7: The Book of the Sevens
V. A Great Sacrifice — AN 7.53: Nanda’s Mother
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1So I have heard. At one time the venerables Sāriputta and Mahāmoggallāna were wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants. Now at that time the laywoman Veḷukaṇṭakī, Nanda’s mother, rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of “The Way to the Beyond”.
2And at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business. He heard Nanda’s Mother reciting, and stood waiting for her to finish.
3Then when her recital was over she fell silent. Then, knowing she had finished, Vessavaṇa applauded, saying: “Good, sister! Good, sister!”
“But who might you be, my dear?”
“Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.”
“Good, my dear! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.”
‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest. Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me. Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.”
4And when the night had passed the lay woman Nanda’s Mother had a variety of delicious foods prepared in her own home. Then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna arrived at Veḷukaṇṭa.
Then Nanda’s Mother addressed a man: “Please, mister, go to the monastery and announce the time to the Saṅgha, saying: ‘Sirs, it’s time. The meal is ready in the house of the lady Nanda’s Mother.’”
“Yes, Ma’am,” that man replied, and he did as she said.
And then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, went to the home of Nanda’s Mother, where they sat on the seats spread out. Then Nanda’s Mother served and satisfied them with her own hands with a variety of delicious foods.
5When Sāriputta had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Nanda’s Mother sat down to one side. Sāriputta said to her:
“Nanda’s Mother, who told you that the Saṅgha of mendicants was about to arrive?”
6“Sir, last night I rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of ‘The Way to the Beyond’, and then I fell silent. Then the great king Vessavaṇa, knowing I had finished, applauded me, ‘Good, sister! Good, sister!’
I asked: ‘But who might you be, my dear?’
‘Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.’
‘Good, my dear! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.’
‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest. Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me. Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.’
And so, sir, may the merit and the growth of merit in this gift be for the happiness of the great king Vessavaṇa.”
7“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing that you converse face to face with a mighty and illustrious god like the great king Vessavaṇa.”
8“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. I had an only son called Nanda who I loved dearly. The rulers forcibly abducted him on some pretext and had him executed. But I can’t recall getting upset when my boy was under arrest or being arrested, imprisoned or being put in prison, killed or being killed.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing that you purify even the arising of a thought.”
9“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. When my husband passed away he was reborn in one of the realms of spirits. He revealed to me his previous life-form. But I can’t recall getting upset on that account.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing that you purify even the arising of a thought.”
10“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. Ever since we were both young, and I was given in marriage to my husband, I can’t recall betraying him even in thought, still less in deed.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing that you purify even the arising of a thought.”
11“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. Ever since I declared myself a lay follower, I can’t recall deliberately breaking any precept.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”
12“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. Whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. And with the fading away of rapture, I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the ending of former happiness and sadness, I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”
13“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality; there is another. Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.”
“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”
14Then Venerable Sāriputta educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Nanda’s Mother with a Dhamma talk, after which he got up from his seat and left.
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ cārikaṁ caranti mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ. Tena kho pana samayena veḷukaṇḍakī nandamātā upāsikā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsati.
2Tena kho pana samayena vessavaṇo mahārājā uttarāya disāya dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ gacchati kenacideva karaṇīyena. Assosi kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsantiyā, sutvā kathāpariyosānaṁ āgamayamāno aṭṭhāsi.
3Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosi. Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi: "Sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī"ti.
"Ko paneso, bhadramukhā"ti?
"Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā"ti.
"Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan"ti.
"Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ. Sveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi. Etañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan"ti.
4Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpesi. Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso yena veḷukaṇḍako tadavasari.
Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocehi: ‘kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’"ti.
"Evaṁ, ayye"ti kho so puriso nandamātāya upāsikāya paṭissutvā ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocesi: "kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan"ti.
Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena nandamātāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā sāriputtamoggallānappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.
5Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:
"ko pana te, nandamāte, bhikkhusaṅghassa abbhāgamanaṁ ārocesī"ti?
6"Idhāhaṁ, bhante, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, vessavaṇo mahārājā mama kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi: ‘sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī’ti.
‘Ko paneso, bhadramukhā’ti?
‘Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā’ti.
‘Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan’ti.
‘Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ. Sveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi. Etañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan’ti.
Yadidaṁ, bhante, dāne puññañca puññamahī ca taṁ vessavaṇassa mahārājassa sukhāya hotū"ti.
7"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte. Yatra hi nāma vessavaṇena mahārājena evaṁmahiddhikena evaṁmahesakkhena devaputtena sammukhā sallapissasī"ti. (1)
8"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Idha me, bhante, nando nāma ekaputtako piyo manāpo. Taṁ rājāno kismiñcideva pakaraṇe okassa pasayha jīvitā voropesuṁ. Tasmiṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dārake gahite vā gayhamāne vā vadhe vā vajjhamāne vā hate vā haññamāne vā nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattan"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ nandamāte. Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī"ti. (2)
9"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Idha me, bhante, sāmiko kālaṅkato aññataraṁ yakkhayoniṁ upapanno. So me teneva purimena attabhāvena uddassesi. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi tatonidānaṁ cittassa aññathattan"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte. Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī"ti. (3)
10"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Yatohaṁ, bhante, sāmikassa dāhārasseva daharā ānītā nābhijānāmi sāmikaṁ manasāpi aticaritā, kuto pana kāyenā"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte. Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī"ti. (4)
11"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Yadāhaṁ, bhante, upāsikā paṭidesitā nābhijānāmi kiñci sikkhāpadaṁ sañcicca vītikkamitā"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte"ti. (5)
12"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Idhāhaṁ, bhante, yāvade ākaṅkhāmi vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhikā ca viharāmi satā ca sampajānā sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmī"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte"ti. (6)
13"Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo. Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani appahīnaṁ samanupassāmī"ti.
"Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte"ti. (7)
14Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.
Dasamaṁ.
Mahāyaññavaggo pañcamo.
15Ṭhiti ca parikkhāraṁ dve,
aggī saññā ca dve parā;
Methunā saṁyogo dānaṁ,
nandamātena te dasāti.
Paṇṇāsako samatto.