Thus have I heard - At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

At that time, a brahmin woman named Dhanañjānī, the wife of a certain brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, had complete confidence in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha. Once, while the brahmin woman Dhanañjānī was bringing the brahmin his meal, she stumbled, whereupon she uttered three times this inspired utterance:

"Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Awakened One.

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Awakened One.

Homage to the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Awakened One."

When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the brahmin woman Dhanañjānī:

"This outcast woman is always speaking praise for that bald-headed ascetic, no matter where or when. Outcast woman, I will now go and dispute the doctrine of that teacher of yours."

"I do not see anyone, brahmin, in this world with its deities, Māras, and Brahmās, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, kings and commoners, who could dispute the doctrine of the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Awakened One. But still, brahmin, go. Having gone, you will find out for yourself."

Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan, angry and displeased, went to the Blessed One. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. After the exchange of courteous and pleasant conversation, he sat down to one side. While seated to one side, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan addressed the Blessed One in verse:

"What should one cut off to sleep with ease? What should one cut off to grieve no more? Is there any single thing, Gotama, whose killing you approve of?"

[The Blessed One:] "Cutting off anger, one sleeps with ease, cutting off anger, one sorrows no more; For anger, with its poisonous root, and honeyed tip, brahmin; The noble ones praise its slaying— for having cut it off, one grieves no more."

When this was said, the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, venerable Gotama! Excellent, venerable Gotama! Just as if one might set upright what had been overturned, reveal what had been concealed, point out the way to one who was lost, or hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way, venerable Gotama, the Dhamma has been explained by you in many ways. I go for refuge to the Blessed One Gotama, to the Dhamma, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. May I receive the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One Gotama, may I receive the full ordination."

Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, he received the full ordination. Having recently received full ordination, the venerable Bhāradvāja, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, with continuous effort, and resolutely, soon realized with direct knowing in this very life, for the purpose of which sons of good families rightly go forth from the household life to the homeless life, the unsurpassed culmination of the spiritual life, and having personally attained it, he dwelled in it.

He understood: "Birth is ended, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming to any state of being." And the venerable Bhāradvāja became one among the arahants.