Dhammapada 4.7.p3

4.7.p3

Athekadivasaṃ rājā uparipāsāde ṭhito chattapāṇiṃ upāsakaṃ katabhattakiccaṃ chattamādāya upāhanamāruyha rājaṅgaṇena gacchantaṃ disvā pakkosāpesi. So chattupāhanaṃ apanetvā rājānamupasaṅkamitvā vanditvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Atha naṃ rājā āha – ‘‘bho upāsaka, kinte chattupāhanaṃ apanīta’’nti. ‘‘‘Rājā pakkosatī’ti sutvā apanetvā āgatomhī’’ti. ‘‘Ajja amhākaṃ rājabhāvo tumhehi ñāto bhavissatī’’ti. ‘‘Sadāpi mayaṃ, deva, tumhākaṃ rājabhāvaṃ jānāmā’’ti. ‘‘Yadi evaṃ kasmā purimadivase satthu santike nisinno maṃ disvā na uṭṭhahī’’ti? ‘‘Mahārāja, ahaṃ aggarājassa santike nisinno, padesarājānaṃ disvā uṭṭhahanto satthari agāravaṃ pavedeyyaṃ, tasmā na uṭṭhahi’’nti. ‘‘Hotu, bho, tiṭṭhatetaṃ’’. ‘‘Tumhe kira diṭṭhadhammikasamparāyikānaṃ atthānatthānaṃ kusalā tipiṭakadharā amhākaṃ antepure dhammaṃ vācethā’’ti. ‘‘Na sakkomi, devā’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’’ti? ‘‘Rājagehaṃ nāma mahāsāvajjaṃ, duyuttasuyuttakāni garukānettha, devā’’ti. ‘‘Mā evaṃ vadetha, ‘purimadivase maṃ disvā na uṭṭhitomhī’ti mā kukkuccaṃ karothā’’ti. ‘‘Deva, gihīnaṃ vicaraṇaṭṭhānaṃ nāma mahāsāvajjaṃ, ekaṃ pabbajitaṃ pakkosāpetvā dhammaṃ vācāpethā’’ti. Rājā ‘‘sādhu, bho, gacchatha tumhe’’ti taṃ uyyojetvā satthu santikaṃ gantvā satthāraṃ yāci, ‘‘bhante, mallikā ca devī vāsabhakhattiyā ca dhammaṃ pariyāpuṇissāmāti vadanti, pañcahi bhikkhusatehi saddhiṃ nibaddhaṃ mama gehaṃ gantvā tāsaṃ dhammaṃ uddisathā’’ti. ‘‘Buddhānaṃ nibaddhaṃ ekaṭṭhānagamanaṃ nāma natthi, mahārājā’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi, bhante, aññaṃ ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ dethā’’ti. Satthā ānandattherassa bhāramakāsi. Thero nibaddhaṃ gantvā tāsaṃ uddesaṃ uddisati. Tāsu mallikā sakkaccaṃ gahetvā sajjhāyitvā uddesaṃ paṭicchāpesi. Vāsabhakhattiyā pana neva sakkaccaṃ gaṇhāti, na sajjhāyati, na uddesaṃ paṭicchāpetuṃ sakkoti.

Now one day after breakfast, as the king stood on the upper floor of his palace, he saw the lay disciple Chattapāṇi pass through the courtyard of the royal palace with a parasol in his hand and sandals on his feet. Straightway he caused him to be summoned before him. Chattapāṇi laid aside his parasol and sandals, approached the king, paid obeisance to him, and took his stand respectfully on one side. Said the king to Chattapāṇi, “Lay disciple, why did you lay aside your parasol and sandals?” “When I heard the words, ‘The king summons you,’ I laid aside my parasol and sandals before coming into his presence.” “Evidently, then, you have to-day learned that

I am king.” “I always knew that you were king.” “If that be true, then why was it that the other day, when you were seated in the presence of the Teacher and saw me, you did not rise?”

“Great king, had I, seated in the presence of the King of Kings, risen on seeing a king of one of his provinces, I should have shown disrespect for the Teacher. Therefore did I not rise.” “Very well, let bygones be bygones. I am told that you are well versed in matters pertaining to the present world and the world to come; that you are versed in the Tipiṭaka. Recite the Law in our women’s quarters.” “I cannot, your majesty.” “Why not?” “A king’s house is subject to severe censure. Improper and proper alike are grave matters in this case, your majesty.” “Say not so. The other day, when you saw me, you saw fit not to rise. Do not add insult to injury.” “Your majesty, it is a censurable act for householders to go about performing the functions of monks. Send for someone who is a monk and ask him to recite the Law.”

The king dismissed him, saying, “Very well, sir, you may go.” Having so done, he sent a messenger to the Teacher with the following request, “Reverend Sir, my consorts Mallikā and Vāsabhakhattiyā say, ‘We desire to master the Law.’ Therefore pray come to my house regularly with five hundred monks and preach the Law to them.” The Teacher sent the following reply, “Great king, it is impossible for the Buddhas to go regularly to any one place.” “In that case, Reverend Sir, send some monk.” The Teacher assigned the duty to the Elder Ānanda. And the Elder came regularly and recited the Ordinances to those queens. Of the two queens, Mallikā learned thoroughly, rehearsed faithfully, and heeded her teacher’s instruction. But Vāsabhakhattiyā did not learn thoroughly, nor did she rehearse faithfully, nor was she able to master the instruction she received.