The twenty-sixth and final section of the Dhammapada, Brahmanavagga: The Holy Man, gathers together the Buddha’s most
elevated teachings on the nature of true holiness. Here, the term brahmana does not denote caste or birth, but one who has transcended worldly ties, extinguished craving, and realized the highest truth. These verses define the holy man as free from anger, attachment, and pride, dwelling in compassion and wisdom, and living in harmony with all beings. Rather than external status or ritual, it is inner purity, detachment, and realization of Nirvāṇa that mark the authentic brahmana. In closing the Dhammapada with this section, the text emphasizes the ideal of human perfection and the supreme example of the enlightened one.
Brahmanavagga: The Holy Man
Welcome to The Holy Man (Brahmanavagga) — the closing section of the Dhammapada. In these verses, the Buddha reveals the qualities of the true holy one, who has crossed beyond selfishness, illusion, and desire. It speaks of purity, wisdom, and compassion as the marks of one who has realized freedom. As you listen, may these words inspire the unfolding of the holy within your own heart.
383
Exert yourself, O holy man! Cut off the stream (of craving), and discard sense desires.
Knowing the destruction of all the conditioned things, become, O holy man, the knower of
the Uncreated (Nibbana)!
384
When a holy man has reached the summit of two paths (meditative concentration and
insight), he knows the truth and all his fetters fall away.
385
He for whom there is neither this shore nor the other shore, nor yet both, he who is
free of cares and is unfettered — him do I call a holy man.
386
He who is meditative, stainless and settled, whose work is done and who is free from
cankers, having reached the highest goal — him do I call a holy man.
387
The sun shines by day, the moon shines by night. The warrior shines in armor, the holy
man shines in meditation. But the Buddha shines resplendent all day and all night.
388
Because he has discarded evil, he is called a holy man. Because he is serene in
conduct, he is called a recluse. And because he has renounced his impurities, he is called
a renunciate.
389
One should not strike a holy man, nor should a holy man, when struck, give way to
anger. Shame on him who strikes a holy man, and more shame on him who gives way to
anger.
390
Nothing is better for a holy man than when he holds his mind back from what is
endearing. To the extent the intent to harm wears away, to that extent does suffering
subside.
391
He who does no evil in deed, word and thought, who is restrained in these three ways
— him do I call a holy man.
392
Just as a brahman priest reveres his sacrificial fire, even so should one devoutly revere
the person from whom one has learned the Dhamma taught by the Buddha.
393
Not by matted hair, nor by lineage, nor by birth does one become a holy man. But he in
whom truth and righteousness exist — he is pure, he is a holy man.
394
What is the use of your matted hair, O witless man? What of your garment of
antelope's hide? Within you is the tangle (of passion); only outwardly do you cleanse
yourself.
395
The person who wears a robe made of rags, who is lean, with veins showing all over
the body, and who meditates alone in the forest — him do I call a holy man.
396
I do not call him a holy man because of his lineage or high-born mother. If he is full of
impeding attachments, he is just a supercilious man. But who is free from impediments
and clinging — him do I call a holy man.
397
He who, having cut off all fetters, trembles no more, who has overcome all
attachments and is emancipated — him do I call a holy man.
398
He who has cut off the thong (of hatred), the band (of craving), and the rope (of false
views), together with the appurtenances (latent evil tendencies), he who has removed the
crossbar (of ignorance) and is enlightened — him do I call a holy man.
399
He who without resentment endures abuse, beating and punishment; whose power,
real might, is patience — him do I call a holy man.
400
He who is free from anger, is devout, virtuous, without craving, self-subdued and
bears his final body — him do I call a holy man.
401
Like water on a lotus leaf, or a mustard seed on the point of a needle, he who does not
cling to sensual pleasures — him do I call a holy man.
402
He who in this very life realizes for himself the end of suffering, who has laid aside the
burden and become emancipated — him do I call a holy man.
403
He who has profound knowledge, who is wise, skilled in discerning the right or wrong
path, and has reached the highest goal — him do I call a holy man.
404
He who holds aloof from householders and ascetics alike, and wanders about with no
fixed abode and but few wants — him do I call a holy man.
405
He who has renounced violence towards all living beings, weak or strong, who neither
kills nor causes others to kill — him do I call a holy man.
406
He who is friendly amidst the hostile, peaceful amidst the violent, and unattached
amidst the attached — him do I call a holy man.
407
He whose lust and hatred, pride and hypocrisy have fallen off like a mustard seed from
the point of a needle — him do I call a holy man.
408
He who utters gentle, instructive and truthful words, who imprecates none — him do I
call a holy man.
409
He who in this world takes nothing that is not given to him, be it long or short, small or
big, good or bad — him do I call a holy man.
410
He who wants nothing of either this world or the next, who is desire-free and
emancipated — him do I call a holy man.
411
He who has no attachment, who through perfect knowledge is free from doubts and
has plunged into the Deathless — him do I call a holy man.
412
He who in this world has transcended the ties of both merit and demerit, who is
sorrowless, stainless and pure — him do I call a holy man.
413
He, who, like the moon, is spotless and pure, serene and clear, who has destroyed the
delight in existence — him do I call a holy man.
414
He who, having traversed this miry, perilous and delusive round of existence, has
crossed over and reached the other shore; who is meditative, calm, free from doubt, and,
clinging to nothing, has attained to Nibbana — him do I call a holy man.
415
He who, having abandoned sensual pleasures, has renounced the household life and
become a homeless one; has destroyed both sensual desire and continued existence —
him do I call a holy man.
416
He who, having abandoned craving, has renounced the household life and become a
homeless one, has destroyed both craving and continued existence — him do I call a holy
man.
417
He who, casting off human bonds and transcending heavenly ties, is wholly delivered
of all bondages — him do I call a holy man.
418
He who, having cast off likes and dislikes, has become tranquil, is rid of the substrata
of existence and like a hero has conquered all the worlds — him do I call a holy man.
419
He who in every way knows the death and rebirth of all beings, and is totally detached,
blessed and enlightened — him do I call a holy man.
420
He whose track no gods, no angels, no humans trace, the arahant who has destroyed
all cankers — him do I call a holy man.
421
He who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and
holds on to nothing — him do I call a holy man.
422
He, the Noble, the Excellent, the Heroic, the Great Sage, the Conqueror, the
Passionless, the Pure, the Enlightened one — him do I call a holy man.
423
He who knows his former births, who sees heaven and hell, who has reached the end
of births and attained to the perfection of insight, the sage who has reached the summit of
spiritual excellence — him do I call a holy man.