Dhammapada 1.3: 3. Tissattheravatthu

1.3.p1

Akkocchi manti imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ satthā jetavane viharanto tissattheraṃ ārabbha kathesi.

He abused me. This religious instruction was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Elder Tissa.

1.3.p2

So kirāyasmā tissatthero bhagavato pitucchāputto ahosi, mahallakakāle pabbajitvā buddhānaṃ uppannalābhasakkāraṃ paribhuñjanto thūlasarīro ākoṭitapaccākoṭitehi cīvarehi nivāsetvā yebhuyyena vihāramajjhe upaṭṭhānasālāyaṃ nisīdati. Tathāgataṃ dassanatthāya āgatā āgantukabhikkhū taṃ disvā ‘‘eko mahāthero bhavissatī’’ti saññāya tassa santikaṃ gantvā vattaṃ āpucchanti, pādasambāhanādīni āpucchanti. So tuṇhī ahosi. Atha naṃ eko daharabhikkhu ‘‘kativassā tumhe’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘vassaṃ natthi, mahallakakāle pabbajitā maya’’nti vutte, ‘‘āvuso, dubbinīta, mahallaka, attano pamāṇaṃ na jānāsi, ettake mahāthere disvā sāmīcikammamattampi na karosi, vatte āpucchiyamāne tuṇhī hosi, kukkuccamattampi te natthī’’ti accharaṃ pahari. So khattiyamānaṃ janetvā ‘‘tumhe kassa santikaṃ āgatā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘satthu santika’’nti vutte ‘‘maṃ pana ‘ko eso’ti sallakkhetha, mūlameva vo chindissāmī’’ti vatvā rudanto dukkhī dummano satthu santikaṃ agamāsi. Atha naṃ satthā ‘‘kiṃ nu tvaṃ tissa dukkhī dummano assumukho rodamāno āgatosī’’ti pucchi. Tepi bhikkhū ‘‘esa gantvā kiñci āloḷaṃ kareyyā’’ti teneva saddhiṃ gantvā satthāraṃ vanditvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu. So satthārā pucchito ‘‘ime maṃ, bhante, bhikkhū akkosantī’’ti āha. ‘‘Kahaṃ pana tvaṃ nisinnosī’’ti? ‘‘Vihāramajjhe upaṭṭhānasālāyaṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Ime te bhikkhū āgacchantā diṭṭhā’’ti? ‘‘Āma, diṭṭhā, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ uṭṭhāya te paccuggamanaṃ kata’’nti? ‘‘Na kataṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Parikkhāraggahaṇaṃ āpucchita’’nti? ‘‘Nāpucchitaṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Vattaṃ vā pānīyaṃ vā āpucchita’’nti. ‘‘Nāpucchitaṃ bhante’’ti? ‘‘Āsanaṃ nīharitvā abhivādetvā pādasambāhanaṃ kata’’nti? ‘‘Na kataṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Tissa mahallakabhikkhūnaṃ sabbaṃ etaṃ vattaṃ kātabbaṃ, etaṃ vattaṃ akarontena vihāramajjhe nisīdituṃ na vaṭṭati, taveva doso, ete bhikkhū khamāpehī’’ti? ‘‘Ete maṃ, bhante, akkosiṃsu, nāhaṃ ete khamāpemī’’ti. ‘‘Tissa mā evaṃ kari, taveva doso, khamāpehi ne’’ti? ‘‘Na khamāpemi, bhante’’ti. Atha satthā ‘‘dubbaco esa, bhante’’ti bhikkhūhi vutte ‘‘na, bhikkhave, idāneva dubbaco esa, pubbepi esa dubbacoyevā’’ti vatvā ‘‘idāni tāvassa, bhante, dubbacabhāvo amhehi ñāto, atīte esa kiṃ akāsī’’ti vutte ‘‘tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇāthā’’ti vatvā atītamāhari.

It seems that this Venerable Elder was the son of the sister of the father of the Exalted One. He was an old man when he retired from the world, and very fat. He enjoyed the gain and honor of the Buddhas; his clothes were always smooth from constant beating; he always sat in the center of the monastery in the Hall of State.

One day some visiting monks came to see the Tathāgata, and supposing Tissa to be some Great Elder, asked to be allowed the privilege of waiting upon him, offering among other things to rub his feet. Tissa remained silent. Thereupon a certain young monk asked him, "How many seasons have you kept residence?" "No seasons at all," replied Tissa; "I was an old man when I retired from the world." Said the young monk, "You wretched old monk, you overestimate your own importance. Seeing before you, as you do, all these Great Elders, you are not even civil to them. To their offers to perform various services for you, you answer by silence. Moreover, you show not the slightest regret for your misconduct." So saying, he snapped his fingers. Recovering the pride of a member of the Warrior caste, Tissa asked them, "Whom did you come to see?" "We came to see the Teacher." "But with reference to me, you say to yourselves, 'Who is he?' I will extirpate your whole race." So saying, he went to the Teacher, weeping and sad and sorrowful.

The Teacher asked him, "Tissa, how is it that you come to me sad and sorrowful, with tears in your eyes, weeping?" The monks said to themselves, "If he goes alone, he may cause some trouble." So they went right with him, paid obeisance to the Teacher, and sat down respectfully on one side. Tissa answered the Teacher's question as follows, "Reverend Sir, these monks are abusing me." "But where were you sitting?" "In the center of the monastery in the Hall of State, Reverend Sir." "Did you see these monks when they came?" "Yes, Reverend Sir, I saw them." "Did you rise and go to meet them?" "No, Reverend Sir, I did not." "Did you offer to take their monastic utensils?" "No, Reverend Sir, I did not offer to take them."

"Did you offer to wait upon them and to provide them with water to drink?" "No, Reverend Sir, I did not offer to do either of these things." "Did you bring seats for them and rub their feet?" "I did not, Reverend Sir." "Tissa, you should have performed all these services for the old monks, for he who does not do this has no right to sit in the center of the monastery. You alone are to blame; ask pardon of these monks." "But they abused me, Reverend Sir; I will not ask their pardon." "Tissa, do not act thus. You alone are to blame; ask their pardon." "I will not ask their pardon, Reverend Sir."

The monks said to the Teacher, "He is an obstinate monk, Reverend Sir." The Teacher replied, "Monks, this is not the first time he has proved obstinate; he was obstinate also in a previous state of existence." "We know all about his present obstinacy, Reverend Sir; but what did he do in a previous state of existence?" "Well then, monks, listen," said the Teacher. So saying, he told the following

1.3.p3

Atīte bārāṇasiyaṃ bārāṇasiraññe rajjaṃ kārente devilo nāma tāpaso aṭṭha māse himavante vasitvā loṇambilasevanatthāya cattāro māse nagaramupanissāya vasitukāmo himavantato āgantvā nagaradvāre dārake disvā pucchi – ‘‘imaṃ nagaraṃ sampattapabbajitā kattha vasantī’’ti? ‘‘Kumbhakārasālāyaṃ, bhante’’ti. Tāpaso kumbhakārasālaṃ gantvā dvāre ṭhatvā ‘‘sace te bhaggava agaru, vaseyyāma ekarattiṃ sālāya’’nti āha. Kumbhakāro ‘‘mayhaṃ rattiṃ sālāyaṃ kiccaṃ natthi, mahatī sālā, yathāsukhaṃ vasatha, bhante’’ti sālaṃ niyyādesi. Tasmiṃ pavisitvā nisinne aparopi nārado nāma tāpaso himavantato āgantvā kumbhakāraṃ ekarattivāsaṃ yāci. Kumbhakāro ‘‘paṭhamaṃ āgato iminā saddhiṃ ekato vasitukāmo bhaveyya vā no vā, attānaṃ parimocessāmī’’ti cintetvā ‘‘sace, bhante, paṭhamaṃ upagato rocessati, tassa ruciyā vasathā’’ti āha. So tamupasaṅkamitvā ‘‘sace te, ācariya agaru, mayañcettha ekarattiṃ vaseyyāmā’’ti yāci. ‘‘Mahatī sālā, pavisitvā ekamante vasāhī’’ti vutte pavisitvā puretaraṃ paviṭṭhassa devilassa aparabhāge nisīdi. Ubhopi sāraṇīyakathaṃ kathetvā nipajjiṃsu.

Once upon a time, when a certain king of Benāres reigned at Benāres, an ascetic named Devala, who had resided for eight months in the Himālaya country, desiring to reside near the city during the four months of the rains, returned from the Himālaya for salt and vinegar. Seeing two boys at the gate of the city, he asked them, "Where do monks who come to this city spend the night?" "In the potter's hall, Reverend Sir." So Devala went to the potter's hall, stopped at the door, and said, "If it is agreeable to you, Bhaggava, I should like to spend one night in your hall." The potter turned over the hall to him, saying, "I have no work going on in the hall at night, and the hall is a large one; spend the night here as you please, Reverend Sir."

No sooner had Devala entered the hall and sat down than another ascetic named Nārada, returning from the Himālaya, asked the potter for a night's lodging. The potter thought to himself, "The ascetic who arrived first may or may not be willing to spend the night with him; I will therefore relieve myself of responsibility." So he said to the ascetic who had just arrived, "Reverend Sir, if the ascetic who arrived first approves, spend the night at his pleasure." So Nārada approached Devala and said, "Teacher, if it is agreeable to you, I should like to spend one night here." Devala replied, "The hall is a large one; therefore come in and spend the night on one side." So

Nārada went in and sat down behind the ascetic who had gone in before him. Both exchanged friendly greetings.

1.3.p4

Sayanakāle nārado devilassa nipajjanaṭṭhānañca dvārañca sallakkhetvā nipajji. So pana devilo nipajjamāno attano nipajjanaṭṭhāne anipajjitvā dvāramajjhe tiriyaṃ nipajji. Nārado rattiṃ nikkhamanto tassa jaṭāsu akkami. ‘‘Ko maṃ akkamī’’ti ca vutte, ‘‘ācariya, aha’’nti āha. ‘‘Kūṭajaṭila, araññato āgantvā mama jaṭāsu akkamasī’’ti. ‘‘Ācariya, tumhākaṃ idha nipannabhāvaṃ na jānāmi, khamatha me’’ti vatvā tassa kandantasseva bahi nikkhami. Itaro ‘‘ayaṃ pavisantopi maṃ akkameyyā’’ti parivattetvā pādaṭṭhāne sīsaṃ katvā nipajji. Nāradopi pavisanto ‘‘paṭhamaṃpāhaṃ ācariye aparajjhiṃ, idānissa pādapassena pavisissāmī’’ti cintetvā āgacchanto gīvāya akkami. ‘‘Ko eso’’ti ca vutte ‘‘ahaṃ, ācariyā’’ti vatvā ‘‘kūṭajaṭila, paṭhamaṃ mama jaṭāsu akkamitvā idāni gīvāya akkamasi, abhisapissāmi ta’’nti vutte, ‘‘ācariya, mayhaṃ doso natthi, ahaṃ tumhākaṃ evaṃ nipannabhāvaṃ na jānāmi, ‘paṭhamampi me aparaddhaṃ, idāni pādapassena pavisissāmī’ti paviṭṭhomhi, khamatha me’’ti āha. ‘‘Kūṭajaṭila, abhisapissāmi ta’’nti. ‘‘Mā evaṃ karittha ācariyā’’ti. So tassa vacanaṃ anādiyitvā –

When it was bedtime, Nārada noted carefully the place where Devala lay and the position of the door, and then lay down. But when Devala lay down, instead of lying down in his proper place, he lay down directly across the doorway. The result was that when Nārada went out at night, he trod on Devala’s matted locks. Thereupon Devala cried out, “Who is treading on my locks?” Nārada replied, “Teacher, it is I.” “False ascetic,” said Devala, “you come from the forest and tread on my locks.” “Teacher, I did not know that you were lying here; pardon me.” Nārada then went out, leaving Devala weeping as if his heart would break.

Devala thought to himself, “I will let him tread on me when he comes in also.” So he turned around and lay down, placing his head where his feet had been before. When Nārada came in, he thought to himself, “The first time I injured the teacher; this time I will go in past his feet.” The result was that, when Nārada entered, he trod on Devala’s neck. Thereupon Devala cried out, “Who is that?” Nārada replied, “It is I, teacher.” “False ascetic,” said Devala, “the first time you trod on my locks; this time you tread on my neck. I will curse you.” “Teacher, I am not to blame. I did not know that you were lying in this position. When I came in I thought to myself, ‘The first time I injured the teacher; this time I will go in past his feet.’ Pardon me.” “False ascetic, I will curse you.” “Do not so, teacher.” But Devala, paying no attention to what Nārada said, cursed him all the same, saying,

1.3.p5

‘‘Sahassaraṃsī satatejo, sūriyo tamavinodano;
Pātodayante sūriye, muddhā te phalatu sattadhā’’ti. –

The sun possesses a thousand rays and a hundred flames, is dispeller of darkness.
When the sun rises on the morrow, may your head split into seven pieces.

1.3.p6

Taṃ abhisapi eva. Nārado, ‘‘ācariya, mayhaṃ doso natthīti mama vadantasseva tumhe abhisapatha, yassa doso atthi, tassa muddhā phalatu, mā niddosassā’’ti vatvā –

Nārada said, “Teacher, I told you it was not my fault. But in spite of what I said, you have cursed me. Let the head of the guilty man split into seven pieces, not that of the innocent.” Thereupon Nārada pronounced the following curse,

1.3.p7

‘‘Sahassaraṃsī satatejo, sūriyo tamavinodano;
Pātodayante sūriye, muddhā te phalatu sattadhā’’ti. –

The sun possesses a thousand rays and a hundred flames, is dispeller of darkness.
When the sun rises on the morrow, may your head split into seven pieces.

1.3.p8

Abhisapi. So pana mahānubhāvo atīte cattālīsa, anāgate cattālīsāti asītikappe anussarati. Tasmā ‘‘kassa nu kho upari abhisapo patissatī’’ti upadhārento ‘‘ācariyassā’’ti ñatvā tasmiṃ anukampaṃ paṭicca iddhibalena aruṇuggamanaṃ nivāreti.

Now Nārada possessed great supernatural power and could call to mind eighty cycles of time, forty cycles in the past and forty in the future. So considering, “On whom will the curse fall?” and perceiving that it would fall on his brother-ascetic, he felt compassion for him, and therefore put forth the power of his magic and prevented the sun from rising.

1.3.p9

Nāgarā aruṇe anuggacchante rājadvāraṃ gantvā, ‘‘deva, tayi rajjaṃ kārente aruṇo na uṭṭhahati, aruṇaṃ no uṭṭhāpehī’’ti kandiṃsu. Rājā attano kāyakammādīni olokento kiñci ayuttaṃ adisvā ‘‘kiṃ nu kho kāraṇa’’nti cintetvā ‘‘pabbajitānaṃ vivādena bhavitabba’’nti parisaṅkamāno ‘‘kacci imasmiṃ nagare pabbajitā atthī’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Hiyyo sāyaṃ kumbhakārasālāyaṃ āgatā atthi devā’’ti vutte taṃkhaṇaññeva rājā ukkāhi dhāriyamānāhi tattha gantvā nāradaṃ vanditvā ekamantaṃ nisinno āha –

When the sun failed to rise, the citizens assembled before the gate of the king's palace and wailed, "Your majesty, the sun has not risen, and you are king. Make the sun rise for us." The king surveyed his own deeds, words, and thoughts, and seeing no impropriety, thought to himself, "What can be the cause?" Suspecting that it might be because of a quarrel of the monks, he inquired, "Are there any monks in this city?" "Your majesty, last evening there were some arrivals at the potter's hall." The king immediately went there with torches carried before him, paid obeisance to Nārada, seated himself respectfully on one side, and said,

1.3.p10

‘‘Kammantā nappavattanti, jambudīpassa nārada;
Kena loko tamobhūto, taṃ me akkhāhi pucchito’’ti.

Nārada, the people of the Land of the Rose-Apple are unable to pursue their wonted occupations.
Why is the world overspread with darkness? Tell me in answer to my question.

1.3.p11

Nārado sabbaṃ taṃ pavattiṃ ācikkhitvā iminā kāraṇena ahaṃ iminā abhisapito, athāhaṃ ‘‘mayhaṃ doso natthi, yassa doso atthi, tasseva upari abhisapo patatū’’ti vatvā abhisapiṃ. Abhisapitvā ca pana ‘‘kassa nu kho upari abhisapo patissatī’’ti upadhārento ‘‘sūriyuggamanavelāya ācariyassa muddhā sattadhā phalissatī’’ti disvā etasmiṃ anukampaṃ paṭicca aruṇassa uggamanaṃ na demīti. ‘‘Kathaṃ pana assa, bhante, antarāyo na bhaveyyā’’ti. ‘‘Sace maṃ khamāpeyya, na bhaveyyā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi khamāpehī’’ti vutte ‘‘eso, mahārāja, maṃ jaṭāsu ca gīvāya ca akkami, nāhaṃ etaṃ kūṭajaṭilaṃ khamāpemī’’ti. ‘‘Khamāpehi, bhante, mā evaṃ karitthā’’ti. ‘‘Na khamāpemī’’ti. ‘‘Muddhā te sattadhā phalissatī’’ti vuttepi na khamāpetiyeva. Atha naṃ rājā ‘‘na tvaṃ attano ruciyā khamāpessasī’’ti hatthapādakucchigīvāsu gāhāpetvā nāradassa pādamūle onamāpesi. Nāradopi ‘‘uṭṭhehi, ācariya, khamāmi te’’ti vatvā, ‘‘mahārāja, nāyaṃ yathāmanena khamāpeti, nagarassa avidūre eko saro atthi, tattha naṃ sīse mattikāpiṇḍaṃ katvā galappamāṇe udake ṭhapāpehī’’ti āha. Rājā tathā kāresi. Nārado devilaṃ āmantetvā, ‘‘ācariya, mayā iddhiyā vissaṭṭhāya sūriyasantāpe uṭṭhahante udake nimujjitvā aññena ṭhānena uttaritvā gaccheyyāsī’’ti āha. ‘‘Tassa sūriyaraṃsīhi saṃphuṭṭhamattova mattikāpiṇḍo sattadhā phali, so nimujjitvā aññena ṭhānena palāyī’’ti.

Nārada told him the whole story. "For this reason," said he, "I was cursed by this ascetic. So I cursed him back, saying, 'I am not to blame; let the curse fall upon whichever of us is to blame.' But when I had cursed him, I considered within myself, 'Upon whom will the curse fall?' and perceived that, as soon as the sun rose, the head of my brother-ascetic would split into seven pieces. Therefore, out of pity for him, I am not permitting the sun to rise." "But, Reverend Sir, how can he escape destruction?" "He may escape destruction by begging my pardon."

"Well then," said the king to Devala, "beg his pardon." Devala replied, "Great king, this fellow trod on my matted locks and on my neck; I will not beg pardon of this false ascetic." "Beg his pardon, Reverend Sir; do not act thus." "Great king, I will not beg his pardon." "Your head will split into seven pieces." "Nevertheless I will not beg his pardon." "I am convinced that you will not beg his pardon of your own free will," said the king. Thereupon, taking him by the hands, feet, belly, and neck, the king compelled him to bow down before Nārada's feet. Nārada said, "Rise, teacher, I pardon you." Then said Nārada to the king, "Great king, since this ascetic does not ask pardon of his own free will, take him to a certain lake not far from the city, put a lump of clay on top of his head, and make him stand in the water up to his neck."

The king did so. Then said Nārada to Devala, "Teacher, I will put forth my magical power and cause the sun to rise. At that moment duck in the water, rise in a different place, and go your way.” As soon as the sun’s rays touched the lump of clay, it split into seven pieces. Thereupon Devala ducked in the water, rose in a different place, and ran away. End of Story of the Past.

1.3.p12

Satthā imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ āharitvā ‘‘tadā, bhikkhave, rājā ānando ahosi, devilo tisso, nārado ahamevāti evaṃ tadāpesa dubbacoyevā’’ti vatvā tissattheraṃ āmantetvā, ‘‘tissa, bhikkhuno nāma ‘asukenāhaṃ akkuṭṭho, asukena pahaṭo, asukena jito, asuko kho me bhaṇḍaṃ ahāsī’ti cintentassa veraṃ nāma na vūpasammati, evaṃ pana anupanayhantasseva upasammatī’’ti vatvā imā gāthā abhāsi –

When the Teacher had given this religious instruction, he said, “Monks, at that time the king was Ānanda, Devala was Tissa, and Nārada was I myself; at that time also he was obstinate.” Then he addressed the Elder Tissa as follows, “Tissa, if a monk allows himself to think, ‘So and So abused me, So and So struck me, So and So defeated me, So and So robbed me of my goods,’ his hatred never ceases. But if he does not cherish such thoughts, his hatred ceases.” So saying, he pronounced the following Stanzas,

1.3.3

‘‘Akkocchi maṃ avadhi maṃ, ajini maṃ ahāsi me;
Ye ca taṃ upanayhanti, veraṃ tesaṃ na sammati.

3. “He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me;”
If any cherish this thought, their hatred never ceases.

1.3.4

‘‘Akkocchi maṃ avadhi maṃ, ajini maṃ ahāsi me;
Ye ca taṃ nupanayhanti, veraṃ tesūpasammatī’’ti.

4. “He abused me, he struck me, he defeated me, he robbed me;”
If any cherish not this thought, their hatred ceases.

1.3.4_2

Tattha akkocchīti akkosi. Avadhīti pahari. Ajinīti kūṭasakkhiotāraṇena vā vādapaṭivādena vā karaṇuttariyakaraṇena vā ajesi. Ahāsi meti mama santakaṃ pattādīsu kiñcideva avahari. Ye ca tanti ye keci devatā vā manussā vā gahaṭṭhā vā pabbajitā vā taṃ ‘‘akkocchi ma’’ntiādivatthukaṃ kodhaṃ sakaṭadhuraṃ viya naddhinā pūtimacchādīni viya ca kusādīhi punappunaṃ veṭhetvā upanayhanti, tesaṃ sakiṃ uppannaṃ veraṃ na sammatīti vūpasammati. Ye ca taṃ nupanayhantīti asatiyā amanasikāravasena vā kammapaccavekkhaṇādivasena vā ye taṃ akkosādivatthukaṃ kodhaṃ tayāpi koci niddoso purimabhave akkuṭṭho bhavissati, pahaṭo bhavissati, kūṭasakkhiṃ otāretvā jito bhavissati, kassaci te pasayha kiñci acchinnaṃ bhavissati, tasmā niddoso hutvāpi akkosādīni pāpuṇāsīti evaṃ na upanayhanti. Tesu pamādena uppannampi veraṃ iminā anupanayhanena nirindhano viya jātavedo vūpasammatīti.

1.3.4_3

Desanāpariyosāne satasahassabhikkhū sotāpattiphalādīni pāpuṇiṃsu. Dhammadesanā mahājanassa sātthikā ahosi. Dubbacopi subbacoyeva jātoti.

1.3.4_4

Tissattheravatthu tatiyaṃ.