{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn7.9/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn7.9","id":"suttacentral_sn7.9","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn7.9/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying in the Kosalan lands on the bank of the Sundarik\u0101 River. Now at that time the brahmin Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101 was serving the sacred flame and performing the fire sacrifice on the bank of the Sundarik\u0101. Then he rose from his seat and surveyed the four quarters, wondering, \u201cNow who might eat the leftovers of this oblation?\u201d He saw the Buddha meditating at the root of a certain tree with his robe pulled over his head. Taking the leftovers of the oblation in his left hand and a pitcher in the right he approached the Buddha. When he heard Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101\u2019s footsteps the Buddha uncovered his head. Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101 thought, \u201cThis man is shaven, he is shaven!\u201d And he wanted to turn back. But he thought, \u201cEven some brahmins are shaven. Why don\u2019t I go to him and ask about his birth?\u201d Then the brahmin Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101 went up to the Buddha, and said to him, \u201cSir, what are you by birth?\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t ask about birth, ask about conduct; for the fire of J\u0101taveda is born from sticks. A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family, is a thoroughbred checked by conscience. Tamed by truth, fulfilled by taming, a complete knowledge master <j>who has completed the spiritual journey\u2014 that\u2019s who a sacrificer should woo, and offer a timely oblation <j>to one worthy of a religious donation.\u201d \u201cMy sacrificial offering <j>must have been well performed, since I have met such a knowledge master! It\u2019s because I\u2019d never met anyone like you that others ate the leftover oblation. May the worthy Gotama eat! The worthy one is a brahmin.\u201d \u201cFood enchanted by a verse isn\u2019t fit for me to eat. That\u2019s not the principle of those who see, brahmin. The Buddhas cast aside things enchanted with verses. Since there is such a principle, brahmin, <j>that\u2019s how they live. Serve with other food and drink the consummate one, the great seer, with defilements ended and remorse stilled. For he is the field for the seeker of merit.\u201d \u201cThen, Worthy Gotama, to whom should I give the leftovers of this oblation?\u201d \u201cBrahmin, I don\u2019t see anyone in this world\u2014with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans\u2014who can properly digest these leftovers, except the Realized One or one of his disciples. Well then, brahmin, throw out those leftovers where there is little that grows, or drop them into water that has no living creatures.\u201d So Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101 dropped the leftover oblation in water that had no living creatures. And when those leftovers were placed in the water, they sizzled and hissed, steaming and fuming. Suppose there was an iron cauldron that had been heated all day. If you placed it in the water, it would sizzle and hiss, steaming and fuming. In the same way, when those leftovers were placed in the water, they sizzled and hissed, steaming and fuming. Then the brahmin Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101, shocked and awestruck, went up to the Buddha, and stood to one side. The Buddha addressed him in verse: \u201cWhen you\u2019re kindling the wood, brahmin, don\u2019t imagine this is purity, for it\u2019s just external. For those who are skilled say this is no way to purity, when one seeks purity in externals. I\u2019ve given up kindling firewood, brahmin, now I light only the inner flame. Always blazing, always serene, I am a perfected one leading the spiritual life. Conceit, brahmin, is the burden of your pack, anger your smoke, and lies your ashes. The tongue is the ladle, the heart the fireplace; a well-tamed self is a person\u2019s light. The teaching is a lake, brahmin, <j>into which ethics are the stairs, unclouded, praised by the fine to the good. There the knowledge masters go to bathe, and cross to the far shore with dry limbs. Truth, principle, restraint, the spiritual life, attaining divinity based on the middle, brahmin\u2014 pay homage to the upright ones. I declare that man one who follows the teaching.\u201d When he had spoken, the brahmin Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101 said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, worthy Gotama \u2026\u201d \u2026 And Venerable Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja became one of the perfected.","title":"With Bh\u0101radv\u0101ja of Sundarik\u0101","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":702}