Verses on Dhamma 25.12.p32

25.12.p32

Nāgarājā sāmaṇeraṃ dūratova āgacchantaṃ disvā paccuggantvā kuṭaṃ aṃsakūṭena ādāya, ‘‘bhante, tumhe mādise dāse vijjamāne kasmā sayaṃ āgatā, udakenatthe sati kasmā sāsanamattampi na pahiṇathā’’ti kuṭena udakaṃ ādāya sayaṃ ukkhipitvā ‘‘purato hotha, bhante, ahameva āharissāmī’’ti āha. ‘‘Tiṭṭhatha tumhe, mahārāja, ahameva sammāsambuddhena āṇatto’’ti nāgarājānaṃ nivattāpetvā kuṭaṃ mukhavaṭṭiyaṃ hatthena gahetvā ākāsenāgañchi. Atha naṃ satthā āgacchantaṃ oloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi – ‘‘passatha, bhikkhave, sāmaṇerassa līlaṃ, ākāse haṃsarājā viya sobhatī’’ti āha. Sopi pānīyaghaṭaṃ ṭhapetvā satthāraṃ vanditvā aṭṭhāsi. Atha naṃ satthā āha – ‘‘kativassosi tvaṃ, sumanā’’ti? ‘‘Sattavassomhi, bhanteti. ‘‘Tena hi, sumana, ajja paṭṭhāya bhikkhu hohī’’ti vatvā dāyajjaupasampadaṃ adāsi. Dveyeva kira sāmaṇerā sattavassikā upasampadaṃ labhiṃsu – ayañca sumano sopāko cāti.

While the novice was yet a long way off, the king of the dragons saw him approaching, and advancing to meet him, took the hogshead, placed it on his shoulder, and said to the novice, “Reverend Sir, so long as you have a slave like me in the land of the living, why did you come in person? If you needed water, why did you not just send a message?” And filling the hogshead with water, he lifted it up himself and said to the novice, “You go ahead, Reverend Sir; I myself will carry the water.” “Remain where you are, great king,” replied the novice; “I have received a command from the Supreme Buddha.” So saying, he caused the king of the dragons to turn back; and grasping the hogshead with his hand by the rim, he soared away into the air.

The Teacher saw him approaching and addressed the monks as follows, “Monks, behold the grace of the novice! He soars through the air with grace equal to that of a royal swan.” The novice set down the hogshead of water and saluted the Teacher. Said the Teacher to the novice, “How old are you, Sumana?” “I am seven years old, Reverend Sir.” “Well then, Sumana, from this day forth be a monk.” So saying, the Teacher bestowed on him the inheritance of admission to full membership in the Order. It is said that but two novices ever received admission to full membership in the Order at the age of seven years: this novice Sumana and the novice Sopāka.