Suddhika Sutta (SN 7.7) – The Discourse on Suddhika

7. The Discourse as Simple Version

193. More Details At Sāvatthī. Then the brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja addressed the Blessed One in verse in his presence -

"No brahmin is purified by anyone in the world, even one who is moral and practises austere asceticism;

One accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, he is purified, not other people of different kinds."

"Even though muttering much prattle, one is not a brahmin by birth;

Inwardly full of rubbish, mentally defiled, dependent on scheming.

"Whether a warrior, a brahmin, a merchant, a worker, an outcast, or a refuse-remover;

Putting forth strenuous energy, resolute, always of firm effort;

He attains the supreme purity - thus know, brahmin."

When this was said, the brahmin Suddhika Bhāradvāja said this to the Blessed One: "Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. And the venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the Worthy Ones."