Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.11

The Related Suttas Collection 7.11

2. Upāsakavagga

2. Lay Followers

Kasibhāradvājasutta

With Bhāradvāja the Farmer

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā magadhesu viharati dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ ekanāḷāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans in the Southern Hills near the brahmin village of Ekanāḷa.

Tena kho pana samayena kasibhāradvājassa¹ brāhmaṇassa pañcamattāni naṅgalasatāni payuttāni honti vappakāle. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa kammanto tenupasaṅkami.

Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Farmer had harnessed around five hundred plows, it being the season for sowing. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to where Bhāradvāja the Farmer was working.

Tena kho pana samayena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa parivesanā vattati. Atha kho bhagavā yena parivesanā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Now at that time Bhāradvāja the Farmer was distributing food. Then the Buddha went to where the distribution was taking place and stood to one side.

Addasā kho kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ piṇḍāya ṭhitaṁ. Disvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ahaṁ kho, samaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmi. Tvampi, samaṇa, kasassu ca vapassu ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjassū”ti.

Bhāradvāja the Farmer saw him standing for alms and said to him, “I plough and sow, ascetic, and then I eat. You too should plough and sow, then you may eat.”

“Ahampi kho, brāhmaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmī”ti.

“I too plough and sow, brahmin, and then I eat.”

“Na kho mayaṁ passāma bhoto gotamassa yugaṁ vā naṅgalaṁ vā phālaṁ vā pācanaṁ vā balībadde vā, atha ca pana bhavaṁ gotamo evamāha: ‘ahampi kho, brāhmaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmī’”ti.

“I don’t see Master Gotama with a yoke or plow or plowshare or goad or oxen, yet he says: ‘I too plough and sow, brahmin, and then I eat.’”

Atha kho kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Then Bhāradvāja the Farmer addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kassako paṭijānāsi, na ca passāmi te kasiṁ; Kassako pucchito brūhi, kathaṁ jānemu taṁ kasin”ti.

“You claim to be a farmer, but I don’t see you farming. Tell me how you’re a farmer when asked: how am I to recognize your farming?”

“Saddhā bījaṁ tapo vuṭṭhi, paññā me yuganaṅgalaṁ; Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ, sati me phālapācanaṁ.

“Faith is my seed, fervor my rain, and wisdom is my yoke and plough. Conscience is my pole, mind my strap, mindfulness my plowshare and goad.

Kāyagutto vacīgutto, āhāre udare yato; Saccaṁ karomi niddānaṁ, soraccaṁ me pamocanaṁ.

Guarded in body and speech, I restrict my intake of food. I use truth as my scythe, and gentleness is my release.

Vīriyaṁ me dhuradhorayhaṁ, yogakkhemādhivāhanaṁ; Gacchati anivattantaṁ, yattha gantvā na socati.

Energy is my beast of burden, transporting me to sanctuary from the yoke. It goes without turning back to where there is no sorrow.

Evamesā kasī kaṭṭhā, sā hoti amatapphalā; Etaṁ kasiṁ kasitvāna, sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

That’s how to do the farming that has the Deathless as its fruit. When you finish this farming you’re released from all suffering.”

“Bhuñjatu bhavaṁ gotamo. Kassako bhavaṁ. Yañhi bhavaṁ gotamo amatapphalampi kasiṁ kasatī”ti.

“Eat, Master Gotama, you are truly a farmer. For Master Gotama does the farming that has the Deathless as its fruit.”

“Gāthābhigītaṁ me abhojaneyyaṁ, Sampassataṁ brāhmaṇa nesa dhammo; Gāthābhigītaṁ panudanti buddhā, Dhamme sati brāhmaṇa vuttiresā.

“Food enchanted by a spell isn’t fit for me to eat. That’s not the principle of those who see, brahmin. The Buddhas reject things enchanted with spells. Since there is such a principle, brahmin, that’s how they live.

Aññena ca kevalinaṁ mahesiṁ, Khīṇāsavaṁ kukkuccavūpasantaṁ; Annena pānena upaṭṭhahassu, Khettañhi taṁ puññapekkhassa hotī”ti.

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.”

Evaṁ vutte, kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Farmer said to the Buddha, “Excellent, Master Gotama … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”