sn.45.4 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

The Brahmin

At Savatthī. Then, in the morning, the Venerable Ānanda dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Savatthī for alms. The Venerable Ānanda saw the brahmin Jaṇussoṇi departing from Savatthī in an all-white chariot drawn by mares. The horses yoked to it were white, its ornaments were white, the chariot was white, its upholstery was white, the reins, goad, and canopy were white, his turban, clothes, and sandals were white, and he was being fanned by a white chowry. People, having seen this, said: “Divine indeed, sir, is the vehicle! It appears to be a divine vehicle indeed, sir!”

Then, when the Venerable Ānanda had walked for alms in Savatthī and returned from his alms round, after his meal he approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Here, venerable sir, in the morning I dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Savatthī for alms. I saw the brahmin Jaṇussoṇi departing from Savatthī in an all-white chariot drawn by mares…. People, having seen this, said: ‘Divine indeed, sir, is the vehicle! It appears to be a divine vehicle indeed, sir!’ Is it possible, venerable sir, to point out a divine vehicle in this Dhamma and Discipline?”

“It is possible, Ānanda,” the Blessed One said. “This is a designation for this Noble Eightfold Path: ‘the divine vehicle’ and ‘the vehicle of Dhamma’ and ‘the unsurpassed victory in battle.’

“Right view, Ānanda, when developed and cultivated, has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion. Right intention … Right concentration, when developed and cultivated, has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

“In this way, Ānanda, it may be understood how this is a designation for this Noble Eightfold Path: ‘the divine vehicle’ and ‘the vehicle of Dhamma’ and ‘the unsurpassed victory in battle.’”

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

“Its qualities of faith and wisdom
Are always yoked evenly together.
Shame is its pole, mind its yoke-tie,
Mindfulness the watchful charioteer.

“The chariot’s ornament is virtue,
Its axle jhana, energy its wheels;
Equanimity keeps the burden balanced,
Desirelessness serves as upholstery.

“Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion:
These are the chariot’s weaponry,
Forbearance its armour and shield,
As it rolls towards security from bondage.

“This divine vehicle unsurpassed
Originates from within oneself.
The wise depart from the world in it,
Inevitably winning the victory.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Regarding the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi

At Sāvatthī.
Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
He saw the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi driving out of Sāvatthī in a splendid all-white chariot drawn by mares.
The yoked horses were pure white, as were the ornaments, chariot, upholstery, reins, goad, and canopy. And his turban, robes, sandals were white, as was the chowry fanning him.
When people saw it they exclaimed,
“Wow! That’s a Brahmā vehicle!
It’s a vehicle fit for Brahmā!”
Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding,






“Sir, can you point out a Brahmā vehicle in this teaching and training?”
“I can, Ānanda,” said the Buddha.
“These are all terms for the noble eightfold path:
‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.
When right view is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.
When right thought …
right speech …
right action …
right livelihood …
right effort …
right mindfulness …
right immersion is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.
This is a way to understand how these are all terms for the noble eightfold path:
‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
“Its qualities of faith and wisdom
are always yoked to the shaft.
Conscience is its pole, mind its strap,
and mindfulness its careful driver.
The chariot’s equipped with ethics,
its axle is absorption, and energy its wheel.
Equanimity and immersion are the carriage-shaft,
and it’s upholstered with desirelessness.
Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion
are its weapons,
patience its shield and armor,
as it rolls on to sanctuary.
This supreme Brahmā vehicle
arises in oneself.
The wise leave the world in it,
sure of winning the victory.”