26.16 The Story about the Insolent Bhāradvāja

Dhp 399

Burlingame: The Patient Subdues the Insolent

Compare: SN 7.11

A Brahmin was angry because his wife constantly called on the Buddha, so he went and abused the Awakened One, but the Buddha converted him with his wisdom; later the exact same scene unfolded with regard to his three brothers; the bhikkhus spoke about it, and the Buddha explained that he possessed the power of endurance with a verse.

Keywords: Brahmins, Reviling

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“Whoever, being pure, forbears,” [30.288] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana with reference to an insolent Bhāradvāja. AJ: Bhāradvāja is a Brahminical clan name.

For this insolent Bhāradvāja had a brother named Bhāradvāja, and a wife named Dhanañjayanī who had attained Stream-entry. Whenever she sneezed or coughed or stumbled, she would breathe forth the exalted utterance: “Reverence to him, the Fortunate One, the Arahat, the Perfect Sambuddha!” One day, {4.162} while distribution of food to Brahmins was in progress, she stumbled, and immediately breathed forth that exalted utterance as usual with a loud voice.

The Brahmin was greatly angered and said to himself: “No matter where it may be, whenever this vile woman stumbles, she utters the praise of this shaveling little ascetic in this fashion.” And he said to her: “Now, vile woman, I will go and worst that Teacher of yours in an argument.” His wife replied: “By all means go, Brahmin; I have never seen the man who could worst the Fortunate One in an argument. Nevertheless, go ask the Fortunate One a question.” The Brahmin went to the Teacher, and without even saluting him, stood on one side and asked him a question, pronouncing the following verse: AJ: see SN 7.11.

Having cut off what does one live at ease?
Having cut off what does one not sorrow?
What is the single thing do you
approve of killing, Gotama?

Having cut off anger one lives at ease;
having cut off anger one sorrows not.
A poisonous root is anger,
sweet at the beginning, Brahmin,
the noble ones praise its killing,
for having cut it off one sorrows not. {4.163}

Now his younger brother, who was the insolent Bhāradvāja, heard the report: “Your brother has gone forth,” and greatly angered thereat, went and abused the Teacher with wicked, [30.289] ugly words. But the Teacher subdued him too by employing the illustration of the hard food given to strangers, and he too believed in the Teacher, went forth, and attained Arahatship.

Likewise the insolent Bhāradvāja’s two younger brothers, Sundari Bhāradvāja and Bilaṅgika Bhāradvāja, abused the Teacher, but the Teacher subdued them, and they too went forth and attained Arahatship.

One day in the Dhamma Hall the bhikkhus began the following discussion: “How wonderful are the virtues of the Buddhas! Although these four brothers abused the Teacher, the Teacher, without so much as saying a word, became their refuge.”

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?” – “Such and such,” replied the bhikkhus.

Then said the Teacher: “Bhikkhus, because I possess the power of patience, because I am without wrong among the wrongful, I am established amongst many people.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

399. Akkosaṁ vadhabandhañ-ca aduṭṭho yo titikkhati,
khantībalaṁ balānīkaṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Whoever, being pure, forbears
with punishment, bondage, abuse,
having the strength of endurance,
and having an army of strengths,
that one I say is a Brahmin.