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

SN 7.20 An Almsman

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho bhikkhako brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho bhikkhako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ahampi kho, bho gotama, bhikkhako, bhavampi bhikkhako, idha no kiṁ nānākaraṇan”ti?

“Na tena bhikkhako hoti,
yāvatā bhikkhate pare;
Vissaṁ dhammaṁ samādāya,
bhikkhu hoti na tāvatā.

Yodha puññañca pāpañca,
bāhitvā brahmacariyaṁ;
Saṅkhāya loke carati,
sa ve bhikkhūti vuccatī”ti.

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

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho bhikkhako brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

Then a brahmin almsman went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho bhikkhako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

“ahampi kho, bho gotama, bhikkhako, bhavampi bhikkhako, idha no kiṁ nānākaraṇan”ti?

“Worthy Gotama, both you and I are almsmen. What, then, is the difference between us?”

“Na tena bhikkhako hoti,

“You don’t become an almsman

yāvatā bhikkhate pare;

just by begging alms from others.

Vissaṁ dhammaṁ samādāya,

One who has undertaken domestic duties

bhikkhu hoti na tāvatā.

has not yet become a mendicant.

Yodha puññañca pāpañca,

But one living a spiritual life

bāhitvā brahmacariyaṁ;

who has banished both merit and evil,

Saṅkhāya loke carati,

and wanders having appraised the world,

sa ve bhikkhūti vuccatī”ti.

is said to be a mendicant.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhako brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, the brahmin almsman said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

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:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Spiritual life

Spiritual life

A life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures

Also known as: abstinence, celibacy, chastity, holy life, sexual restraint
Pāli: brahmacariya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026