Dhammapada 4.3.p9

4.3.p9

Rājā upaṭṭhānaṃ āgato, ‘‘kahaṃ, ayyā’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Sabbe ukkaṇṭhitamhāti vatvā himavantaṃ gatā, mahārājā’’ti āha. Kappakopi na cirasseva ukkaṇṭhitvā ācariyena punappunaṃ vāriyamānopi ‘‘na sakkomī’’ti vatvā pakkāmi. Itaresaṃ pana santikaṃ agantvā ācariyassa pavattiṃ suṇanto avidūre ṭhāne vasi. Aparabhāge ācariyassa antevāsike anussarantassa kucchirogo uppajji. Rājā vejjehi tikicchāpesi, rogo na vūpasammati. Tāpaso āha – ‘‘kiṃ, mahārāja, icchasi me rogavūpasama’’nti? ‘‘Bhante, sacāhaṃ sakkuṇeyyaṃ, idāneva vo phāsukaṃ kareyya’’nti. ‘‘Mahārāja, sace me phāsukaṃ icchasi, maṃ antevāsikānaṃ santikaṃ pesehī’’ti. Rājā ‘‘sādhu, bhante’’ti taṃ mañcake nipajjāpetvā nāradaamaccappamukhe cattāro amacce ‘‘mama ayyassa pavattiṃ ñatvā, mayhaṃ sāsanaṃ pahiṇeyyāthā’’ti uyyojesi. Kappantevāsiko ācariyassa āgamanaṃ sutvā paccuggamanaṃ katvā itare ‘‘kaha’’nti vutte, ‘‘asukaṭṭhāne kira vasantī’’ti āha. Tepi ācariyassāgamanabhāvaṃ sutvā tattheva samosaritvā ācariyassa uṇhodakaṃ datvā phalāphalaṃ adaṃsu. Taṃ khaṇaññeva rogo vūpasammati. So katipāheneva suvaṇṇavaṇṇo ahosi. Atha naṃ nārado pucchi –

When the king came to wait upon him, he asked, “Where have the noble monks gone?” “They said they were discontented and unhappy and have gone to the Himālaya country, great king.” It was not long before Kappa also became discontented. Although the Teacher tried repeatedly to dissuade him from leaving, he insisted that he could endure it no longer. So he departed, going and joining the others and taking up his residence not far off, where he could receive news of the Teacher.

The Teacher thought continually of his pupils and after a time began to suffer from an internal complaint. The king had him treated by physicians, but there was no improvement in his condition. Finally the ascetic said to him, “Great king, do you wish to have me get well?” “Reverend Sir, if only I could, I would make you well again this moment.” “Great king, if you desire to have me get well, send me to my pupils.” “Very well, Reverend Sir,” said the king. So the king had the ascetic laid on a bed and ordered four ministers led by Nārada to carry him to his pupils, saying to the ministers, “Find out how my noble Elder is getting on and send me word.”

The pupil Kappa, hearing that the Teacher was coming, went to meet him. “Where are the others?” asked Kesava. “They live in such and such a place,” replied Kappa. When the others heard that the Teacher had arrived, they assembled together, provided the Teacher with hot water, and presented him with various kinds of fruits. At that very moment he recovered from his sickness, and in a few days his body again took on a golden hue. Nārada asked him,