Verses on Dhamma 5.14.p4

5.14.p4

So gahapatinā ‘‘nisīdatha, bhante’’ti vuccamānopi ‘‘nāhaṃ nisīdāmi, piṇḍāya carissāmī’’ti vatvā aggasāvakānaṃ paṭiyāditaṃ sakkāraṃ oloketvā gahapatiṃ jātiyā ghaṭṭetukāmo ‘‘uḷāro te, gahapati, sakkāro, apicettha ekaññeva natthī’’ti āha. ‘‘Kiṃ, bhante’’ti? ‘‘Tilasaṃguḷikā, gahapatī’’ti vatvā gahapatinā kākopamāya apasādito kujjhitvā ‘‘eso te, gahapati, āvāso, pakkamissāmaha’’nti vatvā yāvatatiyaṃ vāriyamānopi pakkamitvā satthu santikaṃ gantvā cittena ca attanā ca vuttavacanaṃ ārocesi. Satthā ‘‘tayā upāsako saddho pasanno hīnena khuṃsito’’ti tasseva dosaṃ āropetvā paṭisāraṇīyakammaṃ kārāpetvā ‘‘gaccha, cittagahapatiṃ khamāpehī’’ti pesesi. So tattha gantvā, ‘‘gahapati, mayhameva so doso, khamāhi me’’ti vatvāpi ‘‘nāhaṃ khamāmī’’ti tena paṭikkhitto maṅkubhūto taṃ khamāpetuṃ nāsakkhi. Punadeva satthu santikaṃ paccāgamāsi. Satthā ‘‘nāssa upāsako khamissatī’’ti jānantopi ‘‘mānathaddho esa, tiṃsayojanaṃ tāva maggaṃ gantvā paccāgacchatū’’ti khamanūpāyaṃ anācikkhitvāva uyyojesi. Athassa punāgatakāle nihatamānassa anudūtaṃ datvā ‘‘gaccha, iminā saddhiṃ gantvā upāsakaṃ khamāpehī’’ti vatvā ‘‘samaṇena nāma ‘mayhaṃ vihāro, mayhaṃ nivāsaṭṭhānaṃ, mayhaṃ upāsako, mayhaṃ upāsikā’ti mānaṃ vā issaṃ vā kātuṃ na vaṭṭati. Evaṃ karontassa hi icchāmānādayo kilesā vaḍḍhantī’’ti anusandhiṃ ghaṭṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā abhāsi –

“Pray sit down, Reverend Sir,” said the householder. “I will not sit down,” replied Sudhamma; “I am about to set out on my round for alms.” The Elder surveyed the offerings prepared for the Chief Disciples, and seeking to annoy the householder about the varieties of food provided, said, “Householder, your food is most excellent, but there is one thing you have omitted.” “What is that, Reverend Sir?” “Sesame-cake, householder.” Thereupon the householder rebuked him, comparing him to a crow. Angered at this, the Elder said, “This is your residence, householder; I will depart.” Three times the householder strove to prevail upon the Elder to remain, but each time the latter refused. Finally he left the house, went to the Teacher, and related the words that had passed between Citta and himself. Said the Teacher, “You, an inferior, have insulted a faithful, believing disciple.” Having thus put the blame solely on the Elder, the Teacher sent him back to beg pardon of the disciple, saying, “Go beg pardon of Citta the householder.” The Elder went to Citta and said, “Householder, it was all my fault; pardon me.” But the householder refused to pardon him and said, “I will not pardon you.”

Provoked at his failure to obtain pardon, he returned to the Teacher. The Teacher, although he knew that the householder would pardon Sudhamma, thought, “This Elder is stubborn in his pride; now let him go thirty leagues and come back.” And so, without telling him how he might gain pardon, he just dismissed him. The Elder returned with pride humbled. The Teacher then gave the Elder a companion and said to the Elder, “Go with this companion and ask pardon of the householder.” Said the Teacher, “A religious ought not to give way to pride or ill-will, thinking, ‘This dwelling is mine, this residence is mine, this male lay disciple is mine, this female lay disciple is mine.’ For if he so do, ill-will and pride and the other Depravities increase.” And joining the connection and preaching the Law, he pronounced the following Stanzas,