Dhammapada 3.9.p8

3.9.p8

Thero ‘‘kucchiyaṃ vuttakesu eva sineho balavā’’ti punappunaṃ kathento harāyamāno ekova nisīdati, ekova tiṭṭhati. So evaṃ ekattūpagato attabhāve khayavayaṃ samuṭṭhāpetvā saha paṭisambhidāhi arahattaṃ pāpuṇi. Atha naṃ āgatāgatā pucchanti – ‘‘bhante, evaṃ kira nāma ahosī’’ti? ‘‘Āmāvuso’’ti. ‘‘Kataresu sineho balavā’’ti? ‘‘Mayhaṃ katthaci sineho nāma natthī’’ti. Bhikkhū ‘‘ayaṃ abhūtaṃ kathesi, purimadivasesu ‘kucchiyaṃ vutthaputtesu sineho balavā’ti vatvā idāni ‘mayhaṃ katthaci sineho natthī’ti vadati, aññaṃ byākaroti, bhante’’ti āhaṃsu. Satthā ‘‘na, bhikkhave, mama putto aññaṃ byākaroti, mama puttassa sammāpaṇihitena cittena maggassa diṭṭhakālato paṭṭhāya na katthaci sineho jāto, yaṃ sampattiṃ neva mātā, na pitā kātuṃ sakkoti, taṃ imesaṃ sattānaṃ abbhantare pavattaṃ sammāpaṇihitaṃ cittameva detī’’ti vatvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

Thereupon the Elder withdrew himself from the multitude: when he sat, he sat alone, and when he stood, he stood alone. Having thus sought solitude, he grasped firmly the thought of decay and death and attained Arahatship, together with the Supernatural Faculties. All those who came to see him asked the question, “Was that report true, Reverend Sir? Was that report true?” “Yes, brethren.” “For which pair of sons have you the stronger affection?” “My affections are set on no one.” Said the monks to the Teacher, "This monk says what is not true. On former days he used to say, 'I have the stronger affection for the pair of sons of which I am the mother.' Now, however, he says, 'My affections are set on no one.' He utters falsehood, Reverend Sir." Said the Teacher, "Monks, my son does not utter falsehood. My son's mind has been rightly directed ever since the day when he beheld the Path. Neither a mother nor a father can confer the benefit which a well-directed mind alone confers on these living beings." So saying, he pronounced the following Stanza,