SN 55.6

Thapatisutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: “niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti. Tena kho pana samayena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo sādhuke paṭivasanti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Assosuṁ kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo: “sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: ‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti.

The Chamberlains

At Sāvatthī. At that time several mendicants were making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering. Now at that time the chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa were residing in Sādhuka on some business. They heard about this.

Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo magge purisaṁ ṭhapesuṁ: “yadā tvaṁ, ambho purisa, passeyyāsi bhagavantaṁ āgacchantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ, atha amhākaṁ āroceyyāsī”ti. Dvīhatīhaṁ ṭhito kho so puriso addasa bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna yena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā isidattapurāṇe thapatayo etadavoca: “ayaṁ so, bhante, bhagavā āgacchati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Yassadāni kālaṁ maññathā”ti.

So they posted someone on the road, saying: “My man, let us know when you see the Blessed One coming, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.” And that person stood there for two or three days before they saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. When they saw him, they went to the chamberlains and said: “Sirs, the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha is coming. Please come at your convenience.”

Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhiṁsu. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma yena aññataraṁ rukkhamūlaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then the chamberlains went up to the Buddha, bowed, and followed behind him. And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a certain tree, and sat down on the seat spread out. The chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

“Yadā mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.

“Sir, when we hear that you will be setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you will be far from us. And when we hear that you are setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.

And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you will be far from us. And when we hear that you are setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.

And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.

you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Kāsian lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti anappakaṁ domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.

you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands … you are setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.

But when we hear that you will be setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us. And when we hear that you are setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.

you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.

you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Mallian lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.

you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Kosalan lands …

Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi sāvatthiṁ cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti anappakaṁ somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’”ti.

you will be setting out in the Kosalan lands to wander to Sāvatthī, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us. And when we hear that you are staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery we have no little happiness and joy, thinking that you are near to us.”

“Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāyā”ti. “Atthi kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti. “Katamo pana vo, thapatayo, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti?

“Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence.” “Sir, for us there is something that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.” “What is that?”

“Idha mayaṁ, bhante, yadā rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyānabhūmiṁ niyyātukāmo hoti, ye te rañño pasenadissa kosalassa nāgā opavayhā te kappetvā, yā tā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa pajāpatiyo piyā manāpā tā ekaṁ purato ekaṁ pacchato nisīdāpema. Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo gandho hoti, seyyathāpi nāma gandhakaraṇḍakassa tāvadeva vivariyamānassa, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ gandhena vibhūsitānaṁ. Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo kāyasamphasso hoti, seyyathāpi nāma tūlapicuno vā kappāsapicuno vā, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ sukhedhitānaṁ. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhante, samaye nāgopi rakkhitabbo hoti, tāpi bhaginiyo rakkhitabbā honti, attāpi rakkhitabbo hoti. Na kho pana mayaṁ, bhante, abhijānāma tāsu bhaginīsu pāpakaṁ cittaṁ uppādetā. Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti.

“Sir, it’s when King Pasenadi of Kosala wants to go and visit a park. We have to harness and prepare his royal elephants. Then we have to seat his dear and beloved wives on the elephants, one in front of us, and one behind. Those sisters smell like a freshly opened perfume box; that’s how the royal ladies smell with makeup on. The touch of those sisters is like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok; that’s how pampered the royal ladies are. Now at that time we must look after the elephants, the sisters, and ourselves. But we don’t recall having a bad thought regarding those sisters. This is that thing that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.”

“Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāya. Catūhi kho, thapatayo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.

“Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence. A noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

Katamehi catūhi? Idha, thapatayo, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… vigatamalamaccherena cetasā ajjhāgāraṁ vasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Imehi kho, thapatayo, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.

What four? It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … They live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.

Tumhe kho, thapatayo, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, thapatayo, katividhā te kosalesu manussā ye tumhākaṁ samasamā, yadidaṁ— dānasaṁvibhāge”ti? “Lābhā no, bhante, suladdhaṁ no, bhante. Yesaṁ no bhagavā evaṁ pajānātī”ti.

And you have experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha … And whatever there is in your family that’s available to give, you share it all with those who are ethical, of good character. What do you think, chamberlains? How many people among the Kosalans are your equal when it comes to giving and sharing?” “We’re fortunate, sir, so very fortunate, in that the Buddha understands us like this.”