SN55:6 The Chamberlains
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1At Sāvatthī. Now on that occasion a number of bhikkhus were making a robe for the Blessed One, thinking: "After the three months, with his robe completed, the Blessed One will set out on tour."
Now on that occasion the chamberlains [n.326] Though elsewhere thapati evidently means a carpenter, from the description of their duties below it seems these two were royal chamberlains. In Skt literature sthāpatya are often keepers of the women's apartments, and that seems to be their function here. The two are also mentioned as employed in the service of King Pasenadi at MN89. According to Spk, at the time Isidatta was a once-returner, Puraṇa a stream-enterer content with his own wife (i.e., not celibate). At AN6.44, it is said that after their deaths the Buddha declared them both once-returners reborn in the Tusita heaven; Puraṇa was then celibate, Isidatta content with his own wife. Isidatta and Puraṇa were residing in Sadhuka on some business. They heard: "A number of bhikkhus, it is said, are making a robe for the Blessed One, thinking that after the three months, with his robe completed, the Blessed One will set out on tour."
2Then the chamberlains Isidatta and Puraṇa posted a man on the road, telling him: "Good man, when you see the Blessed One coming, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, then you should inform us." After standing for two or three days that man saw the Blessed One coming in the distance. Having seen him, the man approached the chamberlains Isidatta and Puraṇa and told them: "Sirs, this Blessed One is coming, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. You may come at your own convenience."
3Then the chamberlains Isidatta and Puraṇa approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and followed closely behind him. Then the Blessed One left the road, went to the foot of a tree, and sat down on a seat that was prepared for him. sn.v.349 The chamberlains Isidatta and Puraṇa paid homage to the Blessed One, sat down to one side, and said to him:
4"Venerable sir, when we hear that the Blessed One will set out from Sāvatthī on tour among the Kosalans, on that occasion there arises in us distress and displeasure at the thought: ‘The Blessed One will be far away from us.’ Then when we hear that the Blessed One has set out from Sāvatthī on tour among the Kosalans, on that occasion there arises in us distress and displeasure at the thought: ‘The Blessed One is far away from us.’
5–9"Further, venerable sir, when we hear that the Blessed One will set out from among the Kosalans on tour in the Mallan country … that he has set out from among the Kosalans on tour in the Mallan country … that he will set out from among the Mallans on tour in the Vajjian country … that he has set out from among the Mallans on tour in the Vajjian country … that he will set out from among the Vajjians on tour in the Kasian country … that he has set out from among the Vajjians on tour in the Kasian country … that he will set out from among the Kasians on tour in Magadha, on that occasion there arises in us sn.v.350 distress and displeasure at the thought: ‘The Blessed One will be far away from us.’ Then when we hear that the Blessed One has set out from among the Kasians on tour in Magadha, on that occasion there arises in us great distress and displeasure at the thought: ‘The Blessed One is far away from us.’
10"But, venerable sir, when we hear that the Blessed One will set out from among the Magadhans on tour in the Kasian country, on that occasion there arises in us elation and joy at the thought: ‘The Blessed One will be near to us.’ Then when we hear that the Blessed One has set out from among the Magadhans on tour in the Kasian country, on that occasion there arises in us elation and joy at the thought: ‘The Blessed One is near to us.’
11–13"Further, venerable sir, when we hear that the Blessed One will set out from among the Kasians on tour in the Vajjian country … that he has set out from among the Kasians on tour in the Vajjian country … that he will set out from among the Vajjians on tour in the Mallan country … that he has set out from among the Vajjians on tour in the Mallan country … that he will set out from among the Mallans on tour in Kosala … that he has set out from among the Mallans on tour in Kosala … that he will set out from among the Kosalans on tour to Sāvatthī, on that occasion there arises in us elation and joy at the thought: ‘The Blessed One will be near to us.’ Then, venerable sir, when we hear that the Blessed One is dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, on that occasion there arises in us great elation and joy at the thought: ‘The Blessed One is near to us.’"
14"Therefore, chamberlains, the household life is confinement, a path of dust. The going forth is like the open air. It is enough for you, chamberlains, to be diligent."
"Venerable sir, we are subject to another confinement even more confining and considered more confining than the former one." sn.v.351
"But what, chamberlains, is that other confinement to which you are subject, which is even more confining and considered more confining than the former one?"
15"Here, venerable sir, when King Pasenadi of Kosala wants to make an excursion to his pleasure garden, after we have prepared his riding elephants we have to place the king's dear and beloved wives on their seats, one in front and one behind. Now, venerable sir, the scent of those ladies is just like that of a perfumed casket briefly opened; so it is with the royal ladies wearing scent. Also, venerable sir, the bodily touch of those ladies is just like that of a tuft of cotton wool or kapok; so it is with the royal ladies so delicately nurtured. Now on that occasion, venerable sir, the elephants must be guarded, and those ladies must be guarded, and we ourselves must be guarded, yet we do not recall giving rise to an evil state of mind in regard to those ladies. This, venerable sir, is that other confinement to which we are subject, which is even more confining and considered more confining than the former one."
16"Therefore, chamberlains, the household life is confinement, a path of dust. The going forth is like the open air. It is enough for you, chamberlains, to be diligent. The noble disciple, chamberlains, who possesses four things is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination.
17"What four? Here, chamberlains, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus: ‘The Blessed One is … teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ He possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma … in the Saṅgha. … He dwells at home with a mind devoid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, one devoted to charity, [n.327] Here the usual fourth factor of stream-entry, the virtues dear to the noble ones, is replaced by generosity. The terms are commented on at Vism 223–24 (Ppn 7:107–14). On my preference for the reading yājayoga, see I, n. 635. delighting in giving and sharing. A noble disciple who possesses these four things sn.v.352 is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination.
18"Chamberlains, you possess confirmed confidence in the Buddha … in the Dhamma … in the Saṅgha. … Moreover, whatever there is in your family that is suitable for giving, all that you share unreservedly among those who are virtuous and of good character. What do you think, carpenters, how many people are there among the Kosalans who are your equals, that is, in regard to giving and sharing?"
"It is a gain for us, venerable sir, it is well gained by us, venerable sir, that the Blessed One understands us so well."
1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. 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.
2Atha 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.
3Atha 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:
4"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.
5Yadā 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.
6Yadā 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.
7Yadā 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.
8Yadā 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.
9Yadā 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.
10Yadā 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.
11Yadā 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.
12Yadā 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.
13Yadā 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 vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti anappakaṁ somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’"ti.
14"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?
15"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.
16"Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāya. Catūhi kho, thapatayo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.
17Katamehi 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.
18Tumhe 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.
Chaṭṭhaṁ.