Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 7.3 — With Bhāradvāja the Fiend

1At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. The brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fiend heard a rumor to the effect that a brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan had gone forth from the lay life to homelessness in the presence of the ascetic Gotama. Angry and displeased he went to the Buddha and abused and insulted him with rude, harsh words.

2But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

3Then Bhāradvāja the Fiend said to the Buddha, “You’re beaten, ascetic, you’re beaten!”

4“‘Ha! I won!’ thinks the fool,
when speaking with harsh words.
The victory for one who understands
is that very endurance.

5When you get angry at an angry person
you just make things worse for yourself.
When you don’t get angry at an angry person
you win a battle hard to win.

6When you know that the other is angry,
you act for the good of both
yourself and the other
if you’re mindful and stay calm.

7People inexpert in Dhamma
consider one who heals both
oneself and the other
to be a fool.”

8When he had spoken, Bhāradvāja the Fiend said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! …” … And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the perfected.