Dhammapada 142

Even if adorned, if you conduct yourself peaceably, peaceful, tamed, steadfast, living celibately…

Even if adorned, if you conduct yourself peaceably, peaceful, tamed, steadfast, living celibately, having laid down the rod toward all beings, you are a brahmin, a contemplative, a bhikkhu.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

Even an adorned person can be called a brahmin, a contemplative, and a bhikkhu if they live peaceably, are calm, trained and disciplined, live celibately, and have put down violence toward every being. Here brahmin is a title for spiritual accomplishment, not inherited caste.

Key words

brahmacārī

living celibately — The renunciant commitment is explicit, not merely general decency.

brāhmaṇa

brahmin — Here it names spiritual attainment rather than inherited caste.

The story behind the verse

Santati the king’s minister

In the commentary, Santati was a minister rewarded by King Pasenadi for suppressing a rebellion. He received royal privileges for a brief period and celebrated with drinking and a dancer, and the dancer suddenly died while performing. Santati was sobered by grief and went to the Buddha, and after hearing instruction, the commentary says he attained liberation. Still adorned, he related a generous deed from a former life and died that day, and the monks asked how he should be described, and the Buddha answered through the qualities of peaceful, disciplined conduct.

Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.