The Buddha teaches brahmins in dialogue and verse, refuting pride in birth and ritual while guiding them toward ethical conduct and wisdom.

SN 7.17 The Builder

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Tena kho pana samayena navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpeti. Addasā kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ sālarukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.

Disvānassa etadahosi: “ahaṁ kho imasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpento ramāmi. Ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo kiṁ kārāpento ramatī”ti?

Atha kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Ke nu kammantā karīyanti,
bhikkhu sālavane tava;
Yadekako araññasmiṁ,
ratiṁ vindati gotamo”ti.

“Na me vanasmiṁ karaṇīyamatthi,
Ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanaṁ visūkaṁ;
Svāhaṁ vane nibbanatho visallo,
Eko rame aratiṁ vippahāyā”ti.

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

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpeti.

Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder was having some building work done in that jungle thicket.

Addasā kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ sālarukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.

He saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged at the root of a certain sal tree, his body set straight, and mindfulness brought to the present.

Disvānassa etadahosi:

Seeing this, it occurred to him,

“ahaṁ kho imasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpento ramāmi.

“I enjoy having this building work done here in the jungle.

Ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo kiṁ kārāpento ramatī”ti?

I wonder what the ascetic Gotama enjoys having done?”

Atha kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Bhāradvāja the Builder went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“Ke nu kammantā karīyanti,

“What kind of works are done by you,

bhikkhu sālavane tava;

a mendicant in the sal jungle?

Yadekako araññasmiṁ,

How do you find enjoyment

ratiṁ vindati gotamo”ti.

alone in the wilderness, Gotama?”

“Na me vanasmiṁ karaṇīyamatthi,

“There’s nothing I need do in the jungle;

Ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanaṁ visūkaṁ;

my jungle’s cut at the root, it’s withered away.

Svāhaṁ vane nibbanatho visallo,

Free of snarls and thorns in the jungle,

Eko rame aratiṁ vippahāyā”ti.

I enjoy solitude, having given up discontent.”

Evaṁ vutte, navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama …

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

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Qualities:

Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Solitude

Solitude

Physical seclusion from crowds and mental seclusion from unwholesome states. It provides the quietude necessary for the mind to settle, detach from worldly entanglements, and develop deep collectedness.

Also known as: seclusion, privacy, aloofness, non-association
Pāli: viveka, asaṃsaṭṭha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026