Dhammapada 2.9.p2

2.9.p2

Ekasmiñhi sāvatthito avidūre nigamagāme jātasaṃvaḍḍho eko kulaputto satthu sāsane pabbajitvā laddhūpasampado ‘‘nigamavāsitissatthero nāma appiccho santuṭṭho pavivitto āraddhavīriyo’’ti paññāyi. So nibaddhaṃ ñātigāmeyeva piṇḍāya vicarati. Anāthapiṇḍikādīsu mahādānāni karontesu, pasenadikosale asadisadānaṃ karontepi sāvatthiṃ nāgacchati. Bhikkhū ‘‘ayaṃ nigamavāsitissatthero uṭṭhāya samuṭṭhāya ñātisaṃsaṭṭho viharati, anāthapiṇḍikādīsu mahādānādīni karontesu, pasenadikosale asadisadānaṃ karontepi neva āgacchatī’’ti kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpetvā satthu ārocayiṃsu. Satthā taṃ pakkosāpetvā, ‘‘saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, bhikkhu, evaṃ karosī’’ti pucchitvā, ‘‘natthi, bhante, mayhaṃ ñātisaṃsaggo, ahaṃ ete manusse nissāya ajjhoharaṇīyamattaṃ āhāraṃ labhāmi lūkhe vā paṇīte vā. Yāpanamatte laddhe puna kiṃ āhārapariyesanenāti na gacchāmi, ñātīhi pana me saṃsaggo nāma natthi, bhante’’ti vutte satthā pakatiyāpi tassa ajjhāsayaṃ vijānanto – ‘‘sādhu sādhu, bhikkhū’’ti tassa sādhukāraṃ datvā, ‘‘anacchariyaṃ kho panetaṃ bhikkhu, yaṃ tvaṃ mādisaṃ ācariyaṃ labhitvā appiccho ahosi. Ayañhi appicchatā nāma mama tanti, mama paveṇī’’ti vatvā bhikkhūhi yācito atītaṃ āhari –

For a youth of station, born and reared in a certain market-town not far from Sāvatthi, retired from the world and became a monk in the Religion of the Teacher. On making his full profession, he became known as Tissa of the Market-town, or Nigama Tissa. He acquired the reputation of being frugal, contented, pure, resolute. He always made his rounds for alms in the village where his relatives resided. Although, in the neighboring city of Sāvatthi, Anāthapiṇḍika and other disciples were bestowing abundant offerings and Pasenadi Kosala was bestowing gifts beyond compare, he never went to Sāvatthi.

One day the monks began to talk about him and said to the Teacher, “This monk Nigama Tissa, busy and active, lives in intimate association with his kinsfolk. Although Anāthapiṇḍika and other disciples are bestowing abundant offerings and Pasenadi Kosala is bestowing Gifts beyond Compare, he never comes to Sāvatthi.” The Teacher had Nigama Tissa summoned and asked him, “Monk, is the report true that you are doing thus and so?” “Reverend Sir,” replied Tissa, “it is not true that I live in intimate association with my relatives. I receive from these folk only so much food as I can eat. But after receiving so much food, whether coarse or fine, as is necessary to support me, I do not return to the monastery, thinking, ‘Why seek food?’ I do not live in intimate association with my relatives, Reverend Sir.” The Teacher, knowing the disposition of the monk, applauded him, saying, “Well done, well done, monk!” and then addressed him as follows, “It is not at all strange, monk, that after obtaining such a Teacher as I, you should be frugal. For frugality is my disposition and my habit.” And in response to a request of the monks he related the following