Tripiṭaka 1. Paṭhamavagga
1. The Appeal
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ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā brāhmaṇiyā brahmadevo nāma putto bhagavato santike agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito hoti.
Now at that time a certain brahmin lady had a son called Brahmadeva, who had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the Buddha.
Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.
Then Venerable Brahmadeva, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.
“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.
He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”
Aññataro ca panāyasmā brahmadevo arahataṁ ahosi.
And Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the perfected.
Atha kho āyasmā brahmadevo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then Brahmadeva robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
Sāvatthiyaṁ sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena sakamātu nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.
Wandering indiscriminately for almsfood in Sāvatthī, he approached his own mother’s home.
Tena kho pana samayena āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.
Now at that time Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, was presenting a regular oblation to the Divinity.
“ayaṁ kho āyasmato brahmadevassa mātā brāhmaṇī brahmuno āhutiṁ niccaṁ paggaṇhāti.
“This Venerable Brahmadeva’s mother, the brahmin lady, offers up a regular oblation to the Divinity.
Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ upasaṅkamitvā saṁvejeyyan”ti.
Why don’t I go and stir up a sense of urgency in her?”
Atha kho brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātu nivesane pāturahosi.
Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the home of Brahmadeva’s mother.
Atha kho brahmā sahampati vehāsaṁ ṭhito āyasmato brahmadevassa mātaraṁ brāhmaṇiṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then the divinity Sahampati, while standing in the air, addressed Brahmadeva’s mother in verse:
Āhuneyyo vedagu bhāvitatto,
He’s worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, <j>a knowledge master, evolved.
Patiṭṭhapehi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;
present your religious donation <j>to one who is worthy of it.
Patiṭṭhapesi dakkhiṇaṁ dakkhiṇeyye;
she presented her religious donation <j>to one who is worthy of it.