1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Bhaggas at Suṁsumāragira, in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove. Now on that occasion the householder Nakulapitā was sick, afflicted, gravely ill. Then the housewife Nakulamātā said this to him: "Do not die full of concern,[n.1275] Sāpekkho. Mp glosses this with sataṇho, "with craving," but I believe the intended meaning is more likely to be "with anxiety, with worry, with sorrow." Pāli apekkhā, like "concern," can mean both attachment and worry. householder. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.[n.1276] Mp says that since she was not able to cure his illness with medicine, she roared this "lion's roar" (sīhanāda) to cure his illness by a declaration of truth (saccakiriyā).

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye. Tena kho pana samayena nakulapitā gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. Atha kho nakulamātā gahapatānī nakulapitaraṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: 

2(1) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘After I’m gone, Nakulamātā won’t be able to support our children and maintain the household.’ But you should not look at the matter in this way. I am skilled at weaving cotton and knitting wool. After you are gone, I’ll be able to support the children and maintain the household. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.

2"Mā kho tvaṁ, gahapati, sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘Na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sakkhissati dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharitun’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Kusalāhaṁ, gahapati, kappāsaṁ kantituṁ veṇiṁ olikhituṁ. Sakkomahaṁ, gahapati, tavaccayena dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharituṁ. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. (1)

3(2) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘After I’m gone, Nakulamātā will take another husband.’[n.1277] I read with Ce varaṁ, as against Be and Ee gharaṁ. Mp: "will take another husband" (aññaṁ sāmikaṁ gaṇhissati). See SED sv vara²: "‘chooser,’ one who solicits a girl in marriage, suitor, lover, bridegroom, husband." But you should not look at the matter in this way. You know, householder, and so do I, that for the last sixteen years we have led the layperson's celibate life.[n.1278] Gahaṭṭhakaṁ brahmacariyaṁ. It is not unusual in traditional Buddhist cultures for devout couples who have begotten several children to mutually agree to observe celibacy. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.

3Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena aññaṁ gharaṁ gamissatī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Tvañceva kho, gahapati, jānāsi ahañca, yaṁ no soḷasavassāni gahaṭṭhakaṁ brahmacariyaṁ samāciṇṇaṁ. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. (2)

4(3) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘After I’m gone, Nakulamātā won’t want to see the Blessed One and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.’ But you should not look at the matter in this way. After you are gone, householder, I will be even keener to see the Blessed One and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.

4Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena na dassanakāmā bhavissati bhagavato na dassanakāmā bhikkhusaṅghassā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Ahañhi, gahapati, tavaccayena dassanakāmatarā ceva bhavissāmi bhagavato, dassanakāmatarā ca bhikkhusaṅghassa. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. (3)

5(4) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘Nakulamātā does not fulfill virtuous behavior.’[n.1279] Since the structure of this section is parallel to the two that follow rather than to the three that precede it, it is evident that mam’accayena does not belong here. Though the expression is in all three printed editions, a Sinhala-script manuscript noted in Ee omits it. Like the two following sections, this one does not have a future verb bhavissati. Further, parallel to the next two sections, Nakulamātā here asserts that she presently fulfills virtuous behavior, referring one who doubts this to the Buddha. Hence, since Nakulamātā is speaking about a current fact, there is no need for her to refer to a time when her husband has passed away. Mp says that §§4–6 are Nakulamātā's declaration of truth. But you should not look at the matter in this way. I am one of the Blessed One's white-robed female lay disciples who fulfill virtuous behavior. If anyone has any doubt or uncertainty about this, the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One is dwelling among the Bhaggas at Suṁsumāragira, in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove. They can go and ask him. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.

5Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘Na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sīlesu paripūrakārinī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā – ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye – taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. (4)

6(5) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘Nakulamātā does not obtain internal serenity of mind.’ But you should not look at the matter in this way. I am one of the Blessed One's white-robed female lay disciples who obtain internal serenity of mind. If anyone has any doubt or uncertainty about this, the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One is dwelling among the Bhaggas at Suṁsumāragira, in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove. They can go and ask him. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One.

6Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘Na nakulamātā gahapatānī lābhinī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā – ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye – taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā. (5)

7(6) "It may be, householder, that you think thus: ‘Nakulamātā has not attained a foothold, a firm stand, assurance in this Dhamma and discipline;[n.1280] Na … imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā. These are all ways of asserting that she is at minimum a stream-enterer. It is interesting that she claims to have obtained a foothold in the dhammavinaya, which suggests that in certain contexts vinaya bears a wider meaning than the code of monastic regulations. she has not crossed over doubt, gotten rid of bewilderment, attained self-confidence, and become independent of others in the Teacher's teaching.’ But you should not look at the matter in this way. I am one of the Blessed One's white-robed female lay disciples who have attained a foothold, a firm stand, assurance in this Dhamma and discipline; I am one of those who have crossed over doubt, gotten rid of bewilderment, attained self-confidence, and become independent of others in the Teacher's teaching. If anyone has any doubt or uncertainty about this, the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One is dwelling among the Bhaggas at Suṁsumāragira, in the deer park at Bhesakalā Grove. They can go and ask him. Therefore, householder, do not die full of concern. To die full of concern is painful. To die full of concern has been criticized by the Blessed One."

7Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:  ‘Na nakulamātā gahapatānī imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharatī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā – ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye – taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu. Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi. Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā; garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā"ti. (6)

8Then, while the householder Nakulapitā was being exhorted in this way by the housewife Nakulamātā, his ailment subsided on the spot. Nakulapitā recovered from that illness, and that is how his illness was abandoned.

8Atha kho nakulapituno gahapatissa nakulamātarā gahapatāniyā iminā ovādena ovadiyamānassa so ābādho ṭhānaso paṭippassambhi. Vuṭṭhahi ca nakulapitā gahapati tamhā ābādhā; tathā pahīno ca pana nakulapituno gahapatissa so ābādho ahosi.

Then, not long after he had recovered, the householder Nakulapitā, leaning on a staff, approached the Blessed One. He paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. The Blessed One then said to him:

Atha kho nakulapitā gahapati gilānā vuṭṭhito aciravuṭṭhito gelaññā daṇḍamolubbha yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nakulapitaraṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: 

9"It is truly your good fortune and gain, householder, that the housewife Nakulamātā has compassion for you, desires your good, and exhorts and instructs you. Nakulamātā is one of my white-robed female lay disciples who fulfill virtuous behavior. She is one of my white-robed female lay disciples who obtain internal serenity of mind. She is one of my white-robed female lay disciples who have attained a foothold, a firm stand, assurance in this Dhamma and discipline, who have crossed over doubt, gotten rid of bewilderment, attained self-confidence, and become independent of others in the Teacher's teaching. It is truly your good fortune and gain, householder, that the housewife Nakulamātā has compassion for you, desires your good, and exhorts and instructs you."

9"Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati. Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā. Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā. Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati. Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.