26.7 The Story about the Elder Sāriputta

Dhp 389-390

Burlingame: The Patient Subdues the Violent

A Brahmin thought Elder Sāriputta didn’t get angry because he had never been tested, so he walked up behind him and landed a great blow on his back; Elder Sāriputta was unperturbed, the Brahmin asked forgiveness and asked him to accept a meal, which he did; the Buddha commented on the incident in some verses.

Keywords: Brahmins, Forgiveness

“A Brahmin shouldn’t hit a Brahmin,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Elder Sāriputta.

It seems that once upon a time several men gathered together at a certain place and rehearsed the noble qualities of the elder, saying: {4.146} “Oh, our noble master is endowed with patience to such a degree that even when men abuse him and strike him, he never gets the least bit angry!” Thereupon a certain Brahmin who held wrong views asked: “Who is this that never gets angry?” – “Our elder.” – “It must be that nobody ever provoked him to anger.” – “That is not the case, Brahmin.” – “Well then, I will provoke him to anger.” – “Provoke him to anger if you can!” – “Trust me!” said the Brahmin, “I know just what to do to him.”

Just then the elder entered the city for alms. When the Brahmin [30.280] saw him, he stepped up behind him and struck him a tremendous blow with his fist in the back. “What was that?” said the elder, and without so much as turning around to look, continued on his way. The fire of remorse sprang up within every part of the Brahmin’s body. “Oh, how noble are the qualities with which the elder is endowed!” exclaimed the Brahmin. And prostrating himself at the elder’s feet, he said: “Pardon me, venerable Sir.” – “What do you mean?” asked the elder. “I wanted to try your patience and struck you.” – “Very well, I pardon you.” – “If, venerable Sir, you are willing to pardon me, hereafter sit and receive your food only in my house.” So saying, the Brahmin took the elder’s bowl, the elder yielding it willingly, and conducting him to his house, served him with food.

The bystanders were filled with anger. “This fellow,” said they, “struck with his staff AJ: just above it says he struck him with his fist (pāṇi), and here with a staff (daṇḍa). our noble elder, who is free from all offense; he must not be allowed to get away; we will kill him right here and now.” And taking clods of earth and sticks and stones into their hands, they stood waiting at the door of the Brahmin’s house. As the elder rose from his seat to go, he placed his bowl in the hand of the Brahmin. When the bystanders saw the Brahmin going out with the elder, they said: “Venerable Sir, order this Brahmin who has taken your bowl to turn back.” – “What do you mean, lay disciples?” {4.147} – “That Brahmin struck you and we are going to do for him after his deserts.” – “What do you mean? Did he strike you or me?” – “You, venerable Sir.” – “If he struck me, he begged my pardon; go your way.” So saying, he dismissed the bystanders, and permitting the Brahmin to turn back, the elder went back again to the monastery.

The bhikkhus were highly offended. “What sort of thing is this!” they exclaimed, “a Brahmin struck the Elder Sāriputta a blow, and the elder straightaway went back to the house of the very Brahmin who struck him and accepted food at his hands! From the moment he struck the elder, for whom will he any longer have any respect? He will go about pounding everybody right and left.”

At that moment the Teacher drew near. “Bhikkhus,” he said, “what is the subject that engages your attention now as you sit here all gathered together?” – “This was the subject we were discussing.” The Teacher said: “Bhikkhus, no Brahmin ever strikes another Brahmin; it must have been a householder-Brahmin who struck an ascetic-Brahmin; for when a man attains the fruition of Non-returning, all anger is utterly destroyed in him.” So saying, he expounded the Dhamma, pronouncing the following verses: [30.281]

389. Na brāhmaṇassa pahareyya, nāssa muñcetha brāhmaṇo,
dhī brāhmaṇassa hantāraṁ, tato: dhī yassa muñcati.

A Brahmin shouldn’t hit a Brahmin
and nor should he abandon him,
woe to one who strikes a Brahmin,
woe to one who abandons him.

390. Na brāhmaṇass’ etad-akiñci seyyo:
yadā nisedho manaso piyehi,
yato yato hiṁsamano nivattati,
tato tato sammati-m-eva dukkhaṁ.

It is no little good for the Brahmin:
when the mind is held back from what is dear,
whenever mind turns back from violence,
then there is a calming of suffering.