Udāna 6

Heartfelt Sayings 1.6

With Mahākassapa

1 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 Mahākassapa was staying in the Pipphali cave, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill. Then after some time he recovered from that illness. It occurred to him, “Why not enter Rājagaha for almsfood?”

2 Now at that time five hundred deities were ready and eager for the chance to offer alms to Mahākassapa. But Mahākasspa turned down those deities. In the morning, he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered Rājagaha for alms. He went to the street markets of the poor, the destitute, and the embroiderers. The Buddha saw him wandering for alms in the street markets of the poor, the destitute, and the embroiderers.

3 Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

4 “The stranger, providing for no other,

tamed, consolidated in the core,

with defilements ended and flaws purged:

that’s who I declare a brahmin.”