1So 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.

2Now 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 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.’”

Then Bhāradvāja the Farmer addressed the Buddha in verse:

3“You claim to be a farmer,
but I don’t see your plough.
If you’re a farmer, declare to me:
how are we to understand your farming?”

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

5Guarded in body and speech,
I restrict my intake of food.
I use truth as my scythe,
and gentleness is my release.

6Energy is my beast of burden,
transporting me to a place of sanctuary.
It goes without turning back
to the place where there is no sorrow.

7That’s how to do the farming
that has the Deathless as its fruit.
When you finish this farming
you’re released from all suffering.”

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

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

10Serve with other food and drink
the consummate one, the great hermit,
with defilements ended and remorse stilled.
For he is the field for the seeker of merit.”

11When 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.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā magadhesu vihārati dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ ekanāḷāyaṁ brāhmaṇagāme.

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

2Tena 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: 

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

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

5Kāyagutto vacīgutto,
āhāre udare yato;
Saccaṁ karomi niddānaṁ,
soraccaṁ me pamocanaṁ.

6Vīriyaṁ me dhuradhorayhaṁ,
yogakkhemādhivāhanaṁ;
Gacchati anivattantaṁ,
yattha gantvā na socati.

7Evamesā kasī kaṭṭhā,
sā hoti amatapphalā;
Etaṁ kasiṁ kasitvāna,
sabbadukkhā pamuccatī"ti.

8"Bhuñjatu bhavaṁ gotamo. Kassako bhavaṁ. Yañhi bhavaṁ gotamo amatapphalampi kasiṁ kasatī"ti.

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

10Aññena ca kevalinaṁ mahesiṁ,
Khīṇāsavaṁ kukkuccavūpasantaṁ;
Annena pānena upaṭṭhahassu,
Khettañhi taṁ puññapekkhassa hotī"ti.

11Evaṁ vutte, kasibhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.