Ud 2.6

Gabbhinīsutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa paribbājakassa daharamāṇavikā pajāpati hoti gabbhinī upavijaññā. Atha kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

The Pregnant Woman

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain wanderer had a young brahmin wife who was pregnant and about to give birth. She said to him, “Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.”

Evaṁ vutte, so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca: “kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti? Dutiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti. Dutiyampi kho so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca: “kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti? Tatiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

The wanderer said, “But where, my dear, can I get oil?” For a second time, she said, “Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.” For a second time, the wanderer said, “But where, my dear, can I get oil?” For a third time, she said, “Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.”

Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ.

Now at that time ghee and oil were being given away to any ascetic or brahmin at the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala. But it was only to drink there, not to take away.

Atha kho tassa paribbājakassa etadahosi: “rañño kho pana pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ. Yannūnāhaṁ rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā ucchadditvāna dadeyyaṁ, yaṁ imissā vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

Knowing this, the wanderer thought, “Why don’t I go to the king’s storehouse, drink as much oil as I can, then come home and throw it up so it can be used for the delivery?”

Atha kho so paribbājako rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā neva sakkoti uddhaṁ kātuṁ, na pana adho. So dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭho āvaṭṭati parivaṭṭati.

Then he did just that. But when he got home he was unable to either bring it up or pass it out. He rolled to and fro, suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho bhagavā taṁ paribbājakaṁ dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhaṁ āvaṭṭamānaṁ parivaṭṭamānaṁ.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. He saw the wanderer in agony.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Sukhino vata ye akiñcanā, Vedaguno hi janā akiñcanā; Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ, Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandhacitto”ti.

“Oh! How happy are those with nothing! Hence knowledge masters are people with nothing. See how troubled are those with attachments, a person bound tight to people.”