Verses on Dhamma 25.12.p3

25.12.p3

Athekadivasaṃ upariṭṭho nāma paccekabuddho gandhamādane nirodhasamāpattito vuṭṭhāya ‘‘kassa nu kho ajja anuggahaṃ karissāmī’’ti cintetvā ‘‘ajja mayā annabhārassa anuggahaṃ kātuṃ vaṭṭati, idāni ca so aṭavito tiṇaṃ ādāya gehaṃ āgamissatī’’ti ñatvā pattacīvaramādāya iddhiyā gantvā annabhārassa sammukhe paccuṭṭhāsi. Annabhāro taṃ tucchapattahatthaṃ disvā ‘‘api, bhante, bhikkhaṃ labhitthā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘labhissāma mahāpuññā’’ti vutte ‘‘tena hi, bhante, thokaṃ āgamethā’’ti tiṇakājaṃ chaḍḍetvā vegena gehaṃ gantvā, ‘‘bhadde, mayhaṃ ṭhapitabhāgabhattaṃ atthi, natthī’’ti bhariyaṃ pucchitvā ‘‘atthi, sāmī’’ti vutte vegena paccāgantvā paccekabuddhassa pattaṃ ādāya ‘‘mayhaṃ dātukāmatāya sati deyyadhammo na hoti, deyyadhamme sati paṭiggāhakaṃ na labhāmi. Ajja pana me paṭiggāhako ca diṭṭho, deyyadhammo ca atthi, lābhā vata me’’ti gehaṃ gantvā bhattaṃ patte pakkhipāpetvā paccāharitvā paccekabuddhassa hatthe patiṭṭhapetvā –

Now one day a Private Buddha named Upariṭṭha arose from a Trance of Cessation in Gandhamādana, and considered within himself, “To whom shall I show favor to-day?” Straightway the thought came to him, “To-day I ought to show my favor to Annabhāra.” And perceiving within himself, “At this moment Annabhāra is on the point of returning home from the forest with his grass,” he took bowl and robe, and proceeding by supernatural power, appeared before Annabhāra. Annabhāra, seeing that the bowl in his hand was empty, asked him, “Reverend Sir, have you received no food?” The Private Buddha replied, “It is my expectation to receive food, man of great merit.” “Well then, Reverend Sir, wait a moment,” said Annabhāra.

Throwing down his pingo, he went home quickly and asked his wife, “My dear wife, is there a portion of food set aside for me, or is there not?” “There is, master,” replied his wife. So Annabhāra returned quickly to the Private Buddha and took his bowl. Thought he to himself, “Hitherto, when I have desired to give alms, I have had no alms to give; and when I have had alms to give, I have not succeeded in finding anyone to give them to. To-day, however, I have not only seen a recipient for my alms, but I have alms to give. Fortunate indeed am I!” So he went home, poured the boiled rice into the bowl, took it back, placed it in the hands of the Private Buddha, and made the following Earnest Wish: “Reverend Sir, may I obtain release from such a wretched life as I now lead; may I never so much as hear the word *isn’t*. The Private Buddha returned thanks, saying, “So be it, man of great merit,” and went his way.