26.10 The Story about the Brahmin with Matted Hair
Jaṭilabrāhmaṇavatthu
Dhp 393
Burlingame: What Is a Brahmin?
Compare: Dhp-a 26.13
A Brahmin by birth noticed that the Buddha referred to his disciples as Brahmins, and thought he should apply the title to him also; the Buddha explained that he used the word not because of matted hair, family or birth, but only of one who had penetrated the truth, and then he spoke a verse.
Keywords: Brahmins
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“Not because of matted hair,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain Brahmin who wore matted hair.
It seems that this Brahmin one day said to himself: “I am well born on my mother’s side and on my father’s side, for I was
The Teacher said to the Brahmin: “Brahmin, I do not call a man a Brahmin merely because he wears matted locks, merely because of his birth and lineage. But he that has penetrated the truth, him alone do I call a Brahmin.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:
393. Na jaṭāhi na gottena, na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo,
yamhi saccañ-ca Dhammo ca, so sucī so va brāhmaṇo.
Not because of matted hair, family
or birth is one a true Brahmin,
in whom there is truth and Dhamma,
that one is pure, and a Brahmin.
At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.