Verses on Dhamma 10.11.p5

10.11.p5

So paccekabuddhaṃ disvā cintesi – ‘‘ahaṃ pubbe adinnabhāvena ekissā bhattapātiyā atthāya tīṇi saṃvaccharāni paragehe bhatiṃ akāsiṃ, idāni me idaṃ bhattaṃ ekaṃ rattindivaṃ rakkheyya, sace pana naṃ ayyassa dassāmi, anekānipi kappakoṭisahassāni rakkhissati, ayyasseva naṃ dassāmī’’ti. So tīṇi saṃvaccharāni bhatiṃ katvā laddhabhattapātito ekapiṇḍampi mukhe aṭṭhapetvā taṇhaṃ vinodetvā sayameva pātiṃ ukkhipitvā paccekabuddhassa santikaṃ gantvā pātiṃ aññassa hatthe datvā pañcapatiṭṭhitena vanditvā pātiṃ vāmahatthena gahetvā dakkhiṇahatthena tassa patte bhattaṃ ākiri. Paccekabuddho bhattassa upaḍḍhasesakāle pattaṃ hatthena pidahi. Atha naṃ so āha – ‘‘bhante, ekova paṭiviso na sakkā dvidhā kātuṃ, mā maṃ idhalokena saṅgaṇhatha, paralokena saṅgahameva karotha, sāvasesaṃ akatvā niravasesameva dassāmī’’ti. Attano hi thokampi anavasesetvā dinnaṃ niravasesadānaṃ nāma, taṃ mahapphalaṃ hoti. So tathā karonto sabbaṃ datvā puna vanditvā āha – ‘‘bhante, ekaṃ bhattapātiṃ nissāya tīṇi saṃvaccharāni me paragehe bhatiṃ karontena dukkhaṃ anubhūtaṃ, idāni me nibbattanibbattaṭṭhāne sukhameva hotu, tumhehi diṭṭhadhammasseva bhāgī assa’’nti. Paccekabuddho ‘‘evaṃ hotu, cintāmaṇi viya te sabbakāmadado manosaṅkappā puṇṇacando viya pūrentū’’ti anumodanaṃ karonto –

When Bhattabhatika saw the Private Buddha, he thought to himself, "Because I have not previously bestowed alms, it has been necessary for me to work for hire in the house of another for three years in order to obtain the bowl of rice. This rice which I have just received will keep me for a night and a day; but if I give this to this noble person, it will keep me for countless millions of cycles of time. I will give it to this noble person and to none other." Thereupon Bhattabhatika, who had earned possession of the bowl of rice by working for hire for three years, without so much as putting a morsel of rice in his mouth, suppressed his thirst, took the bowl in his own hands, and went to the Private Buddha and placed the bowl in the hands of another. Then he saluted the Private Buddha with the Five Rests, and taking the bowl in his left hand, with his right hand poured the rice into the bowl of the Private Buddha. When half of the rice had been emptied into his bowl, the Private Buddha covered the bowl with his hand. Bhattabhatika, however, said to him, “Reverend Sir, one portion cannot be divided into two. I ask you not to bestow favor upon me in this present life, but to bestow favor upon me in the life to come. I desire to keep nothing for myself, but to give you all without reserve.” And without keeping back anything at all for himself, he gave all without reserve to the Private Buddha, thereby earning much merit for himself. When he had so done, giving all he possessed, he saluted the Private Buddha again and said to him, “Reverend Sir, all because of this bowl of rice I worked for hire in the house of another for three years and endured much suffering. May happiness alone be my portion henceforth in the various places where I shall be reborn. Grant that I may be a partaker of the same Truth which you have seen.” “So be it,” said the Private Buddha, adding, “May all your desires be granted, even as the wishing-jewel grants them; may all your longings be fulfilled, even as the moon at the full.” And by way of thanksgiving he pronounced the following Stanzas,