Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Khuddaka Nikaya » Dhammapada » Verse 388
Dhammapada Verse 388 - Annatarabrahmana Pabbajita Vatthu[]
Daw Mya Tin Version[]
Bahitapapoti brahmano
samacariya(1) "samano" ti vuccati
pabbajayamattano malam
tasma "pabbajito"(2) ti vuccati.
Verse 388: Because he has discarded evil he is called a 'brahmana'; because he lives calmly he is called a 'samana'; and because he gets rid of his impurities he is called a 'pabbajita'.
1. samacariya: lit., living calmly, i.e., practising for eradication of moral defilements.
2. pabbajita: one who leaves the household life for the homeless life of a recluse; in Buddhism it means one who has given up the impurities of the household life to become a bhikkhu.
The Story of a Brahmin Recluse
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (388) of this book, with reference to a brahmin ascetic.
Once there was a brahmin ascetic in Savatthi. One day, it occurred to him that the Buddha called his disciples pabbajita bhikkhus and since he also was a recluse, he should also be called a pabbajita. So he went to the Buddha and posed the question why he should not be called a pabbajita. The Buddha's answer to him was this: "Just because one is a recluse one does not automatically become a pabbajita; a pabbajita must have other qualifications also."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 388: Because he has discarded evil he is called a 'brahmana'; because he lives calmly he is called a 'samana'; and because he gets rid of his impurities he is called a 'pabbajita'.
At the end of the discourse the brahmin attained Sotapatti Fruition.
Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero Version[]
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