SN 7.11 · Pali Canon (Tipiṭaka) – English & Pāli · Verses Across
Buddhism · Sutta Pitaka · Linked Discourses (Saṁyutta)
SN 7.11
With Bhāradvāja the Farmer · Kasibhāradvājasutta
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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. 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.
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. 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.” “I too plough and sow, brahmin, and then I eat.” “I don’t see the worthy 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.’” Then Bhāradvāja the Farmer addressed the Buddha in verse:
Tena kho pana samayena kasibhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa parivesanā vattati. Atha kho bhagavā yena parivesanā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. 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. “Ahampi kho, brāhmaṇa, kasāmi ca vapāmi ca, kasitvā ca vapitvā ca bhuñjāmī”ti. “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. Atha kho kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“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?”
“Kassako paṭijānāsi, na ca passāmi te kasiṁ; Kassako pucchito brūhi, kathaṁ jānemu taṁ kasin”ti.
“Faith is my seed, fervor my rain, and wisdom is my yoke and plough. Conscience is my draft-pole, mind my strap, mindfulness my plowshare and goad.
“Saddhā bījaṁ tapo vuṭṭhi, paññā me yuganaṅgalaṁ; Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ, sati me phālapācanaṁ.
Guarded in body and speech, I restrict my intake of food. I use truth as my scythe, and gentleness is my release.
“Food enchanted by a verse isn’t fit for me to eat. That’s not the principle of those who see, brahmin. The Buddhas cast aside things enchanted with verses. Since there is such a principle, brahmin, that’s how they live.
“Gāthābhigītaṁ me abhojaneyyaṁ, Sampassataṁ brāhmaṇa nesa dhammo; Gāthābhigītaṁ panudanti buddhā, Dhamme sati brāhmaṇa vuttiresā.
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.”
When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Farmer said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
