Dhammapada 3.5.p2

3.5.p2

Eko kira sāvatthivāsī kulaputto naṭṭhagoṇaṃ pariyesanto araññaṃ pavisitvā majjhanhike kāle goṇaṃ disvā goyūthe vissajjetvā, ‘‘avassaṃ ayyānaṃ santike āhāramattaṃ labhissāmī’’ti khuppipāsāpīḷito vihāraṃ pavisitvā bhikkhūnaṃ santikaṃ gantvā vanditvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Tasmiṃ kho pana samaye bhikkhūnaṃ avakkārapātiyaṃ bhuttāvasesakaṃ bhattaṃ hoti, te taṃ chātakapīḷitaṃ disvā, ‘‘ito bhattaṃ gahetvā bhuñjāhī’’ti vadiṃsu. Buddhakāle ca pana anekasūpabyañjanaṃ bhattaṃ uppajjati, so tato yāpanamattaṃ gahetvā bhuñjitvā pānīyaṃ pivitvā hatthe dhovitvā bhikkhū vanditvā, ‘‘kiṃ, bhante, ajja, ayyā, nimantanaṭṭhānaṃ agamaṃsū’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Natthi, upāsaka, bhikkhū imināva nīhārena nibaddhaṃ labhantī’’ti. So ‘‘mayaṃ uṭṭhāya samuṭṭhāya rattindivaṃ nibaddhaṃ kammaṃ karontāpi evaṃ madhurabyañjanaṃ bhattaṃ na labhāma, ime kira nibaddhaṃ bhuñjanti, kiṃ me gihibhāvena, bhikkhu bhavissāmī’’ti cintetvā bhikkhū upasaṅkamitvā pabbajjaṃ yāci. Atha naṃ bhikkhū ‘‘sādhu upāsakā’’ti pabbājesuṃ.

The story goes that a certain youth of respectable family, living at Sāvatthi, went into the forest to look for an ox that was lost. When it was midday, he saw the ox and released the herds, and being oppressed by hunger and thirst, thought to himself, "I can surely get something to eat from the noble monks." So he entered the monastery,

went to the monks, bowed to them, and stood respectfully on one side. Now at that time the food which remained over and above to the monks who had eaten lay in the vessel used for refuse. When the monks saw that youth, exhausted by hunger as he was, they said to him, "Here is food; take and eat it." (When a Buddha is living in the world, there is always a plentiful supply of rice-porridge, together with various sauces and curries.) So the youth took and ate as much food as he needed drank water, washed his hands, and then bowed to the monks and asked them, "Reverend Sirs, did you go to some house by invitation to-day?" "No, lay disciple; monks always receive food in this way."

The youth thought to himself, "No matter how busy and active we may be, though we work continually both by night and by day, we never get rice-porridge so deliciously seasoned. But these monks, according to their own statement, eat it continually. Why should I remain a layman any longer? I will become a monk." Accordingly he approached the monks and asked to be received into the Order. The monks said to him, "Very well, lay disciple," and received him into the Order. After making his full profession, he performed all the various major and minor duties; and in but a few days, sharing in the rich offerings which accrue to the Buddhas, he became fat and well-liking.