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ud.3.6 Udana

The Discourse about Pilindivaccha

Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Rājagaha, in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Then at that time venerable Pilindivaccha accosted monks with words of contempt.

Then many monks went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side. While sat on one side those monks said this to the Gracious One: “Venerable Pilindivaccha, reverend Sir, accosts monks with words of contempt.”

Then the Gracious One addressed a certain monk, saying: “Please go, monk, and with my word address the monk Pilindivaccha, saying: ‘The Teacher, friend Pilindivaccha, calls you.’ ”

“Yes, reverend Sir,” said that monk, and after replying to the Gracious One, he went to venerable Pilindivaccha, and after going, he said this to venerable Pilindivaccha: “The Teacher, venerable friend, calls you.”

“Yes, friend,” said venerable Pilindivaccha, and after replying to that monk, he went to the Gracious One, after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side the Gracious One said this to venerable Pilindivaccha: “Is it true, as it seems, Vaccha, that you accost monks with words of contempt?”

“Yes, reverend Sir.”

Then the Gracious One, after applying his mind to venerable Pilindivaccha’s previous lives, addressed the monks, saying: “You should not be offended, monks, at the monk Vaccha, it is not with hatred on the inside, monks, that Vaccha accosts the monks with words of contempt. For the monk Vaccha, monks, for five hundred lives has been reborn in a brāhmaṇa family without interruption, for a long time he has been one who has accosted others with words of contempt, because of this Vaccha accosted the monks with words of contempt.”

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“In whom dwells no deceit and no conceit,
He who is free from lust, unselfish, not yearning,
Who has dispelled anger, who is himself completely emancipated,
He is a brāhmaṇa, he is an ascetic, he is a monk.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

With Pilindavaccha

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Now at that time Venerable Pilindavaccha addressed the mendicants as “lowlifes”.
Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“Sir, Venerable Pilindavaccha addresses the mendicants as ‘lowlifes’.”
So the Buddha addressed a certain monk,
“Please, monk, in my name tell the mendicant Pilindavaccha that
the Teacher summons him.”
“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Pilindavaccha and said to him,
“Reverend Pilindavaccha, the teacher summons you.”
“Yes, reverend,” Pilindavaccha replied. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
“Is it really true, Vaccha, that you addressed the mendicants as ‘lowlifes’?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
Then, having applied his mind to Pilindavaccha’s past lives, the Buddha said to the mendicants,
“Mendicants, don’t complain about the mendicant Vaccha.
He doesn’t addresses the mendicants as ‘lowlifes’ out of hate.
For five hundred lives without interruption he was reborn in a brahmin family.
For a long time, he has addressed people as ‘lowlife’.
That’s why he addresses the mendicants as ‘lowlifes’.”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“In whom dwells no deceit or conceit,
rid of greed, unselfish, with no need for hope,
with anger eliminated, quenched:
they are a brahmin, an ascetic, a mendicant.”