Verses on Dhamma 5.15.p17

5.15.p17

Sammāsambuddhopi taṃ divasaṃ paccūsasamaye lokaṃ volokento vanavāsītissassa upaṭṭhāke attano ñāṇajālassa anto paviṭṭhe disvā ‘‘kiṃ nu kho bhavissatī’’ti āvajjento imamatthaṃ upadhāresi ‘‘vanavāsītissasāmaṇerassa upaṭṭhākā ekacce tuṭṭhā, ekacce kuddhā, mayhaṃ puttassa pana sāmaṇerassa kuddhā nirayabhāgino bhavissanti, gantabbameva tattha mayā, mayi gate sabbepi te sāmaṇere mettacittaṃ katvā dukkhā muccissantī’’ti. Tepi manussā bhikkhusaṅghaṃ nimantetvā gāmaṃ gantvā maṇḍapaṃ kāretvā yāgubhattādīni sampādetvā āsanāni paññāpetvā saṅghassa āgamanamaggaṃ olokentā nisīdiṃsu. Bhikkhūpi sarīrapaṭijagganaṃ katvā bhikkhācāravelāya gāmaṃ piṇḍāya pavisantā sāmaṇeraṃ pucchiṃsu – ‘‘kiṃ, tissa, tvaṃ amhehi saddhiṃ gamissasi, udāhu pacchā’’ti? ‘‘Mama gamanavelāyameva gamissāmi, gacchatha tumhe, bhante’’ti. Bhikkhū pattacīvaramādāya pavisiṃsu.

He that is Supremely Enlightened surveyed the world early in the morning of that day. Observing that the supporters of the Elder Vanavāsī Tissa had entered the Net of his Knowledge, he considered within himself what would be the result. And he came to the following conclusion, “Some of the supporters of the Elder Vanavāsī Tissa are offended, while others are pleased. Those who are offended at a novice like my son will go to Hell. I must go to him, for if I go, all will be reconciled with my son and will obtain release from suffering.”

The villagers, having invited the congregation of monks, went to the village, erected a pavilion, prepared broth, rice, and so forth, provided seats and sat down waiting for the congregation of monks to come. The monks, having attended to their bodily needs, entered the village at the customary time for going the rounds, and asked the novice, “Tissa, will you go with us, or will you wait until later?” “When it is time for me to go, I will go; you go on ahead, Reverend Sirs.” The monks took bowl and robe and went on. The Teacher put on his robe at Jetavana, took his bowl, went in the twinkling of an eye, and showed himself in front of the company of monks. There was one universal shout, "He that is Supremely Enlightened is come." The whole village was agitated. With jubilant hearts men provided seats for the congregation of monks with the Buddha at their head and presented them with broth and hard food.