Dhammapada 2.3.p17

2.3.p17

Atha bhagavā dhammasabhāyaṃ imaṃ kathāpavattiṃ ñatvā, ‘‘ajja mayā gantuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti buddhaseyyāya uṭṭhāya surattadupaṭṭaṃ nivāsetvā vijjulataṃ viya kāyabandhanaṃ bandhitvā rattakambalasadisaṃ sugatamahācīvaraṃ pārupitvā surabhigandhakuṭito nikkhamma mattavaravāraṇasīhavijambhitavilāsena anantāya buddhalīḷāya dhammasabhaṃ gantvā alaṅkatamaṇḍalamāḷamajjhe supaññattavarabuddhāsanaṃ abhiruyha chabbaṇṇabuddharaṃsiyo vissajjento aṇṇavakucchiṃ khobhayamāno yugandharamatthake bālasūriyo viya āsanamajjhe nisīdi. Sammāsambuddhe pana āgatamatte bhikkhusaṅgho kathaṃ pacchinditvā tuṇhī ahosi. Satthā mudukena mettacittena parisaṃ oloketvā, ‘‘ayaṃ parisā ativiya sobhati, ekassapi hatthakukkuccaṃ vā pādakukkuccaṃ vā ukkāsitasaddo vā khipitasaddo vā natthi, sabbepi ime buddhagāravena sagāravā, buddhatejena tajjitā. Mayi āyukappampi akathetvā nisinne paṭhamaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpetvā na kathessanti. Kathāsamuṭṭhāpanavattaṃ nāma mayāva jānitabbaṃ, ahameva paṭhamaṃ kathessāmī’’ti madhurena brahmassarena bhikkhū āmantetvā, ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā’’ti pucchitvā, ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘na, bhikkhave, cūḷapanthako idāneva dandho, pubbepi dandhoyeva. Na kevalañcassāhaṃ idāneva avassayo jāto, pubbepi avassayo ahosimeva. Pubbe panāhaṃ imaṃ lokiyakuṭumbassa sāmikaṃ akāsiṃ, idāni lokuttarakuṭumbassā’’ti vatvā tamatthaṃ vitthārato sotukāmehi bhikkhūhi āyācito atītaṃ āhari –

Now the Exalted One, knowing that they were discussing this matter in the Hall of Truth, thought to himself, “It is my duty to go to them this very moment.” Accordingly he arose from the Seat of the Buddha, put on his gloriously dyed under and upper garments, girded himself as with lightning, and over his shoulders, like a crimson blanket, threw the great robe of the Happy One. And coming forth from his richly fragrant Perfumed Chamber, and walking with the stride of a noble elephant in rut, with the incomparable grace of a Buddha, he proceeded to the Hall of Truth. And mounting the gloriously arrayed sublime Seat of the Buddha, and diffusing from his body the six-colored rays of a Buddha, even as the sun, newly risen on the top of Mount Yugandhara, agitates the inmost depths of the sea, he sat down in the center of the seat.

Now the moment the Supremely Enlightened One arrived, the Congregation of Monks ceased their talk, became silent. The Teacher surveyed the assemblage with soft, kind heart and said, "This assemblage delights my heart beyond measure. Not a single hand is out of place, not a single foot is out of place; not a cough is to be heard, not a sneeze is to be heard; all these monks, reverent with reverence for the Buddha, subdued by the majesty of the Buddha, though I were to sit here for an aeon and not speak, would refrain from speaking first, would not so much as open their lips. I alone have the right to decide when it is proper to begin to speak. Therefore will I speak first."

Accordingly with sweet voice, a voice like that of Great Brahmā, he addressed the monks, "Monks, what is the subject of your conversation now, as you sit here all gathered together? What was the subject of the discussion which you so suddenly broke off?" When they told him, he said, "Monks, this is not the first time Little Wayman has proved a dullard. In a previous state of existence also he was a dullard. This is not the first time I have been his refuge. In a previous state of existence also I was his refuge. But in a previous state of existence I made him master of the wealth of this world. Just now I made him master of wealth that transcends this world." The monks desired to hear all about it. Responding to their requests, he related the following