Dhanañjānisutta — The Discourse to Dhanañjāni

Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. Now at that time, a brahmin woman named Dhanañjāni, of the Bhāradvāja clan, had firm faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha. Then the brahmin woman Dhanañjāni, while serving food to the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, stumbled and three times uttered an exclamation of joy:

“Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One;

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One;

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One.”

When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to Dhanañjāni the brahmin woman, “This low-caste woman, just like this, for any reason at all, speaks in praise of that shaven-headed ascetic. Now, you low-caste woman, I will find fault with that teacher of yours.” “Brahmin, I do not see anyone in the world with its devas, Māras, and Brahmās, among the generation of ascetics, brahmins, devas, and humans, who could find fault with that Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One. But, brahmin, you go, and having gone, you will find out.”

Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, angry and displeased, went to where the Blessed One was; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having exchanged courteous and amiable talk, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan addressed the Blessed One with a verse:

“Having cut off what does one sleep happily? Having cut off what does one not grieve?

The slaying of which single dhamma do you commend, Gotama?”

“Having cut off anger one sleeps happily; having cut off anger one does not grieve;

O brahmin, the noble ones praise the slaying of anger,

whose root is poisonous, whose tip is sweet. For having cut it off, one does not grieve.”

When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: “Excellent, good Gotama, excellent, good Gotama! Just as, good Gotama, one might set upright what was overturned, or uncover what was hidden, or point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the darkness so that those with eyes may see forms; even so has the Dhamma been made clear in many ways by the good Gotama. I go for refuge to the Blessed Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. May I receive the going forth in the presence of the good Gotama, may I receive the full ordination.”

And the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One; he received the full ordination. Not long after his full ordination, Venerable Bhāradvāja, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute, in no long time, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge, here and now entered upon and abode in that unsurpassed goal of the holy life, for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness. He directly knew: “Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.” And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Arahants.