The Buddha defines a sage, a Brāhmaṇ not by birth, but as one who has cast off harmful qualities and is always mindful.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno āyasmā ca mahākassapo āyasmā ca mahākaccāno āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmā ca mahākappino āyasmā ca mahācundo āyasmā ca anuruddho āyasmā ca revato āyasmā ca nando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta‘s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Now at that time, the venerable |Sāriputta::foremost disciple of the Buddha in great wisdom [sāriputta]|, venerable |Mahāmoggallāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in psychic power; lit. Moggallāna the great [mahāmoggallāna]|, venerable |Mahākassapa::foremost disciple of the Buddha in preaching ascetic practices; lit. Kassapa the great [mahākassapa]|, venerable |Mahākaccāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in explaining a brief instruction in detail; lit. great descendant of Kati [mahākaccāna]|, venerable |Mahākoṭṭhita::Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita is regarded as the foremost disciple of the Buddha in analytical understanding [Mahākoṭṭhita]|, venerable |Mahākappina::foremost disciple of the Buddha in instructing the monks; lit. great Kappina [mahākappina]|, venerable Mahācunda, venerable |Anuruddha::foremost disciple of the Buddha in divine eye; also a cousin of the Buddha [anuruddha]|, venerable |Revata::Venerable Revata is regarded as the foremost disciple of the Buddha in forest dwelling [revata]|, and venerable Nanda approached the Blessed One.
Addasā kho bhagavā te āyasmante dūratova āgacchante; disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “ete, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā āgacchanti; ete, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā āgacchantī”ti. Evaṁ vutte, aññataro brāhmaṇajātiko bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, brāhmaṇo hoti, katame ca pana brāhmaṇakaraṇā dhammā”ti?
The Blessed One saw those venerable ones approaching from afar. Having seen them, he addressed the bhikkhus: “These, bhikkhus, are |Brāhmaṇs::sages, Brāhmaṇ is a title used by the Buddha for an Arahant, an awakened being [brāhmaṇā]| coming; these, bhikkhus, are Brāhmaṇs coming.” When this was said, a certain bhikkhu of Brāhmaṇ birth said to the Blessed One: “How, venerable sir, is one a Brāhmaṇ? What are the qualities of a Brāhmaṇ?”
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Bāhitvā pāpake dhamme,
ye caranti sadā satā;
Khīṇasaṁyojanā buddhā,
te ve lokasmi brāhmaṇā”ti.
“Having cast off |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]| qualities,
who wanders always |mindful::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, feelings in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of itself [sata]|;
The Awakened Ones whose fetters are worn away,
they, indeed, are true Brāhmaṇs in the world.”
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta‘s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Now at that time, the venerable |Sāriputta::foremost disciple of the Buddha in great wisdom [sāriputta]|, venerable |Mahāmoggallāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in psychic power; lit. Moggallāna the great [mahāmoggallāna]|, venerable |Mahākassapa::foremost disciple of the Buddha in preaching ascetic practices; lit. Kassapa the great [mahākassapa]|, venerable |Mahākaccāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in explaining a brief instruction in detail; lit. great descendant of Kati [mahākaccāna]|, venerable |Mahākoṭṭhita::Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita is regarded as the foremost disciple of the Buddha in analytical understanding [Mahākoṭṭhita]|, venerable |Mahākappina::foremost disciple of the Buddha in instructing the monks; lit. great Kappina [mahākappina]|, venerable Mahācunda, venerable |Anuruddha::foremost disciple of the Buddha in divine eye; also a cousin of the Buddha [anuruddha]|, venerable |Revata::Venerable Revata is regarded as the foremost disciple of the Buddha in forest dwelling [revata]|, and venerable Nanda approached the Blessed One.
The Blessed One saw those venerable ones approaching from afar. Having seen them, he addressed the bhikkhus: “These, bhikkhus, are |Brāhmaṇs::sages, Brāhmaṇ is a title used by the Buddha for an Arahant, an awakened being [brāhmaṇā]| coming; these, bhikkhus, are Brāhmaṇs coming.” When this was said, a certain bhikkhu of Brāhmaṇ birth said to the Blessed One: “How, venerable sir, is one a Brāhmaṇ? What are the qualities of a Brāhmaṇ?”
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Having cast off |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]| qualities,
who wanders always |mindful::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, feelings in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of itself [sata]|;
The Awakened Ones whose fetters are worn away,
they, indeed, are true Brāhmaṇs in the world.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno āyasmā ca mahākassapo āyasmā ca mahākaccāno āyasmā ca mahākoṭṭhiko āyasmā ca mahākappino āyasmā ca mahācundo āyasmā ca anuruddho āyasmā ca revato āyasmā ca nando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.
Addasā kho bhagavā te āyasmante dūratova āgacchante; disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “ete, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā āgacchanti; ete, bhikkhave, brāhmaṇā āgacchantī”ti. Evaṁ vutte, aññataro brāhmaṇajātiko bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, brāhmaṇo hoti, katame ca pana brāhmaṇakaraṇā dhammā”ti?
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“Bāhitvā pāpake dhamme,
ye caranti sadā satā;
Khīṇasaṁyojanā buddhā,
te ve lokasmi brāhmaṇā”ti.