Dhammapada 4.3.p17

4.3.p17

So kumāraparihārena vaḍḍhanto sattavassikakāle aññesaṃ kumārānaṃ mātāmahakulato hatthirūpakaassarūpakādīni āhariyamānāni disvā mātaraṃ pucchi – ‘‘amma, aññesaṃ mātāmahakulato paṇṇākāro āharīyati, mayhaṃ koci kiñci na pesesi, kiṃ tvaṃ nimātā nipitā’’ti? Atha naṃ sā, ‘‘tāta, tava sakyarājāno mātāmahā dūre pana vasanti, tena te kiñci na pesentī’’ti vañcesi. Soḷasavassikakāle, ‘‘amma, tava mātāmahakulaṃ passitukāmomhī’’ti vatvā, ‘‘alaṃ, tāta, kiṃ tattha gantvā karissatī’’ti vāriyamānopi punappunaṃ yāci. Athassa mātā ‘‘tena hi gacchā’’ti sampaṭicchi. So pitu ārocetvā mahantena parivārena nikkhami. Vāsabhakhattiyā puretaraṃ paṇṇaṃ pesesi – ‘‘ahaṃ idha sukhaṃ vasāmi, māssa kiñci sāmino antaraṃ dassayiṃsū’’ti. Sākiyā viṭaṭūbhassa āgamanaṃ ñatvā, ‘‘vandituṃ na sakkomā’’ti tassa daharadahare kumāre janapadaṃ pahiṇitvā tasmiṃ kapilapuraṃ sampatte santhāgāre sannipatiṃsu. Kumāro tattha gantvā aṭṭhāsi.

Viḍūḍabha was brought up in princely state. When he was seven years old, observing that the other princes received presents of toy elephants, horses, and the like from their maternal grandfathers, he asked his mother, “Mother, the other princes receive presents from their maternal grandfathers, but no one ever sends me any. Have you no mother and father?” She replied, “Dear son, your grandparents are Sākiya kings, and they live a long way off; that is why they never send you anything.” Thus did she deceive him. Again when he was sixteen years old, he said to her, “Dear mother, I should like to go and see your family, that of my maternal grandfather.” But she put him off, saying, “Nay, my dear son, what would you do there?” However, in spite of her refusals, he repeated his request several times.

Finally his mother gave her consent, saying, “Very well, you may go.” He informed his father and set out with a large retinue. Vāsabhakhattiyā sent a letter ahead of him, saying, “I am living here happily. Let not my lords make any difference in their treatment of him.” When the Sākiyas learned that Viḍūḍabha was coming, they said to themselves, “It is impossible for us to pay obeisance to him.” Accordingly they sent the younger princes to the country, and when he arrived at the city of Kapila, they assembled in the royal rest-house. Viḍūḍabha arrived at the rest-house and stopped there. They said to him, “Friend, this is your maternal grandfather and this is your uncle.” As he went about, paying obeisance to all, he noticed that not a single one paid obeisance to him. So he asked, “How is it there are none that pay obeisance to me?” The Sākiyas replied, “Friend, the younger princes have gone to the country.” However, they showed him every hospitality. After remaining there a few days, he departed with his large retinue.