3.
The Discourse on Brahmadeva
174.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Now at that time a son of a certain brahmin woman named Brahmadeva had gone forth from home into homelessness under the Blessed One.
Then dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, the Venerable Brahmadeva soon realised for himself, with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness; and, having entered upon it, he dwelt in it. He directly knew: "Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being." And the Venerable Brahmadeva became one of the Worthy Ones.
Then the Venerable Brahmadeva, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for almsfood. Walking for almsfood successively in Sāvatthī, he approached his own mother's dwelling. Now at that time the Venerable Brahmadeva's mother, a brahmin woman, was constantly making an oblation to Brahmā. Then this occurred to Brahmā Sahampati - "This mother of the Venerable Brahmadeva, a brahmin woman, is constantly making an oblation to Brahmā. What if I were to approach her and stir her to a sense of urgency." Then Brahmā Sahampati - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the Brahma world, appeared at the dwelling of the Venerable Brahmadeva's mother. Then Brahmā Sahampati, standing in the sky, addressed the Venerable Brahmadeva's mother, the brahmin woman, in verse -
To whom you constantly make an oblation;
Such is not the food of Brahmā, brahmin woman,
Why do you mutter, not knowing the path to Brahmā?
Without clinging, having attained beyond the gods;
A monk who owns nothing, not supporting another,
He who has entered your house for almsfood.
Worthy of gifts from humans and gods;
Having expelled evil deeds, untainted,
He wanders seeking food, become cooled.
Peaceful, smokeless, free from trouble, desireless;
Having laid down the rod towards the trembling and the stable,
Let him consume your oblation, the best almsfood.
Like a tamed elephant, he walks without longing;
A monk of good morality, with well-liberated mind,
Let him consume your oblation, the best almsfood.
Establish your offering in one worthy of offerings;
Make merit that brings future happiness,
Having seen the sage, brahmin woman, a crosser of the mental floods."
She established her offering in one worthy of offerings;
She made merit that brings future happiness,
Having seen the sage, the brahmin woman, a crosser of the mental floods."