Verses on Dhamma 10.11.p12

10.11.p12

Tassa guṇatejena sakkassa āsanaṃ uṇhākāraṃ dassesi. Sakko ‘‘kiṃ nu kho eta’’nti olokento sāmaṇeraṃ disvā ‘‘sukhasāmaṇero attano upajjhāyassa pattacīvaraṃ datvā ‘samaṇadhammaṃ karissāmī’ti nivatto, mayā tattha gantuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti cintetvā cattāro mahārāje pakkosāpetvā ‘‘gacchatha, tātā, vihārassūpavane dussaddake sakuṇe palāpethā’’ti uyyojesi. Te tathā katvā sāmantā ārakkhaṃ gaṇhiṃsu. Candimasūriye ‘‘attano vimānāni gahetvā tiṭṭhathā’’ti āṇāpesi. Tepi tathā kariṃsu. Sayampi āviñchanaṭṭhāne ārakkhaṃ gaṇhi. Vihāro sannisinno niravo ahosi. Sāmaṇero ekaggacittena vipassanaṃ vaḍḍhetvā tīṇi maggaphalāni pāpuṇi. Thero ‘‘sāmaṇerena ‘satarasabhojanaṃ āhareyyāthā’ti vuttaṃ, kassa nu kho ghare sakkā laddhu’’nti olokento ekaṃ ajjhāsayasampannaṃ upaṭṭhākatulaṃ disvā tattha gantvā, ‘‘bhante, sādhu vo kataṃ ajja idhāgacchantehī’’ti tehi tuṭṭhamānasehi pattaṃ gahetvā nisīdāpetvā yāgukhajjakaṃ datvā yāva bhattakālaṃ dhammakathaṃ yācito tesaṃ sāraṇīyadhammakathaṃ kathetvā kālaṃ sallakkhetvā desanaṃ niṭṭhāpesi. Athassa satarasabhojanaṃ datvā taṃ ādāya gantukāmaṃ theraṃ disvā ‘‘bhuñjatha, bhante, aparampi te dassāmā’’ti theraṃ bhojetvā puna pattapūraṃ adaṃsu. Thero taṃ ādāya ‘‘sāmaṇero me chāto’’ti turitaturito vihāraṃ pāyāsi. Taṃ divasaṃ satthā pātova nikkhamitvā gandhakuṭiyaṃ nisinnova āvajjesi – ‘‘ajja sukhasāmaṇero upajjhāyassa pattacīvaraṃ datvā ‘samaṇadhammaṃ karissāmī’ti nivatto, nipphannaṃ nu kho tassa kicca’’nti. So tiṇṇaṃyeva maggaphalānaṃ pattabhāvaṃ disvā uttaripi upadhārento ‘‘sakkhissatāyaṃ ajja arahattaṃ pāpuṇituṃ, sāriputto pana ‘sāmaṇero me chāto’ti vegena bhattaṃ ādāya nikkhamati, sace imasmiṃ arahattaṃ appatte bhattaṃ āharissati, imassa antarāyo bhavissati, mayā gantvā dvārakoṭṭhake ārakkhaṃ gaṇhituṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti cintetvā gandhakuṭito nikkhamitvā dvārakoṭṭhake ṭhatvā ārakkhaṃ gaṇhi.

Through the power of the novice’s virtue Sakka’s seat manifested signs of heat. Sakka considered within himself, “What can this mean?” Looking about him, he saw the novice and became aware of the following, “The novice Sukha has given his preceptor his bowl and robe, and has returned with this resolution in his mind, ‘I will strive diligently for the attainment of Arahatship.’ It is my duty to go to him.” Accordingly Sakka summoned the Four Great Kings and sent them forth, saying to them, “Go to the monastery park and drive the noisy birds away.” The Four Great Kings did so and guarded the approaches from all quarters. Then Sakka gave orders to the moon and the sun, saying, “Stop the movement of your cars and stand still;” and they did so. Sakka himself stood guard over the rope of the door. The monastery became quiet and noiseless.

With well-focussed mind the novice developed Spiritual Insight and attained the Three Paths and Fruits. The Elder, recalling that the novice had requested him to bring him food of a hundred flavors, considered within himself, "In whose house, pray, will it be possible to obtain such food?" Straightway beholding the household of a supporter of his who was endowed with the requisite disposition, he went thither. When the members of this household saw the Elder, they were pleased at heart and said to the Elder, "Reverend Sir, it is well that you came here to-day." And they took his bowl and provided him with a seat and presented him with broth and hard food. They then requested the Elder to preach the Law to them until meal-time, and the Elder, responding to their request, preached the Law to them informally until he perceived that meal-time had come, whereupon he brought his discourse to an end. The members of the household then gave him food of a hundred flavors, and the Elder indicated that he wished to depart, taking the food with him. But they said to him, "Reverend Sir, eat this food yourself, and we will then give you a second portion to take with you." Thus they prevailed upon him to eat the food which they had given him; and when he had so done they filled his bowl again and gave it to him. The Elder took the bowl of food, and reflecting, "The novice must be hungry," set out post-haste for the monastery.

On that very day, as the Teacher, who had gone out early in the morning, sat in the Perfumed Chamber, he considered within himself, "To-day the novice Sukha gave his preceptor his bowl and robe and turned back, saying, 'I will strive earnestly for the attainment of Arahatship;' has he yet completed his task?" Straightway he perceived that the novice had attained the Three Paths and Fruits. Considering the matter further, the Teacher became aware of the following, "To-day the novice will succeed in attaining Arahatship. But the Elder Sāriputta has just set out post-haste with food for the hungry novice, and if he arrives with the food before the novice has attained Arahatship, it will impede the attainment thereof. It is therefore my duty to go thither and stand guard over his chamber near the gate." With this thought in his mind, the Teacher went forth from the Perfumed Chamber, and posting himself at the gateway, stood on guard.