Dhammapada 406

Without hostility among the hostile, at peace among those who take up the rod, not grasping among…

Without hostility among the hostile, at peace among those who take up the rod, not grasping among those who grasp: that one I call a brahmin.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

The spiritually accomplished person remains without hostility among hostile people, peaceful among the violent, and free of grasping among those who grasp. Brahmin describes that attainment rather than inherited caste.

Key words

aviruddha

without hostility — The contrast concerns one's stance among hostile people.

brāhmaṇa

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

The story behind the verse

The four novices

In the commentary, a brahmin’s wife asked him to bring elders from the monastery for a meal, and he returned with young novices who had attained liberation. She refused to feed them and sent him to find older guests, and Sāriputta came but left when he learned that the novices had received nothing. Moggallāna did the same, and Sakka then arrived disguised as an old brahmin, whom the couple tried to drag away. He reappeared inside, revealing his extraordinary identity, and the hostess finally gave the guests food, and the novices later reported their calm conduct to the Buddha.

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

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.