Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 7.15 — Stuck-Up

1At Sāvatthī.

2Now at that time a brahmin named Stuck-Up was residing in Sāvatthī. He didn’t bow to his mother or father, his tutor, or his oldest brother. Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

3Then Stuck-Up thought, “The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Why don’t I approach him? If he speaks to me, I’ll speak to him. But if he doesn’t speak, neither will I.”

4Then the brahmin Stuck-Up went up to the Buddha, and stood silently to one side. But the Buddha didn’t speak to him.

5Then Stuck-Up thought, “This ascetic Gotama knows nothing!” And he wanted to go back from there right away.

6Then the Buddha, knowing Stuck-Up’s train of thought, addressed him in verse:

7“It’s not good to foster conceit
if you want what’s good for you, brahmin.
You should foster the goal
which brought you here.”

8Then Stuck-Up thought, “The ascetic Gotama knows my mind!” He bowed with his head to the Buddha’s feet, caressing them and covering them with kisses, and pronounced his name: “Worthy Gotama, I am Stuck-Up! I am Stuck-Up!”

9Then that assembly was stunned: “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! This brahmin Stuck-Up doesn’t bow to his mother or father, his tutor, or his oldest brother. Yet he shows such utmost deference to the ascetic Gotama!”

10Then the Buddha said to the brahmin Stuck-Up, “Enough, brahmin. Get up, and take your own seat. For your mind has confidence in me.”

11Then Stuck-Up took his seat and said to the Buddha:

12“Regarding whom should you not be conceited?
Who should you respect?
Who should you esteem?
Who is it good to venerate properly?”

13“Your mother and father,
and also your oldest brother,
with tutor as fourth.
Regarding these you should not be conceited.
They are who you should respect.
They are who you should esteem.
And they’re who it’s good to venerate properly.

14And when with bent knee, not stiff with conceit,
show supreme reverence for
the perfected ones—cooled,
their task complete, free of defilements.”

15When he had spoken, the brahmin Stuck-Up said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”