Verses on Dhamma 26.7.p2

26.7.p2

Ekasmiṃ kira ṭhāne sambahulā manussā ‘‘aho amhākaṃ, ayyo, khantibalena samannāgato, aññesu akkosantesu vā paharantesu vā kopamattampi natthī’’ti therassa guṇe kathayiṃsu. Atheko micchādiṭṭhiko brāhmaṇo ‘‘ko esa na kujjhatī’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Amhākaṃ thero’’ti. ‘‘Naṃ kujjhāpento na bhavissatī’’ti? ‘‘Natthetaṃ, brāhmaṇā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi ahaṃ naṃ kujjhāpessāmī’’ti? ‘‘Sace sakkosi, kujjhāpehī’’ti. So ‘‘hotu, jānissāmissa kattabba’’nti theraṃ bhikkhāya paviṭṭhaṃ disvā pacchābhāgena gantvā piṭṭhimajjhe mahantaṃ pāṇippahāramadāsi. Thero ‘‘kiṃ nāmeta’’nti anoloketvāva gato. Brāhmaṇassa sakalasarīre ḍāho uppajji. So ‘‘aho guṇasampanno, ayyo’’ti therassa pādamūle nipajjitvā ‘‘khamatha me, bhante’’ti vatvā ‘‘kiṃ eta’’nti ca vutte ‘‘ahaṃ vīmaṃsanatthāya tumhe pahari’’nti āha. ‘‘Hotu khamāmi te’’ti. ‘‘Sace me, bhante, khamatha, mama geheyeva nisīditvā bhikkhaṃ gaṇhathā’’ti therassa pattaṃ gaṇhi, theropi pattaṃ adāsi. Brāhmaṇo theraṃ gehaṃ netvā parivisi.

The story goes that once upon a time several men gathered together at a certain place and rehearsed the noble qualities of the Elder, saying, "Oh, our noble master is endowed with patience to such a degree that even when men abuse him and strike him, he never gets the least bit angry!" Thereupon a certain Brahman who held false views asked, "Who is this that never gets angry?" "Our Elder." "It must be that nobody ever provoked him to anger." "That is not the case, Brahman." "Well then, I will provoke him to anger." "Provoke him to anger if you can!" "Trust me!" said the Brahman; "I know just what to do to him."

Just then the Elder entered the city for alms. When the Brahman

saw him, he stepped up behind him and struck him a tremendous blow with his fist in the back. “What was that?” said the Elder, and without so much as turning around to look, continued on his way. The fire of remorse sprang up within every part of the Brahman’s body. “Oh, how noble are the qualities with which the Elder is endowed!” exclaimed the Brahman. And prostrating himself at the Elder’s feet, he said, “Pardon me, Reverend Sir.” “What do you mean?” asked the Elder. “I wanted to try your patience and struck you.” “Very well, I pardon you.” “If, Reverend Sir, you are willing to pardon me, hereafter sit and receive your food only in my house.” So saying, the Brahman took the Elder’s bowl, the Elder yielding it willingly, and conducting him to his house, served him with food.