Dhammapada 1.2.2_43

1.2.2_43

Brāhmaṇopi gehaṃ gantvā brāhmaṇiṃ āmantetvā, ‘‘bhadde, ahaṃ ajja samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ nimantetvā pañhaṃ pucchissāmi, sakkāraṃ karohī’’ti vatvā vihāraṃ gantvā satthāraṃ neva abhivādetvā na paṭisanthāraṃ katvā ekamantaṃ ṭhito, ‘‘bho gotama, adhivāsehi ajjatanāya bhattaṃ saddhiṃ bhikkhusaṅghenā’’ti āha. Satthā adhivāsesi. So satthu adhivāsanaṃ viditvā vegenāgantvā sake nivesane paṇītaṃ khādanīyaṃ bhojanīyañca paṭiyādāpesi. Satthā bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto tassa gehaṃ gantvā paññattāsane nisīdi. Brāhmaṇo sakkaccaṃ parivisi, mahājano sannipati. Micchādiṭṭhikena kira tathāgate nimantite dve janakāyā sannipatanti micchādiṭṭhikā ‘‘ajja samaṇaṃ gotamaṃ pañhaṃ pucchanāya viheṭhiyamānaṃ passissāmā’’ti sannipatanti, sammādiṭṭhikā ‘‘ajja buddhavisayaṃ buddhalīḷaṃ passissāmā’’ti sannipatanti. Atha kho brāhmaṇo katabhattakiccaṃ tathāgatamupasaṅkamitvā nīcāsane nisinno pañhaṃ pucchi – ‘‘bho gotama, tumhākaṃ dānaṃ adatvā pūjaṃ akatvā dhammaṃ asutvā uposathavāsaṃ avasitvā kevalaṃ manopasādamatteneva sagge nibbattā nāma hontī’’ti? ‘‘Brāhmaṇa, kasmā maṃ pucchasi, nanu te puttena maṭṭhakuṇḍalinā mayi manaṃ pasādetvā attano sagge nibbattabhāvo kathito’’ti? ‘‘Kadā, bho gotamā’’ti? Nanu tvaṃ ajja susānaṃ gantvā kandanto avidūre bāhā paggayha kandantaṃ ekaṃ māṇavaṃ disvā ‘‘alaṅkato maṭṭhakuṇḍalī, māladhārī haricandanussado’’ti dvīhi janehi kathitakathaṃ pakāsento sabbaṃ maṭṭhakuṇḍalivatthuṃ kathesi. Tenevetaṃ buddhabhāsitaṃ nāma jātaṃ.

The Teacher, accompanied by the Congregation of Monks, went to his house and sat down on the seat prepared for him. The Brahman waited upon him respectfully. A multitude of people assembled. We are told that when a man who holds false views invites the Tathāgata, two classes of people assemble. Those who hold false views assemble with the thought in their minds, “To-day we shall see the monk Gotama embarrassed by the questions that are asked him.” Those who hold orthodox views assemble with the thought, “To-day we shall see the power of a Buddha and the grace of a Buddha.”

Now when the Tathāgata had finished his meal, the Brahman approached him, seated himself on a low seat, and asked him the following question, “Sir Gotama, are there any that have been reborn in Heaven, without giving alms to you, without rendering honor to you, without hearing the Law, without keeping fast-day, solely by making an act of faith?” “Brahman, why do you ask me? Did not your own son Maṭṭhakuṇḍalī tell you that he had been reborn in Heaven by reposing faith in me?” “When, Sir Gotama?” “Did you not go to the burning-ground to-day, and while you were weeping, see a youth near you wringing his hands and weeping? And did you not say to him, ‘Richly adorned, wearing earrings of burnished gold, bearing garlands, with protuberances of yellow sandal?’” Continuing, the Teacher related in detail the conversation of the two and told the whole story of Maṭṭhakuṇḍali.