Dhammapada 4.3.p8

4.3.p8

Atīte bārāṇasiyaṃ brahmadatte rajjaṃ kārente kesavo nāma rājā rajjaṃ pahāya isipabbajjaṃ pabbaji. Taṃ pañca purisasatāni anupabbajiṃsu. So kesavatāpaso nāma ahosi. Pasādhanakappako panassa anupabbajitvā kappako nāma antevāsiko ahosi. Kesavatāpaso parisāya saddhiṃ aṭṭha māse himavante vasitvā vassārattasamaye loṇambilasevanatthāya bārāṇasiṃ patvā bhikkhāya pāvisi. Atha naṃ rājā disvā pasīditvā catumāsaṃ attano santike vasanatthāya paṭiññaṃ gahetvā uyyāneva vasāpento sayaṃ sāyaṃpātaṃ assa upaṭṭhānaṃ gacchati. Avasesā tāpasā katipāhaṃ vasitvā hatthisaddādīhi ubbāḷhā hutvā ukkaṇṭhitvā, ‘‘ācariya, ukkaṇṭhitamhā, gacchāmā’’ti āhaṃsu. ‘‘Kahaṃ, tātā’’ti? ‘‘Himavantaṃ, ācariyā’’ti. Rājā amhākaṃ āgatadivaseyeva catumāsaṃ idha vasanatthāya paṭiññaṃ gaṇhi. ‘‘Kathaṃ gamissatha, tātā’’ti? ‘‘Tumhehi amhākaṃ anācikkhitvāva paṭiññā dinnā, mayaṃ idha na sakkoma vasituṃ, ito avidūre tumhākaṃ pavattissavanaṭṭhāne vasissāmā’’ti vanditvā pakkamiṃsu. Kappantevāsikena saddhiṃ ācariyo ohīyi.

In times past, when Brahmadatta reigned in Benāres, a king named Kesava renounced his throne, retired from the world, and adopted the life of an ascetic; and five hundred of his retainers followed his example and retired from the world. Thereafter the king was known as the ascetic Kesava. Kappa, the keeper of his jewels, likewise retired from the world and became his pupil. The ascetic Kesava with his retinue resided for eight months in the Himālaya country and when the rainy season began, came to Benāres seeking salt and vinegar and entered the city for alms. The king was glad to see him, obtained his promise to live with him during the four months of the rains, gave him lodging in his garden, and went to wait upon him every evening and every morning.

The rest of the ascetics, after living there for a few days, were so annoyed by the sounds of the elephants and other animals that they became discontented and went to Kesava and said, “Teacher, we are unhappy and are going away.” “Where are you going, brethren?” “To the Himālaya country, Teacher.” “The very day we arrived the king obtained our promise to reside here during the four months of the rains. How then can we go, brethren?” “You did not so much as tell us when you gave him your promise; we cannot reside here any longer. We shall take up our residence not far from here, where we shall have news of you.” So they paid obeisance to him and departed, and the Teacher was left alone with his pupil Kappa.