Aggannasutta 4.1-12

4.1

“Taggha vo, vāseṭṭha, brāhmaṇā porāṇaṃ assarantā evamāhaṃsu:

“Actually, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins are forgetting their tradition when they say this to you.

4.2

‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīnā aññe vaṇṇā;

4.3

brāhmaṇova sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇhā aññe vaṇṇā;

4.4

brāhmaṇāva sujjhanti, no abrāhmaṇā;

4.5

brāhmaṇāva brahmuno puttā orasā mukhato jātā brahmajā brahmanimmitā brahmadāyādā’ti.

4.6

Dissanti kho pana, vāseṭṭha, brāhmaṇānaṃ brāhmaṇiyo utuniyopi gabbhiniyopi vijāyamānāpi pāyamānāpi.

For brahmin women are seen menstruating, being pregnant, giving birth, and breast-feeding.

4.7

Te ca brāhmaṇā yonijāva samānā evamāhaṃsu:

Yet even though they’re born from a brahmin womb they say:

4.8

‘brāhmaṇova seṭṭho vaṇṇo, hīnā aññe vaṇṇā;

‘Only brahmins are the best class; other classes are inferior.

4.9

brāhmaṇova sukko vaṇṇo, kaṇhā aññe vaṇṇā;

Only brahmins are the light class; other classes are dark.

4.10

brāhmaṇāva sujjhanti, no abrāhmaṇā;

Only brahmins are purified, not others.

4.11

brāhmaṇāva brahmuno puttā orasā mukhato jātā brahmajā brahmanimmitā brahmadāyādā’ti.

Only brahmins are the Divinity’s bosom sons, born from his mouth, born of the Divinity, created by the Divinity, heirs of the Divinity.’

4.12

Te brahmānañceva abbhācikkhanti, musā ca bhāsanti, bahuñca apuññaṃ pasavanti.

They misrepresent the brahmins, speak falsely, and brim with much wickedness.