Dhammapada 3.9.p5

3.9.p5

Ayaṃ pana seṭṭhiputto there ayoniso cittaṃ uppādetvā imasmiṃyeva attabhāve itthibhāvaṃ paṭilabhi. Takkasilāyaṃ seṭṭhiputtena saddhiṃ saṃvāsamanvāya pana tassā kucchiyaṃ gabbho patiṭṭhāsi. Sā dasamāsaccayena puttaṃ labhitvā tassa padasā gamanakāle aparampi puttaṃ paṭilabhi. Evamassā kucchiyaṃ vutthā dve, soreyyanagare taṃ paṭicca nibbattā dveti cattāro puttā ahesuṃ. Tasmiṃ kāle soreyyanagarato tassā sahāyako seṭṭhiputto pañcahi sakaṭasatehi takkasilaṃ gantvā sukhayānake nisinno nagaraṃ pāvisi. Atha naṃ sā uparipāsādatale vātapānaṃ vivaritvā antaravīthiṃ olokayamānā ṭhitā disvā sañjānitvā dāsiṃ pesetvā pakkosāpetvā mahātale nisīdāpetvā mahantaṃ sakkārasammānaṃ akāsi. Atha naṃ so āha – ‘‘bhadde, tvaṃ ito pubbe amhehi na diṭṭhapubbā, atha ca pana no mahantaṃ sakkāraṃ karosi, jānāsi tvaṃ amhe’’ti. ‘‘Āma, sāmi, jānāmi, nanu tumhe soreyyanagaravāsino’’ti? ‘‘Āma, bhadde’’ti. Sā mātāpitūnañca bhariyāya ca puttānañca arogabhāvaṃ pucchi. Itaro ‘‘āma, bhadde, arogā’’ti vatvā ‘‘jānāsi tvaṃ ete’’ti āha. ‘‘Āma sāmi, jānāmi. Tesaṃ eko putto atthi, so kahaṃ, sāmī’’ti? ‘‘Bhadde, mā etaṃ kathehi, mayaṃ tena saddhiṃ ekadivasaṃ sukhayānake nisīditvā nhāyituṃ nikkhantā nevassa gatiṃ jānāma, ito cito ca vicaritvā taṃ adisvā mātāpitūnaṃ ārocayimhā, tepissa roditvā kanditvā petakiccaṃ kiriṃsū’’ti. ‘‘Ahaṃ so, sāmī’’ti. ‘‘Apehi, bhadde, kiṃ kathesi mayhaṃ sahāyo devakumāro viya eko puriso’’ti? ‘‘Hotu, sāmi, ahaṃ so’’ti. ‘‘Atha idaṃ kiṃ nāmā’’ti? ‘‘Taṃ divasaṃ te ayyo mahākaccāyanatthero diṭṭho’’ti? ‘‘Āma, diṭṭho’’ti. Ahaṃ ayyaṃ mahākaccāyanattheraṃ oloketvā, ‘‘aho vata ayaṃ vā thero mama bhariyā bhaveyya, etassa vā sarīravaṇṇo viya mama bhariyāya sarīravaṇṇo bhaveyyā’’ti cintesiṃ. Cintitakkhaṇeyeva me purisaliṅgaṃ antaradhāyi, itthiliṅgaṃ pātubhavi. Athāhaṃ lajjamānā kassaci kiñci vattuṃ asakkuṇitvā tato palāyitvā idhāgatā, sāmīti.

So the son of the treasurer of Soreyya, transformed into a woman, was married to the son of the treasurer of Takkasilā, and as a result of their living together, she conceived a child in her womb. When ten lunar months had elapsed, she gave birth to a son. When the latter was old enough to walk, she gave birth to a second son. Thus Soreyyā, who was the father of two sons born in the city of Soreyya, became the mother of two more sons born in the city of Takkasilā, making four sons in all.

Just at this time the treasurer’s son who was Soreyya’s carriage-companion set out from the city of Soreyya with five hundred carts, and arriving at Takkasilā, entered town seated in his carriage. At that moment the woman Soreyyā stood at an open window on the topmost floor of her palace, looking down into the street. As soon as she saw him, she recognized him, and sending a slave-woman to him, she summoned him within, provided a seat for him in the great hall of the palace, and bestowed upon him the usual attentions and honors. Said the guest to the host, “My lady, I never saw you before, but you have been exceedingly kind to me. Do you know who I am?” “Yes, my lord, I know perfectly who you are. Do you not reside in the city of Soreyya?” “Yes, my lady.” Thereupon his host inquired after the health of her mother and father and former wife and sons. “They are very well indeed,” replied the visitor, and then queried, “Do you know them?” “Yes, my lord, I know them very well. And, my lord, they have a son. Where is he?”

“My lady, I beg you not to speak of him. One day, seated in a carriage together, we drove out of the city to bathe, and all of a sudden he disappeared. None of us know where he went or whatever became of him. We searched everywhere for him, but failed to find him. Finally we told his mother and father, whereupon they wept and lamented and performed the rites for the dead.” “My lord, I am he.” “Go away, my lady. What are you saying? He was an intimate friend of mine, he was like a celestial youth, he was a man.” “Never mind, my lord; I am he, all the same.” “What is the explanation of this?” inquired her visitor. “Do you remember seeing the noble Elder Mahā Kaccāyana that day?” inquired his host. “Yes, I remember seeing him.” “Well, when I looked upon the noble Elder Mahā Kaccāyana, I thought to myself, ‘Oh, that this Elder might become my wife! Else may the hue of my wife’s body become like the hue of his body!’ The instant this thought passed through my mind I was transformed from a man into a woman. Well, my lord, I was so embarrassed that I was unable to speak to anyone. Therefore I took to flight and came here.” “Oh, it was very wrong for you to do what you did. Why did you not tell me? And did you beg the Elder’s pardon?” “No, my lord, I did not beg his pardon. But do you know where the Elder is?” “He resides near this very city.” “Were he to come here, my lord, I should like to give food in alms to my noble Elder.” “Very well, make provision for him immediately. I will prevail upon our noble Elder to pardon you.”