1At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Now at that time ghee and milk-rice had been set out for the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper, who thought: “I will serve the sacred flame! I will perform the fire sacrifice!”

2Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. Wandering indiscriminately for alms-food in Rājagaha, he approached Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s house and stood to one side.

Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper saw him standing for alms and addressed him in verse:

3“One who’s accomplished in the three knowledges,
of good lineage and ample learning,
accomplished in knowledge and conduct
may enjoy this milk-rice.”

4“Even one who mutters many invocations
is no brahmin by birth
if they’re filthy and corrupt within,
with a following gained by fraud.

5But one who knows their past lives,
and sees heaven and places of loss,
and has attained the ending of rebirth,
that sage has perfect insight.

6Because of these three knowledges
a brahmin is a master of the three knowledges.
Accomplished in knowledge and conduct,
they may enjoy this milk-rice.”

7“Eat, Master Gotama! you are truly a brahmin.”

8“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.

9Serve 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.”

10When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper said to the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! …” … And Venerable Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper became one of the perfected.

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe vihārati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Tena kho pana samayena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa sappinā pāyaso sannihito hoti: "aggiṁ juhissāmi, aggihuttaṁ paricarissāmī"ti.

2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Rājagahe sapadānaṁ piṇḍāya caramāno yena aggikabhāradvājassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Addasā kho aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ piṇḍāya ṭhitaṁ. Disvāna bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: 

3"Tīhi vijjāhi sampanno,
jātimā sutavā bahū;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
somaṁ bhuñjeyya pāyasan"ti.

4"Bahumpi palapaṁ jappaṁ,
na jaccā hoti brāhmaṇo;
Antokasambu saṅkiliṭṭho,
kuhanāparivārito.

5Pubbenivāsaṁ yo vedī,
saggāpāyañca passati;
Atho jātikkhayaṁ patto,
abhiññāvosito muni.

6Etāhi tīhi vijjāhi,
tevijjo hoti brāhmaṇo;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
somaṁ bhuñjeyya pāyasan"ti.

7"Bhuñjatu bhavaṁ gotamo. Brāhmaṇo bhavan"ti.

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

9Aññena ca kevalinaṁ mahesiṁ,
Khīṇāsavaṁ kukkuccavūpasantaṁ;
Annena pānena upaṭṭhahassu,
Khettañhi taṁ puññapekkhassa hotī"ti.

10Evaṁ vutte, aggikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … aññataro ca panāyasmā aggikabhāradvājo arahataṁ ahosīti.