SN7:14 The Affluent One
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1At Sāvatthī. [n.468] A much more elaborate version of the same encounter is found at Dhp-a IV 7–15, where it forms the background story to Dhp 324; see BL 3:201–5. The story is incorporated into Spk. Then a certain affluent brahmin, shabby, clad in a shabby cloak, sn.i.176 approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side, and the Blessed One then said to him: "Why now, brahmin, are you so shabby, clad in a shabby cloak?"
"Here, Master Gotama, my four sons, instigated by their wives, have expelled me from the house."
"Well then, brahmin, learn these verses and recite them when the multitude has assembled in the meeting hall with your sons sitting together there:
2v.679 "Those at whose birth I took delight
And whose success I much desired,
Being instigated by their wives,
Chase me out as dogs chase swine.
3v.680 "These evil fellows are indeed mean,
Although they call me, ‘Dad, dear Dad.’
They’re demons in the guise of sons
To abandon me when I’ve grown old.
4v.681 "As an old horse of no more use
Is led away from its fodder,
So the old father of those boys
Begs for alms at others’ homes.
5v.682 "Better for me is the staff I use
Than those disobedient sons;
For the staff drives off the wild bull
And drives away the wild dog.
6v.683 "In the dark it goes before me,
In the deep it gives me support.
By the gracious power of the staff,
If I stumble I still stand firm."
7Then that affluent brahmin, having learned these verses in the presence of the Blessed One, recited them when the multitude had assembled in the meeting hall with his sons sitting together there:
8v.684 "Those at whose birth I took delight
And whose success I much desired,
Being instigated by their wives,
Chase me out as dogs chase swine.
9v.685 "These evil fellows are indeed mean,
Although they call me, ‘Dad, dear Dad.’
They’re demons in the guise of sons
To abandon me when I’ve grown old.
10v.686 "As an old horse of no more use
Is led away from its fodder,
So the old father of those boys
Begs for alms at others’ homes.
11v.687 "Better for me is the staff I use
Than those disobedient sons;
For the staff drives off the wild bull
And drives away the wild dog.
12v.688 "In the dark it goes before me,
In the deep it gives me support.
By the gracious power of the staff,
If I stumble I still stand firm."sn.i.177
13Then the sons led that affluent brahmin to their house, bathed him, and each gave him a pair of clothes. Then that affluent brahmin, having taken one pair of clothes, approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. Then he sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, we brahmins seek a teacher's fee for our teacher. Let Master Gotama accept a teacher's fee from me." The Blessed One accepted out of compassion.
Then that affluent brahmin said to the Blessed One: "Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life."
1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇamahāsālo lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "Kiṁ nu tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo"ti?
"Idha me, bho gotama, cattāro puttā. Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha gharā nikkhāmentī"ti.
"Tena hi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu bhāsassu:
2‘Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,
yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;
Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,
sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.
3Asantā kira maṁ jammā,
tāta tātāti bhāsare;
Rakkhasā puttarūpena,
te jahanti vayogataṁ.
4Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,
khādanā apanīyati;
Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,
parāgāresu bhikkhati.
5Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,
yañce puttā anassavā;
Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,
atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.
6Andhakāre pure hoti,
gambhīre gādhamedhati;
Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,
khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī’"ti.
7Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu abhāsi:
8"Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,
yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;
Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,
sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.
9Asantā kira maṁ jammā,
tāta tātāti bhāsare;
Rakkhasā puttarūpena,
te jahanti vayogataṁ.
10Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,
khādanā apanīyati;
Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,
parāgāresu bhikkhati.
11Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,
yañce puttā anassavā;
Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,
atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.
12Andhakāre pure hoti,
gambhīre gādhamedhati;
Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,
khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī"ti.
13Atha kho naṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ puttā gharaṁ netvā nhāpetvā paccekaṁ dussayugena acchādesuṁ. Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo ekaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Mayaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nāma acariyassa acariyadhanaṁ pariyesāma. Paṭiggaṇhatu me bhavaṁ gotamo acariyadhanan"ti. Paṭiggahesi bhagavā anukampāṁ upādāya.
Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.