1At Sāvatthī.

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. He saw the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi driving out of Sāvatthī in a splendid all-white chariot drawn by mares. The yoked horses were pure white, as were the ornaments, chariot, upholstery, reins, goad, and canopy. And his turban, robes, sandals were white, as was the chowry fanning him.

When people saw it they exclaimed: “Wow! That’s a Brahmā vehicle! It’s a vehicle fit for Brahmā!”

2-3Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from alms-round, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding, “Sir, can you point out a Brahmā vehicle in this teaching and training?”

4“I can, Ānanda,” said the Buddha.

“These are all terms for the noble eightfold path: ‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.

5When right view is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion. When right thought … right speech … right action … right livelihood … right effort … right mindfulness … right immersion is developed and cultivated it culminates with the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.

6This is a way to understand how these are all terms for the noble eightfold path: ‘vehicle of Brahmā’, or else ‘vehicle of truth’, or else ‘supreme victory in battle’.”

That is what the Buddha said.

7Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

8“Its qualities of faith and wisdom
are always yoked to the shaft.
Conscience is its pole, mind its strap,
and mindfulness its careful driver.

9The chariot’s equipped with ethics,
its axle is absorption, and energy its wheel.
Equanimity and immersion are the carriage-shaft,
and it’s upholstered with desirelessness.

10Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion
are its weapons,
patience its shield and armor,
as it rolls on to sanctuary.

11This supreme Brahmā vehicle
arises in oneself.
The wise leave the world in it,
sure of winning the victory.”

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho āyasmā ānando jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ. Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati.

Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha: "brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ. Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho"ti.

2Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

3"Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ. Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati. Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha: ‘brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ. Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho’ti. Sakkā nu kho, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmayānaṁ paññāpetun"ti?

4"Sakkā, ānandā"ti bhagavā avoca:

"imasseva kho etaṁ, Ānanda, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ: ‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipīti.

5Sammādiṭṭhi, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosavinayapariyosānā hoti, mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsaṅkappo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosavinayapariyosāno hoti, mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvācā, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammākammanto, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāājīvo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvāyāmo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāsati, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsamādhi, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

6Iminā kho etaṁ, Ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā imassevetaṁ ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ: ‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī"ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

7Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā: 

8"Yassa saddhā ca paññā ca,
Dhammā yuttā sadā dhuraṁ;
Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ,
Sati ārakkhasārathi.

9Ratho sīlaparikkhāro,
jhanakkho cakkavīriyo;
Upekkhā dhurasamādhi,
anicchā parivāraṇaṁ.

10Abyāpādo avihiṁsā,
viveko yassa āvudhaṁ;
Titikkhā cammasannāho,
yogakkhemāya vattati.

11Etadattani sambhūtaṁ,
brahmayānaṁ anuttaraṁ;
Niyyanti dhīrā lokamhā,
aññadatthu jayaṁ jayan"ti.

Catutthaṁ.