Verses on Dhamma 10.11.p9

10.11.p9

Mahājanopi naṃ passantova aṭṭhāsi. So tattha gantvā taṃ piṇḍapātaṃ pañcasatānaṃ paccekabuddhānaṃ vibhajitvā adāsi. Sabbe attano pahonakaṃ gaṇhiṃsu. ‘‘Appo piṇḍapāto kathaṃ pahosī’’ti na cintetabbaṃ. Cattāri hi acinteyyāni (a. ni. 4.77) vuttāni, tatrāyaṃ paccekabuddhavisayoti. Mahājano paccekabuddhānaṃ piṇḍapātaṃ vibhajitvā diyyamānaṃ disvā sādhukārasahassāni pavattesi, asanisatanipākasaddo viya ahosi. Taṃ sutvā gandhaseṭṭhi cintesi – ‘‘bhattabhatiko mayā dinnasampattiṃ dhāretuṃ nāsakkhi maññe, tenāyaṃ mahājano parihāsaṃ karonto sannipatito nadatī’’ti. So tappavattijānanatthaṃ manusse pesesi. Te āgantvā ‘‘sampattidhārakā nāma, sāmi, evaṃ hontū’’ti vatvā taṃ pavattiṃ ārocesuṃ. Seṭṭhi taṃ sutvāva pañcavaṇṇāya pītiyā phuṭṭhasarīro hutvā ‘‘aho dukkaraṃ tena kataṃ, ahaṃ ettakaṃ kālaṃ evarūpāya sampattiyā ṭhito kiñci dātuṃ nāsakkhi’’nti taṃ pakkosāpetvā ‘‘saccaṃ kira tayā idaṃ nāma kata’’nti pucchitvā ‘‘āma, sāmī’’ti vutte, ‘‘handa, sahassaṃ gahetvā tava dāne mayhampi pattiṃ dehī’’ti āha. So tathā akāsi. Seṭṭhipissa sabbaṃ attano santakaṃ majjhe bhinditvā adāsi.

When the treasurer Gandha heard the shouts, he thought to himself, “Bhattabhatika has been unable to endure the splendor and glory which I bestowed upon him. Therefore this multitude has assembled and is making sport of him.” So he sent out men to investigate the matter. The men returned and told the treasurer what had happened, saying, “Master, in like manner may they endure splendor and glory.” When the treasurer heard this, his body was suffused with the five sorts of joy. Said he, “Oh, what a laborious task it was that this man performed! And to think that during all the time that I enjoyed this splendor and glory I should never have taken the trouble to give anything!” So he summoned Bhattabhatika and asked him, “Is the report true that you have done this and that?” “Yes, master.” “Well! take these thousand pieces of money and make over to me the merit that you have earned by bestowing this gift.” Bhattabhatika did so, and the treasurer divided all of his possessions into two parts and gave Bhattabhatika one of the portions.