雜阿含經 96

English (machine translation) 96

Language: English

96.3

At one time, the Buddha was staying at the Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍadārāma in Śrāvastī.

At that time, in the morning, the Bhagavat put on his robes, took his bowl, and entered the city of Śrāvastī to beg for food. At that time, there was another brāhmaṇa, aged and advanced in years, who held a staff and carried a bowl, begging for food from house to house.

96.5

At that time, the Bhagavat said to the brāhmaṇa: "How is it that now, aged and advanced in years, you lean on a staff, carry a bowl, and beg for food from house to house?" The brāhmaṇa addressed the Buddha: "Gautama, I handed over all the property in my household to my son, arranged a wife for my son, and then left home; therefore I lean on a staff, carry a bowl, and beg for food from house to house."

96.6

The Buddha told the brāhmaṇa: "Can you receive and recite a verse from me, and returning to the assembly, recite it for your son?"

96.7

The brāhmaṇa addressed the Buddha: "I can receive it, Gautama!"

96.8

At that time, the Bhagavat immediately spoke a verse:

96.9

"When a son was born, my heart rejoiced; / For my son I gathered wealth, / And also sought a wife for him, / While I myself renounced home. / A rustic, boorish fellow, / He has turned against and betrayed his father; / In human form with a rākṣasa's heart, / He abandons the elderly elder. / When an old horse is of no further use, / They take away its fodder; / The son is young while the father is old, / Going from house to house begging for food. / This crooked staff is my best [friend], / Not a son with filial affection! / For me it fends off ferocious bulls, / And brings safety in dangerous ground; / It can drive away savage dogs, / And supports me walking in the dark, / Avoiding deep pits and empty wells, / And thickets of thorny bushes; / Relying on the staff's strength, / I stand firm and do not fall."

96.10

Then the brāhmaṇa, having received this verse from the Bhagavat, returned to the great assembly of brāhmaṇas and recited it for his son. First he addressed the assembly: "Listen to what I say!" and then recited the verse… as spoken in detail above. His son was ashamed and fearful; he immediately embraced his father, brought him back into the house, bathed and washed his body, covered him with a blue mantle, and established him as the master of the house.

96.11

Then the brāhmaṇa thought: "That I have now regained honor among my clan is due to the grace of the recluse Gautama. It is said in our scriptures: 'One who is a teacher should be honored as a teacher; one who is an upādhyāya should be honored as an upādhyāya.' What I have received today is entirely by the power of the recluse Gautama; he is indeed my teacher. I must now offer fine, excellent robes to Gautama."

96.12

Then the brāhmaṇa took fine, excellent robes and went to where the Bhagavat was. Having exchanged courteous greetings and inquiries face to face, he sat down to one side and addressed the Buddha, saying: "Gautama, that my household has been re-established today is by Gautama's power. It is recorded in our scriptures: 'One who is a teacher should be honored as a teacher; one who is an upādhyāya should be honored as an upādhyāya.' Today, Gautama is indeed my teacher. Please accept these robes out of compassion!"

Linked texts (1)

雜阿含經 — Classical Chinese

雜阿含經 96

96.1

96.2