Dhammapada 3.2.35_5

3.2.35_5

Mahāupāsikāpi gehe nisinnāva ‘‘kiṃ nu kho mayhaṃ puttassa pabbajitakiccaṃ mattakaṃ pattaṃ, no’’ti upadhārayamānā tassa arahattapattiṃ ñatvā uttari upadhāriyamānā, ‘‘mama putto arahattaṃ patvā aho vata me ayaṃ upāsikā mahatī patiṭṭhā jātā’’ti cintetvā, ‘‘atītepi nu kho me ayaṃ patiṭṭhā bhūtapubbā, no’’ti upadhārento ekūnaattabhāvasataṃ anussari, ‘‘ahaṃ kho pana ekūnaattabhāvasate aññehi saddhiṃ ekato hutvā etaṃ jīvitā voropesiṃ, ayaṃ me ettakaṃ aguṇaṃ disvā ‘aho bhāriyaṃ kammaṃ kataṃ upāsikāyā’’ti cintesi. ‘‘Atthi nu kho evaṃ saṃsāre saṃsarantiyā mama puttassa upakāro katapubbo’’ti upadhārayamānā tato uttariṃ satamaṃ attabhāvaṃ anussaritvā satame attabhāve mayā etassa pādaparicārikāya hutvā etasmiṃ jīvitā voropanaṭṭhāne jīvitadānaṃ dinnaṃ, aho mayā mama puttassa mahāupakāro katapubbo’’ti gehe nisinnāva uttariṃ visesetvā ‘‘upadhārethā’’ti āha. So dibbāya sotadhātuyā saddaṃ sutvā visesetvā satamaṃ attabhāvaṃ anussaritvā tattha tāya attano jīvitassa dinnabhāvaṃ disvā, ‘‘aho mama imāya mahāupāsikāya upakāro katapubbo’’ti attamano hutvā tassā tattheva catūsu maggaphalesu pañhaṃ kathetvā anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyīti.

The great female lay disciple also sat in her house, considering within herself the following thought, “Has my son reached the goal of the religious life?” Perceiving that he had attained Arahatship, she continued her reflections as follows, “When my son attained Arahatship, he thought to himself, ‘This female lay disciple has indeed been a powerful support to me.’ Then he considered within himself, ‘Has she been a support to me in previous states of existence also or has she not?’ With this thought in mind he recalled a hundred states of existence less one. Now in a hundred states of existence less one I conspired with other men and deprived him of life. When, therefore, he beheld the huge pile of demerit I thus accumulated, he thought to himself, ‘Oh, what wicked deeds this female lay disciple has committed!’ Is it not possible that, as I have passed from one state of existence to another in the round of existences, I have rendered assistance to him?”

Considering the matter further, she called up before her mind her hundredth state of existence and became aware of the following, “In my hundredth state of existence I was his wife. On a certain occasion, when I might have deprived him of life, I spared his life. I have indeed rendered great assistance to my son.” And still remaining seated in her house, she said, “Discern further and consider the matter.” By the power of Supernatural Audition the monk immediately heard what she said. Discerning further, he called up before his mind his hundredth state of existence and perceived that in that state of existence she had spared his life. Filled with joy, he thought to himself, “This female lay disciple has indeed rendered great assistance to me.” Then and there, reciting the questions relating to the Four Paths and Fruits, he passed into that form of Nibbāna in which no trace of the Elements of Being remains.