SN 7.7  Suddhika sutta - Pure

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

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

Then, the Brahmin |Suddhika::clean, pure [suddhika]| |Bhāradvāja::name of a lineage of Brahmins [bhāradvāja]| approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ ajjhabhāsi:

After the exchange of courteous and polite conversation, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Na brāhmaṇo sujjhati koci,
Loke sīlavāpi tapokaraṁ;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
So sujjhati na aññā itarā pajā”ti.

“No brahmin whatsoever is purified
in the world, even if |virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]| and |practicing austerities::mortifying oneself; lit. making heat [tapokaronta]|.
One |endowed with knowledge and conduct::perfect in wisdom and moral conduct [vijjācaraṇasampanna]|—
he is purified, not any other persons.”

“Bahumpi palapaṁ jappaṁ,
na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Antokasambu saṅkiliṭṭho,
kuhanaṁ upanissito.

“Even if muttering many prayers or spells,
one does not become a brahmin by birth;
inwardly rotten, |defiled::tainted, corrupted [saṅkiliṭṭha]|,
and relying upon |deception::creating a false impression [kuhana]|.

Khattiyo brāhmaṇo vesso,
Suddo caṇḍālapukkuso;
Āraddhavīriyo pahitatto,
Niccaṁ daḷhaparakkamo;
Pappoti paramaṁ suddhiṁ,
Evaṁ jānāhi brāhmaṇā”ti.

A noble, a brahmin, a merchant,
a worker, an outcaste, or a scavenger—
|with energy aroused::with initiative [āraddhavīriya]|, |resolute::determined, intent [pahitatta]|,
constantly making firm effort,
attains sublime purity.
Know it thus, brahmin.”

Evaṁ vutte, suddhikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… aññataro ca panāyasmā bhāradvājo arahataṁ ahosīti.

When this was said, the brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja said to the Blessed One: “Excellent, sir Gotama! Excellent, sir Gotama! Just as if one might set upright what had been overturned, |reveal::uncover [vivarati]| what had been concealed, point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way, sir Gotama, the Dhamma has been |explained::illustrated [pakāsita]| by you in many ways. I go for refuge to venerable Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| of bhikkhus. May I receive the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One Gotama, may I receive the full ordination.” The brahmin Asurindaka Bhāradvāja received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, he received the full ordination. Having recently received full ordination, the venerable Asurindaka Bhāradvāja, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, resolute, and with continuous effort, soon realized with direct knowledge in this very life, the unsurpassed culmination of the spiritual life, for the purpose of which sons of good families rightly go forth from the household life to the homeless life, and having personally attained it, he dwelled in it. He |directly knew::understood experientially; lit. completely knew [abbhaññāsi]|: “Birth is ended, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of existence.” And the venerable Bhāradvāja became one among the |Arahants::fully awakened ones, free from all mental defilements; worthy of offerings and veneration; also an epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|.