MN87: Piyajātikasutta - Born From the Beloved
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1So 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 householder’s dear and beloved only child passed away. After their death he didn’t feel like working or eating. He would go to the cemetery and wail: “Where are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?”
Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Householder, you look like someone who’s not in their right mind; your faculties have deteriorated.”
“And how, sir, could my faculties not have deteriorated? For my dear and beloved only child has passed away. Since their death I haven’t felt like working or eating. I go to the cemetery and wail: ‘Where are you, my only child? Where are you, my only child?’”
“That’s so true, householder! That’s so true, householder! For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”
“Sir, who on earth could ever think such a thing! For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.” Disagreeing with the Buddha’s statement, rejecting it, he got up from his seat and left.
2Now at that time several gamblers were playing dice not far from the Buddha. That householder approached them and told them what had happened.
“That’s so true, householder! That’s so true, householder! For our loved ones are a source of joy and happiness.”
Thinking: “The gamblers and I are in agreement,” the householder left.
Eventually that topic of discussion reached the royal compound.
3Then King Pasenadi addressed Queen Mallikā: “Mallika, your ascetic Gotama said this: ‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”
“If that’s what the Buddha said, great king, then that’s how it is.”
“No matter what the ascetic Gotama says, Mallikā agrees with him: ‘If that’s what the Buddha said, great king, then that’s how it is.’ You’re just like a student who agrees with everything their teacher says. Go away, Mallikā, get out of here!”
4Then Queen Mallikā addressed the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha: “Please, brahmin, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: ‘Sir, did the Buddha make this statement: “Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress”?’ Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me. For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha: “Master Gotama, Queen Mallikā bows with her head to your feet. She asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And she asks whether the Buddha made this statement: ‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”
5“That’s right, brahmin, that’s right! For our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.
And here’s a way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman’s mother passed away. And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying, ‘Has anyone seen my mother? Has anyone seen my mother?’
And here’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.
6Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman’s father … brother … sister … son … daughter … husband passed away. And because of that she went mad and lost her mind. She went from street to street and from square to square saying, ‘Has anyone seen my husband? Has anyone seen my husband?’
And here’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.
7-8Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain man’s mother … father … brother … sister … son … daughter … wife passed away. And because of that he went mad and lost his mind. He went from street to street and from square to square saying, ‘Has anyone seen my wife? Has anyone seen my wife?’
And here’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.
9Once upon a time right here in Sāvatthī a certain woman went to live with her relative’s family. But her relatives wanted to divorce her from her husband and give her to another, who she didn’t want. So she told her husband about this. But he cut her in two and disemboweled himself, thinking, ‘We shall be together after death.’ That’s another way to understand how our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.”
10Then Nāḷijaṅgha the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, got up from his seat, went to Queen Mallikā, and told her of all they had discussed. Then Queen Mallikā approached King Pasenadi and said to him:
11“What do you think, great king? Do you love Princess Vajirī?”
“Indeed I do, Mallikā.”
“What do you think, great king? If she were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”
“If she were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: ‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’
12What do you think, great king? Do you love Lady Vāsabhā? …
13Do you love your son, General Viḍūḍabha? …
14Do you love me?”
“Indeed I do love you, Mallikā.”
“What do you think, great king? If I were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”
“If you were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: ‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’
15What do you think, great king? Do you love the realms of Kāsi and Kosala?”
“Indeed I do, Mallikā. It’s due to the bounty of Kāsi and Kosala that we use sandalwood imported from Kāsi and wear garlands, perfumes, and makeup.”
“What do you think, great king? If these realms were to decay and perish, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress arise in you?”
“If they were to decay and perish, my life would fall apart. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress not arise in me?”
“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: ‘Our loved ones are a source of sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress.’”
16“It’s incredible, Mallikā, it’s amazing, how far the Buddha sees with penetrating wisdom, it seems to me. Come, Mallikā, rinse my hands.”
Then King Pasenadi got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and was inspired to exclaim three times:
17“Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!
18Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!
19Homage to that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa gahapatissa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti. Tassa kālaṁkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. So āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandati: "kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā"ti.
Atha kho so gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan"ti.
"Kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati; mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputto piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tassa kālaṁkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi: ‘kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’"ti.
"Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā"ti.
"Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti? Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā"ti. Atha kho so gahapati bhagavato bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.
2Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā akkhadhuttā bhagavato avidūre akkhehi dibbanti. Atha kho so gahapati yena te akkhadhuttā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā akkhadhutte etadavoca: "Idhāhaṁ, bhonto, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho maṁ, bhonto, samaṇo gotamo etadavoca: ‘Na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan’ti. Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhonto, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati; mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tassa kālaṅkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi — kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’ti. ‘Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti. ‘Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā? Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā’ti. Atha khvāhaṁ, bhonto, samaṇassa gotamassa bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamin"ti.
"Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā"ti.
Atha kho so gahapati "sameti me akkhadhuttehī"ti pakkāmi.
Atha kho idaṁ kathāvatthu anupubbena rājantepuraṁ pāvisi.
3Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ āmantesi: "Idaṁ te, mallike, samaṇena gotamena bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
"Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ, evametan"ti.
"Evameva panāyaṁ mallikā yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodati: ‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti. Seyyathāpi nāma, yaññadeva ācariyo antevāsissa bhāsati taṁ tadevassa antevāsī abbhanumodati: ‘evametaṁ, ācariya, evametaṁ, ācariyā’ti. Evameva kho tvaṁ, mallike, yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodasi: ‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti. Cara pire, mallike, vinassā"ti.
4Atha kho mallikā devī nāḷijaṅghaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘mallikā, bhante, devī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti; evañca vadehi: ‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti. Yathā te bhagavā byākaroti taṁ sādhukaṁ uggahetvā mama āroceyyāsi. Na hi tathāgatā vitathaṁ bhaṇantī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhotī"ti kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo mallikāya deviyā paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "mallikā, bho gotama, devī bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati; appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati; evañca vadeti: ‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
5"Evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa. Piyajātikā hi, brāhmaṇa, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
Tadamināpetaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā. Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā mātā kālamakāsi. Sā tassā kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
6Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā pitā kālamakāsi … bhātā kālamakāsi … bhaginī kālamakāsi … putto kālamakāsi … dhītā kālamakāsi … sāmiko kālamakāsi. Sā tassa kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me sāmikaṁ addassatha, api me sāmikaṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
7Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa mātā kālamakāsi. So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
8Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa pitā kālamakāsi … bhātā kālamakāsi … bhaginī kālamakāsi … putto kālamakāsi … dhītā kālamakāsi … pajāpati kālamakāsi. So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me pajāpatiṁ addassatha, api me pajāpatiṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
9Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarā itthī ñātikulaṁ agamāsi. Tassā te ñātakā sāmikaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā. Sā ca taṁ na icchati. Atha kho sā itthī sāmikaṁ etadavoca: ‘ime, maṁ, ayyaputta, ñātakā tvaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā. Ahañca taṁ na icchāmī’ti. Atha kho so puriso taṁ itthiṁ dvidhā chetvā attānaṁ upphālesi: ‘ubho pecca bhavissāmā’ti. Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā"ti.
10Atha kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena mallikā devī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ mallikāya deviyā ārocesi. Atha kho mallikā devī yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca:
11"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te vajirī kumārī"ti?
"Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vajirī kumārī"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vajiriyā te kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Vajiriyā me, mallike, kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
12Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te vāsabhā khattiyā"ti? "Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vāsabhā khattiyā"ti. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vāsabhāya te khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Vāsabhāya me, mallike, khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
13Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyo te viṭaṭūbho senāpatī"ti? "Evaṁ, mallike, piyo me viṭaṭūbho senāpatī"ti. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, viṭaṭūbhassa te senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Viṭaṭūbhassa me, mallike, senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
14Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te ahan"ti?
"Evaṁ, mallike, piyā mesi tvan"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, mayhaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Tuyhañhi me, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
15Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te kāsikosalā"ti?
"Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me kāsikosalā. Kāsikosalānaṁ, mallike, ānubhāvena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhoma, mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhāremā"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, kāsikosalānaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Kāsikosalānañhi, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
16"Acchariyaṁ, mallike, abbhutaṁ, mallike. Yāvañca so bhagavā paññāya ativijjha maññe passati. Ehi, mallike, ācamehī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
17"Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
18Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
19Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassā"ti.
Piyajātikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.