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# Ud 1:4 · Overbearing (Huhuṅka Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/ud-1-4/
- Published: 2026-06-01T00:04:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:55:32.000Z
- Description: Udāna · Ud 1:4. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Udāna, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:28

I have heard that on one occasion, the Blessed One was staying at Uruvelā on the bank of the Nerañjarā River at the root of the Bodhi tree–the tree of awakening–newly awakened. And on that occasion he sat at the root of the Bodhi tree for seven days in one session, sensitive to the bliss of release. At the end of seven days, he emerged from that concentration.

Then a certain overbearing brahman went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he stood to one side. As he was standing there, he said to the Blessed One, “To what extent, Master Gotama, is one a brahman? And which are the qualities that make one a brahman?”

Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:

Any brahman

who has banished evil qualities,[1](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Ud/ud1%5F4.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co)

–not overbearing,

not stained,

his mind controlled–

gone to the end of wisdom,[2](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Ud/ud1%5F4.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co)

the holy life completed:[3](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Ud/ud1%5F4.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co)

Rightly would that brahman

speak the holy teaching.

He has no swelling of pride[4](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Ud/ud1%5F4.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co)

anywhere in the world.

Notes

1\. This line contains a wordplay on the words *brāhmaṇa* and *bāhita* (banished)–the same wordplay used in [Dhp 388](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/dhp-26/) and [Ud 1:5](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/ud-1-5/).

2\. This line plays with the term *vedanta,* which can mean “end of wisdom,” “end of the Vedas,” or “supplement to the Vedas.” In the latter two cases, it would be a term referring to a brahman-by-birth who has studied all the Vedas and their supplements, but the Buddha is obviously giving this term a different meaning here.

3\. Here and two lines down, the word “holy” translates *brahma.*

4\. See [Sn 4:10](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-4-10/) and [Sn 4:14](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-4-14/).

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*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Ud/ud1%5F4.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*