Dhammapada 1.2.2_5

1.2.2_5

Brāhmaṇopissa sarīraṃ jhāpetvā āḷāhane rodanaparāyaṇo ahosi, devasikaṃ āḷāhanaṃ gantvā rodati – ‘‘kahaṃ ekaputtaka, kahaṃ ekaputtakā’’ti. Devaputtopi attano sampattiṃ oloketvā, ‘‘kena me kammena laddhā’’ti upadhārento ‘‘satthari manopasādenā’’ti ñatvā ‘‘ayaṃ brāhmaṇo mama aphāsukakāle bhesajjamakāretvā idāni āḷāhanaṃ gantvā rodati, vippakārappattameva naṃ kātuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti maṭṭhakuṇḍalivaṇṇena āgantvā āḷāhanassāvidūre bāhā paggayha rodanto aṭṭhāsi. Brāhmaṇo taṃ disvā ‘‘ahaṃ tāva puttasokena rodāmi, esa kimatthaṃ rodati, pucchissāmi na’’nti pucchanto imaṃ gāthamāha –

The deity his former son surveyed his own glory and considered within himself, “By what deed of merit have I obtained this?” Perceiving that it was by reposing faith in the Teacher, he said to himself, “This Brahman failed to provide medicine for me when I was sick, but now goes to the burning-ground and weeps; I must effect a change in his attitude.” Accordingly he took the form of Maṭṭhakuṇḍali, went to a place not far from the burning-ground, and stood wringing his hands and weeping. The Brahman saw him and thought to himself, “As for myself, I am weeping because of sorrow for my son; why is yonder youth weeping? I will ask him.” So he asked him in the following Stanza,