CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. THE BRAHMANA. 383. Cut off the stream,[1] O Brāhmana, right manfully; Repel desires; when thou hast known the end Of things conditioned, thou shalt be A knower of the Uncreate.[2] 384. When by the twofold law (restraint and ecstasy), By virtue of the knowledge he hath gained, The Brāhmana hath crossed the stream; Then every fetter falls away. 385. Whoso the stream hath crossed and from this shore hath passed,[3] Free from all cares, unfettered; one to whom This shore and that alike are naught; Him I deem a Brāhmaṇa. 386. Whoso dwells meditiative, passionless, And free from all Taints, his course hath run, Whoso hath won the highest Goal-- Him I deem a Brāmaṇa. 387. "One who is rid of evil" is a Brāmaṇa; _Samaṇa_ is one who tranquil hath become; "Gone forth from all impurity"; The hermit is _pabbajjā_ called.[4] 388. Let not a Brāhmaṇa assail a Brāhmaṇa; Nor let him with the assailant angry be, Woe to the striker; greater woe To him that, stricken, strikes again. 390. No little profit cometh to the Brāhmaṇa Who hath his mind from pleasant things restrained; Soon as the lust to harm is gone All sorrowing is laid to rest. 391. Whoso offendeth not in thought and word and deed, In whom no evil from these three is seen; Whoso is in these three controlled; Him I deem a Brāhmaṇa. 392. If there be one from whom thou canst obtain the Norm Which He, the All-Awakened One, declared, Revere him, as a Brāhmaṇa The sacrificial fire reveres. 393. Not matted hair, nor caste, nor noble birth can make The Brāhmaṇa; but he that knows the truth And knows the Norm, is blest indeed; And him I deem a Brāhmaṇa. 394. Of what avail to thee, O fool, is matted hair? And what avails thy garment made of skins? The outer part thou makest clean, But all is ravening within.[5] 395. Whoso wears rags from dustheaps picked, whoso is lean, With veins o'erspread, who in the jungle dwells And meditates in loneliness;[6] Him I deem a Brāhmaṇa. 396. One is not Brāhmaṇa because of race or birth; "Hail-fellow" is such called, and riches hath.[7] Possessing naught, free from desire Is one I call a Brāhmaṇa. 397. Whoso hath cut all fetters off and hath no fear Of what may him befall; whoso from bonds And all attachments is released; Is one I call a Brāhmaṇa. 398. Whoso hath cut the strap, the leathern thong, the ropes[8] And all thereto pertaining, and the bar Hath lifted; him, the Awakened one; Him I deem a Brāhmaṇa. 399. He who endures, tho' innocent of all offence, Abuse and blows and e'en imprisonment With patience strong, a host in strength; Him I deem a Brāhmaṇa.