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

SN 7.22 At Khomadussa

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati khomadussaṁ nāmaṁ sakyānaṁ nigamo.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya khomadussaṁ nigamaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Tena kho pana samayena khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā sabhāyaṁ sannipatitā honti kenacideva karaṇīyena, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Atha kho bhagavā yena sabhā tenupasaṅkami. Addasaṁsu khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna etadavocuṁ: “ke ca muṇḍakā samaṇakā, ke ca sabhādhammaṁ jānissantī”ti?

Atha kho bhagavā khomadussake brāhmaṇagahapatike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Nesā sabhā yattha na santi santo,
Santo na te ye na vadanti dhammaṁ;
Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Dhammaṁ vadantā ca bhavanti santo”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vivareyya, mūḷhassa maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.

Upāsakavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kasi udayo devahito,
Aññataramahāsālaṁ;
Mānatthaddhaṁ paccanīkaṁ,
Navakammi kaṭṭhahāraṁ;
Mātuposakaṁ bhikkhako,
Saṅgāravo ca khomadussena dvādasāti.

Brāhmaṇasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati khomadussaṁ nāmaṁ sakyānaṁ nigamo.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, where they have a town named Khomadussa.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya khomadussaṁ nigamaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Khomadussa for alms.

Tena kho pana samayena khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā sabhāyaṁ sannipatitā honti kenacideva karaṇīyena, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.

Now at that time the brahmins and householders of Khomadussa were gathered in the council hall for some business, while a gentle rain drizzled down.

Atha kho bhagavā yena sabhā tenupasaṅkami.

Then the Buddha approached that council.

Addasaṁsu khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

The brahmins and householders saw the Buddha coming off in the distance,

Disvāna etadavocuṁ:

and said,

“ke ca muṇḍakā samaṇakā, ke ca sabhādhammaṁ jānissantī”ti?

“Who are these shavelings, these fake ascetics? Don’t they understand the council rules?”

Atha kho bhagavā khomadussake brāhmaṇagahapatike gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then the Buddha addressed the brahmins and householders of Khomadussa in verse:

“Nesā sabhā yattha na santi santo,

“If good people are not present it is no true council;

Santo na te ye na vadanti dhammaṁ;

and those whose speak against principle are not good people.

Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,

Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,

Dhammaṁ vadantā ca bhavanti santo”ti.

speakers of principle are good people.”

Evaṁ vutte, khomadussakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

When he had spoken, the brahmins and householders of Khomadussa said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama.

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!

Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vivareyya, mūḷhassa maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito.

As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways.

Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.

We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.

Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”

Upāsakavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kasi udayo devahito,

Aññataramahāsālaṁ;

Mānatthaddhaṁ paccanīkaṁ,

Navakammi kaṭṭhahāraṁ;

Mātuposakaṁ bhikkhako,

Saṅgāravo ca khomadussena dvādasāti.

Brāhmaṇasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses with Brahmins are complete.

Qualities:

Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
View all discourses →
Delusion

Delusion

A fundamental distortion of reality that sustains confusion, clouds discernment, and fuels further doubt.

Also known as: illusion, hallucination, misapprehension, distorted view
Pāli: moha, micchāñāṇa
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Flexible

Flexible

A quality of the cultivated mind—malleable, workable, and free from rigidity and resistance. Akin to refined gold, a flexible mind is suitable for cultivation of direct knowledge.

Also known as: gentle, pliable, workable, malleable, yielding, ready, suitable for use
Pāli: mudu, kammañña, soracca
View all discourses →
Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026