Verses in the Little Chapter (Brahmanical Traditions) on ethical conduct, devotion, and the supreme value of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha.

SNP 2.7 Brahmanical Traditions

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā kosalakā brāhmaṇamahāsālā jiṇṇā vuḍḍhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “sandissanti nu kho, bho gotama, etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti? “Na kho, brāhmaṇā, sandissanti etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti. “Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhammaṁ bhāsatu, sace bhoto gotamassa agarū”ti. “Tena hi, brāhmaṇā, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bho”ti kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Isayo pubbakā āsuṁ,
saññatattā tapassino;
Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,
attadatthamacārisuṁ.

Na pasū brāhmaṇānāsuṁ,
na hiraññaṁ na dhāniyaṁ;
Sajjhāyadhanadhaññāsuṁ,
brahmaṁ nidhimapālayuṁ.

Yaṁ nesaṁ pakataṁ āsi,
dvārabhattaṁ upaṭṭhitaṁ;
Saddhāpakatamesānaṁ,
dātave tadamaññisuṁ.

Nānārattehi vatthehi,
sayanehāvasathehi ca;
Phītā janapadā raṭṭhā,
te namassiṁsu brāhmaṇe.

Avajjhā brāhmaṇā āsuṁ,
ajeyyā dhammarakkhitā;
Na ne koci nivāresi,
kuladvāresu sabbaso.

Aṭṭhacattālīsaṁ vassāni,
(komāra) Brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te;
Vijjācaraṇapariyeṭṭhiṁ,
Acaruṁ brāhmaṇā pure.

Na brāhmaṇā aññamagamuṁ,
napi bhariyaṁ kiṇiṁsu te;
Sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ,
saṅgantvā samarocayuṁ.

Aññatra tamhā samayā,
utuveramaṇiṁ pati;
Antarā methunaṁ dhammaṁ,
nāssu gacchanti brāhmaṇā.

Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,
ajjavaṁ maddavaṁ tapaṁ;
Soraccaṁ avihiṁsañca,
khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.

Yo nesaṁ paramo āsi,
Brahmā daḷhaparakkamo;
Sa vāpi methunaṁ dhammaṁ,
Supinantepi nāgamā.

Tassa vattamanusikkhantā,
Idheke viññujātikā;
Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,
Khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.

Taṇḍulaṁ sayanaṁ vatthaṁ,
Sappitelañca yāciya;
Dhammena samodhānetvā,
Tato yaññamakappayuṁ.

Upaṭṭhitasmiṁ yaññasmiṁ,
Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te;
Yathā mātā pitā bhātā,
Aññe vāpi ca ñātakā;
Gāvo no paramā mittā,
Yāsu jāyanti osadhā.

Annadā baladā cetā,
Vaṇṇadā sukhadā tathā;
Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,
Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te.

Sukhumālā mahākāyā,
Vaṇṇavanto yasassino;
Brāhmaṇā sehi dhammehi,
Kiccākiccesu ussukā;
Yāva loke avattiṁsu,
Sukhamedhitthayaṁ pajā.

Tesaṁ āsi vipallāso,
Disvāna aṇuto aṇuṁ;
Rājino ca viyākāraṁ,
Nāriyo samalaṅkatā.

Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,
Sukate cittasibbane;
Nivesane nivese ca,
Vibhatte bhāgaso mite.

Gomaṇḍalaparibyūḷhaṁ,
Nārīvaragaṇāyutaṁ;
Uḷāraṁ mānusaṁ bhogaṁ,
Abhijjhāyiṁsu brāhmaṇā.

Te tattha mante ganthetvā,
Okkākaṁ tadupāgamuṁ;
Pahūtadhanadhaññosi,
Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ;
Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.

Tato ca rājā saññatto,
Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;
Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,
Sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ;
Ete yāge yajitvāna,
Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.

Gāvo sayanañca vatthañca,
Nāriyo samalaṅkatā;
Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,
Sukate cittasibbane.

Nivesanāni rammāni,
Suvibhattāni bhāgaso;
Nānādhaññassa pūretvā,
Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.

Te ca tattha dhanaṁ laddhā,
Sannidhiṁ samarocayuṁ;
Tesaṁ icchāvatiṇṇānaṁ,
Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhatha;
Te tattha mante ganthetvā,
Okkākaṁ puna mupāgamuṁ.

Yathā āpo ca pathavī ca,
Hiraññaṁ dhanadhāniyaṁ;
Evaṁ gāvo manussānaṁ,
Parikkhāro so hi pāṇinaṁ;
Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ,
Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.

Tato ca rājā saññatto,
Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;
Nekā satasahassiyo,
Gāvo yaññe aghātayi.

Na pādā na visāṇena,
Nāssu hiṁsanti kenaci;
Gāvo eḷakasamānā,
Soratā kumbhadūhanā;
visāṇe gahetvāna,
Rājā satthena ghātayi.

Tato devā pitaro ca,
Indo asurarakkhasā;
Adhammo iti pakkanduṁ,
Yaṁ satthaṁ nipatī gave.

Tayo rogā pure āsuṁ,
Icchā anasanaṁ jarā;
Pasūnañca samārambhā,
Aṭṭhānavutimāgamuṁ.

Eso adhammo daṇḍānaṁ,
Okkanto purāṇo ahu;
Adūsikāyo haññanti,
Dhammā dhaṁsanti yājakā.

Evameso aṇudhammo,
Porāṇo viññugarahito;
Yattha edisakaṁ passati,
Yājakaṁ garahatī jano.

Evaṁ dhamme viyāpanne,
Vibhinnā suddavessikā;
Puthū vibhinnā khattiyā,
Patiṁ bhariyāvamaññatha.

Khattiyā brahmabandhū ca,
Ye caññe gottarakkhitā;
Jātivādaṁ nirākatvā,
Kāmānaṁ vasamanvagun”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.

Brāhmaṇadhammikasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho sambahulā kosalakā brāhmaṇamahāsālā jiṇṇā vuḍḍhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.

Then several old and well-to-do brahmins of Kosala—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

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

“sandissanti nu kho, bho gotama, etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti?

“Worthy Gotama, are the ancient traditions of the brahmins exhibited these days among brahmins?”

“Na kho, brāhmaṇā, sandissanti etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti.

“No, brahmins, they are not.”

“Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhammaṁ bhāsatu, sace bhoto gotamassa agarū”ti.

“If you wouldn’t mind, worthy Gotama, please teach us the ancient traditions of the brahmins.”

“Tena hi, brāhmaṇā, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Well then, brahmins, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Isayo pubbakā āsuṁ,

“The ancient seers used to be

saññatattā tapassino;

restrained and austere.

Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,

Having given up the five sensual titillations,

attadatthamacārisuṁ.

they lived for their own true good.

Na pasū brāhmaṇānāsuṁ,

Brahmins used to own no cattle,

na hiraññaṁ na dhāniyaṁ;

nor gold coin or grain.

Sajjhāyadhanadhaññāsuṁ,

Chanting was their money and grain,

brahmaṁ nidhimapālayuṁ.

which they guarded as a gift from god.

Yaṁ nesaṁ pakataṁ āsi,

Food was prepared for them

dvārabhattaṁ upaṭṭhitaṁ;

and left beside their doors.

Saddhāpakatamesānaṁ,

People believed that food prepared in faith

dātave tadamaññisuṁ.

should be given to them.

Nānārattehi vatthehi,

With colorful clothes,

sayanehāvasathehi ca;

lodgings and houses,

Phītā janapadā raṭṭhā,

prosperous nations and countries

te namassiṁsu brāhmaṇe.

honored those brahmins.

Avajjhā brāhmaṇā āsuṁ,

Brahmins used to be inviolable and

ajeyyā dhammarakkhitā;

invincible, protected by principle.

Na ne koci nivāresi,

No-one ever turned them away

kuladvāresu sabbaso.

from the doors of families.

Aṭṭhacattālīsaṁ vassāni,

For forty-eight years

(komāra) Brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te;

they led the spiritual life.

Vijjācaraṇapariyeṭṭhiṁ,

The brahmins of old pursued

Acaruṁ brāhmaṇā pure.

their quest for knowledge and conduct.

Na brāhmaṇā aññamagamuṁ,

Brahmins never transgressed with another,

napi bhariyaṁ kiṇiṁsu te;

nor did they purchase a wife.

Sampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ,

They lived together in love,

saṅgantvā samarocayuṁ.

joining together by mutual consent.

Aññatra tamhā samayā,

Brahmins never approached their wives for sex

utuveramaṇiṁ pati;

during the time outside

Antarā methunaṁ dhammaṁ,

the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle

nāssu gacchanti brāhmaṇā.

after menstruation.

Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,

They praised chastity and morality,

ajjavaṁ maddavaṁ tapaṁ;

integrity, tenderness, and fervor,

Soraccaṁ avihiṁsañca,

gentleness and harmlessness,

khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.

and also patience.

Yo nesaṁ paramo āsi,

He who was supreme among them,

Brahmā daḷhaparakkamo;

godlike, staunchly vigorous,

Sa vāpi methunaṁ dhammaṁ,

did not engage in sex

Supinantepi nāgamā.

even in a dream.

Tassa vattamanusikkhantā,

Training in line with their duties,

Idheke viññujātikā;

many smart people here

Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,

praised chastity and morality,

Khantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.

and also patience.

Taṇḍulaṁ sayanaṁ vatthaṁ,

They begged for rice,

Sappitelañca yāciya;

bedding, clothes, ghee, and oil.

Dhammena samodhānetvā,

Having collected them legitimately,

Tato yaññamakappayuṁ.

they arranged a sacrifice.

Upaṭṭhitasmiṁ yaññasmiṁ,

But they slew no cows

Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te;

while serving at the sacrifice.

Yathā mātā pitā bhātā,

Like a mother, father, or brother,

Aññe vāpi ca ñātakā;

or some other relative,

Gāvo no paramā mittā,

cows are our best friends,

Yāsu jāyanti osadhā.

the fonts of medicine.

Annadā baladā cetā,

They give food and strength,

Vaṇṇadā sukhadā tathā;

and beauty and happiness.

Etamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,

Knowing these benefits,

Nāssu gāvo haniṁsu te.

they slew no cows.

Sukhumālā mahākāyā,

The brahmins were delicate and tall,

Vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

beautiful and glorious.

Brāhmaṇā sehi dhammehi,

They were keen on all the duties

Kiccākiccesu ussukā;

required by their own traditions.

Yāva loke avattiṁsu,

So long as they continued in the world,

Sukhamedhitthayaṁ pajā.

people flourished happily.

Tesaṁ āsi vipallāso,

But perversion crept into them

Disvāna aṇuto aṇuṁ;

little by little when they saw

Rājino ca viyākāraṁ,

the transformation of the king

Nāriyo samalaṅkatā.

and the ladies in all their finery.

Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,

Their chariots were harnessed with thoroughbreds,

Sukate cittasibbane;

well-made with bright canopies,

Nivesane nivese ca,

and their homes and houses

Vibhatte bhāgaso mite.

were neatly divided section by section.

Gomaṇḍalaparibyūḷhaṁ,

They were lavished with herds of cattle,

Nārīvaragaṇāyutaṁ;

and furnished with bevies of lovely ladies.

Uḷāraṁ mānusaṁ bhogaṁ,

This extravagant human wealth

Abhijjhāyiṁsu brāhmaṇā.

was coveted by the brahmins.

Te tattha mante ganthetvā,

They compiled hymns to that end,

Okkākaṁ tadupāgamuṁ;

approached King Okkāka and said,

Pahūtadhanadhaññosi,

‘You have plenty of money and grain.

Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ;

Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.

Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.

Sacrifice! For you have much money.’

Tato ca rājā saññatto,

Persuaded by the brahmins,

Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;

the king, chief of charioteers, performed

Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,

horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,

Sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ;

the sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’.

Ete yāge yajitvāna,

When he had carried out these sacrifices,

Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.

he gave riches to the brahmins.

Gāvo sayanañca vatthañca,

There were cattle, bedding, and clothes,

Nāriyo samalaṅkatā;

and ladies in all their finery;

Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,

chariots harnessed with thoroughbreds,

Sukate cittasibbane.

well-made with bright canopies;

Nivesanāni rammāni,

and lovely homes,

Suvibhattāni bhāgaso;

nicely divided section by section.

Nānādhaññassa pūretvā,

Having furnished them with different grains,

Brāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.

he gave riches to the brahmins.

Te ca tattha dhanaṁ laddhā,

When they got hold of that wealth,

Sannidhiṁ samarocayuṁ;

they arranged to store it up.

Tesaṁ icchāvatiṇṇānaṁ,

Falling under the sway of desire,

Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhatha;

their craving grew and grew.

Te tattha mante ganthetvā,

They compiled hymns to that end,

Okkākaṁ puna mupāgamuṁ.

approached King Okkāka once more and said,

Yathā āpo ca pathavī ca,

‘Like water and earth,

Hiraññaṁ dhanadhāniyaṁ;

gold coin, riches, and grain,

Evaṁ gāvo manussānaṁ,

are cows for humankind,

Parikkhāro so hi pāṇinaṁ;

as they are essential for creatures.

Yajassu bahu te vittaṁ,

Sacrifice! For you have much treasure.

Yajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.

Sacrifice! For you have much money.’

Tato ca rājā saññatto,

Persuaded by the brahmins,

Brāhmaṇehi rathesabho;

the king, chief of charioteers,

Nekā satasahassiyo,

had many hundred thousand cows

Gāvo yaññe aghātayi.

slain at the sacrifice.

Na pādā na visāṇena,

Neither with feet nor with horns

Nāssu hiṁsanti kenaci;

do cows harm anyone at all.

Gāvo eḷakasamānā,

Cows meek as lambs

Soratā kumbhadūhanā;

supply buckets of milk.

visāṇe gahetvāna,

But taking them by the horns,

Rājā satthena ghātayi.

the king slew them with a sword.

Tato devā pitaro ca,

At that the gods and the ancestors,

Indo asurarakkhasā;

with Indra, the titans and monsters,

Adhammo iti pakkanduṁ,

roared out: ‘This is a crime against nature!’

Yaṁ satthaṁ nipatī gave.

as the sword fell on the cows.

Tayo rogā pure āsuṁ,

There used to be three kinds of illness:

Icchā anasanaṁ jarā;

greed, starvation, and old age.

Pasūnañca samārambhā,

But due to the slaughter of cows,

Aṭṭhānavutimāgamuṁ.

this grew to be ninety-eight.

Eso adhammo daṇḍānaṁ,

This crime of the rods

Okkanto purāṇo ahu;

is of ancient descent.

Adūsikāyo haññanti,

Killing innocent creatures,

Dhammā dhaṁsanti yājakā.

the sacrificers forsake righteousness.

Evameso aṇudhammo,

And that is how this mean old practice

Porāṇo viññugarahito;

was criticized by sensible people.

Yattha edisakaṁ passati,

Wherever they see such a thing,

Yājakaṁ garahatī jano.

folk criticize the sacrificer.

Evaṁ dhamme viyāpanne,

With righteousness gone,

Vibhinnā suddavessikā;

peasants and menials were split,

Puthū vibhinnā khattiyā,

as were many aristocrats,

Patiṁ bhariyāvamaññatha.

and wives looked down on their husbands.

Khattiyā brahmabandhū ca,

Aristocrats and brahmins only by kin,

Ye caññe gottarakkhitā;

and others protected by their clan,

Jātivādaṁ nirākatvā,

neglecting their genealogy,

Kāmānaṁ vasamanvagun”ti.

fell under the sway of sensual pleasures.”

Evaṁ vutte, te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

When he had spoken, those well-to-do brahmins said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

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.”

Brāhmaṇadhammikasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

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
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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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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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Patience

Patience

A quality of calm endurance that bears hardship, delay, and harshness without resentment. It is the strength to remain composed and gentle under provocation, grounded in wisdom and compassion.

Also known as: endurance, tolerance, forbearance
Pāli: khanti, khama
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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