Dhammapada 2.7.p14

2.7.p14

Atīte magadharaṭṭhe macalagāme magho nāma māṇavo gāmakammakaraṇaṭṭhānaṃ gantvā attano ṭhitaṭṭhānaṃ pādantena paṃsuṃ viyūhitvā ramaṇīyaṃ katvā aṭṭhāsi. Aparo taṃ bāhunā paharitvā tato apanetvā sayaṃ tattha aṭṭhāsi. So tassa akujjhitvāva aññaṃ ṭhānaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ katvā ṭhito. Tatopi naṃ añño āgantvā bāhunā paharitvā apanetvā sayaṃ aṭṭhāsi. So tassapi akujjhitvāva aññaṃ ṭhānaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ katvā ṭhito, iti taṃ gehato nikkhantā nikkhantā purisā bāhunā paharitvā ṭhitaṭhitaṭṭhānato apanesuṃ. So ‘‘sabbepete maṃ nissāya sukhitā jātā, iminā kammena mayhaṃ sukhadāyakena puññakammena bhavitabba’’nti cintetvā, punadivase kudālaṃ ādāya khalamaṇḍalamattaṃ ṭhānaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ akāsi. Sabbe gantvā tattheva aṭṭhaṃsu. Atha nesaṃ sītasamaye aggiṃ katvā adāsi, gimhakāle udakaṃ. Tato ‘‘ramaṇīyaṃ ṭhānaṃ nāma sabbesaṃ piyaṃ, kassaci appiyaṃ nāma natthi, ito paṭṭhāya mayā maggaṃ samaṃ karontena vicarituṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti cintetvā, pātova nikkhamitvā, maggaṃ samaṃ karonto chinditvā, haritabbayuttakā rukkhasākhā haranto vicarati. Atha naṃ aparo disvā āha – ‘‘samma, kiṃ karosī’’ti? ‘‘Mayhaṃ saggagāminaṃ maggaṃ karomi, sammā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi ahampi te sahāyo homī’’ti. ‘‘Hohi, samma, saggo nāma bahūnampi manāpo sukhabahulo’’ti. Tato paṭṭhāya dve janā ahesuṃ. Te disvā tatheva pucchitvā ca sutvā ca aparopi tesaṃ sahāyo jāto, evaṃ aparopi aparopīti sabbepi tettiṃsa janā jātā. Te sabbepi kudālādihatthā maggaṃ samaṃ karontā ekayojanadviyojanamattaṭṭhānaṃ gacchanti.

In times long past a prince named Magha lived in the village of Macala in the kingdom of Magadha. One day he went to the place where the business of the village was carried on, removed with his foot the dust from the place where he stood, and having made a comfortable place for himself, stood there. Thereupon another struck him with his arm, pushed him aside, and took his place. But instead of becoming angry at the man, he made another comfortable place for himself and stood there. Thereupon another struck him with his arm, pushed him away, and took his place. But neither did he allow himself to become angry at this man; he merely made another comfortable place for himself and stood there. In like manner one man after another came out of his house, struck him with his arm, and pushed him away from the place which he had cleared for himself.

The prince thought to himself, “All these men appear to be pleased. Since this work of mine conduces to the happiness of men, it must be a meritorious work.” So on the following day he took a spade and cleared a space as big as a threshing-floor, whereupon all the men came and stood there. In cold weather he built a fire to warm them, so that the place became a favorite resort for all. Then he thought to himself, “It behooves me to take upon myself the task of making the road smooth and even.” So early in the morning he started out to make the road smooth and even, cutting down and removing all the branches of trees that needed to be removed. Thus did he spend his time.

Another man saw him and said to him, “Master, what are you doing?” He replied, “Master, I am treading the Path that leads to Heaven.” “I also am your companion.” “Be my companion, master; heaven is a pleasant place for many.” Seeing these two, a third man asked the same question, received the same answer, and joined them; then a fourth, then a fifth, until finally there were thirty-three. All these men worked together with spades and axes and made the road smooth and even for a distance of one or two leagues. The village headman saw them and thought to himself, "These men are all following the wrong occupation. If they would only fetch fish and flesh from the forest, or indulge in strong drink, or do something else of the sort, I should make something by it." So he sent for them and asked them, "What is it you are doing?" "Treading the Path to Heaven, master." "That is no proper occupation for men living the lives of laymen. What you should do is to bring fish and flesh from the forest, indulge in strong drink, and have a general good time." But they refused to follow his suggestion, and the more he urged them, the more firmly they refused to do as he suggested.