outcaste’?”

SC 3“I do not know good Gotama what an outcaste is or what things make one an outcaste. It would be good for me if the venerable Gotama were to teach me Dharma, so that I might know an outcaste and what things make an outcaste.”

SC 4“Then listen, brahmin, pay attention and I shall tell you.”

SC 5“Yes, venerable sir”, replied the brahmin.

SC 6SC Verse 116Buddha
An angry person, rancorous,
with evils of hypocrisy,
deceitful and of fallen views,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 7SC Verse 117Whether once or twice-born then
if one should living beings harm,
compassion for them—none at all,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 8SC Verse 118Who kills in towns and villages,
destruction brings, and then behaves
oppressively—well-known for that,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 9SC Verse 119Whoso in forest or in town
steals whatever is not given,
from others to whom it’s valuable,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 10SC Verse 120Whoever does a debt contract
but urged to repay, then retorts,
“No debt have I to you indeed”,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 11SC Verse 121Who, for a trifle that’s desired
from traveller along the road,
kills, that trifle to possess,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 12SC Verse 122Whoso for self or others’ wealth,
or else for benefit of wealth
when questioned on this, falsehood speaks,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 13SC Verse 123Whoso is “seen” with others’ wives,
of relatives and friends, those
consenting mutually or forced,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 14SC Verse 124Whoso towards their mum or dad
whose youth is gone and age attained,
though prosperous, supports them not,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 15SC Verse 125Whoever strikes, or utters hate
against mother, father, brother too,
sister or a mother-in law,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 16SC Verse 126Who, asked for good advice responds
by giving bad advice, and then
giving advice with a hidden agenda,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 17SC Verse 127Whoever evil karma makes
wishing others may not know,
and then conceals these actions bad,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 18SC Verse 128Who, gone to another’s house,
enjoys fine hospitality,
then honours not the other back,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 19SC Verse 129Whoever, brahmin, samaṇa,
or even indigents who beg,
deceives with false and lying speech,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 20SC Verse 130Whoso when mealtime has arrived
abuses brahmins, samaṇas
and then gives not a thing to them,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 21SC Verse 131As blanketed, delusion-wrapped,
who predicts untruthful things
desiring even trifling gain,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 22SC Verse 132Whoever does exalt themselves
while looking down on others, though
inferior, caused by self-conceit,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 23SC Verse 133Provocative and selfish too,
of evil wishes, miserly,
cunning, shameless, no remorse,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 24SC Verse 134Whoso the Buddha does revile,
insulting his disciples too
whether left home or laity,
as “outcaste” such a one is known.

SC 25SC Verse 135Who, though not an Arahant,
yet pretends to be—is Thief—
in this world with Brahmin gods,
the lowest outcaste of them all,
These indeed are “outcaste” called
as I’ve declared to you.

SC 26SC Verse 136One’s not an outcaste caused by “birth”,
not by “birth” a brahmin is;
caused by karma one’s outcaste,
a brahmin is by karma caused.

SC 27SC Verse 137Know this is true according to
the example following here:
An outcaste boy well-known to you
as Mātaṅga of the Sopakas.

SC 28SC Verse 138Mātaṅga gained the highest fame,
so hard a thing for him to gain;
then warriors, brahmins, others too,
many came to serve him.

SC 29SC Verse 139Upon the way to deva-worlds,
set forth along the spotless path
and cleansed of sense-desired,
attained to Brahma’s world, they say;
unhindered he by “birth” at all
he won to Brahma-worlds.

SC 30SC Verse 140Though born in Veda-chanting clan,
brahmins with mantras as their kin,
frequently indeed they’re seen
while making evil karmas,

SC 31SC Verse 141Even in this world they’re blamed,
the next for them’s a painful bourn;
birth hinders not a painful bourn,
nor from being blamed.

SC 32SC Verse 142One’s not an outcaste caused by “birth”,
not by “birth” a brahmin is;
caused by karma one’s outcaste,
a brahmin is by karma caused.

SC 33When this was said, the brahmin Aggika-bhāradvāja exclaimed to the Radiant One: “Magnificent, Master Gotama! The Dharma has been clarified by the Master Gotama in many ways, as though he was righting what was overthrown, revealing what was hidden, showing the way to one who was lost, or holding a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes can see forms. I go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the Dharma and to the Saṅgha. May Master Gotama remember me as an upāsaka who from today has Gone for Refuge for life.”