Verses on Dhamma 5.15.p3

5.15.p3

Brāhmaṇo theraṃ disvāva cittaṃ pasīdi. Atha naṃ upasaṅkamitvā vanditvā paṭisanthāraṃ katvā antogehe nisīdāpetvā pāyasapātiṃ gahetvā therassa patte ākiri. Thero upaḍḍhaṃ sampaṭicchitvā hatthena pattaṃ pidahi. Atha naṃ brāhmaṇo āha – ‘‘bhante, ekapaṭivīsamattova ayaṃ pāyaso, paralokasaṅgahaṃ me karotha, mā idhalokasaṅgahaṃ, niravasesameva dātukāmomhī’’ti sabbaṃ ākiri. Thero tattheva paribhuñji. Athassa bhattakiccapariyosāne tampi sāṭakaṃ datvā vanditvā evamāha – ‘‘bhante, ahampi tumhehi diṭṭhadhammameva pāpuṇeyya’’nti. Thero ‘‘evaṃ hotu brāhmaṇā’’ti tassa anumodanaṃ katvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamanto anupubbena cārikaṃ caranto jetavanaṃ agamāsi. ‘‘Duggatakāle dinnadānaṃ pana ativiya tosetī’’ti brāhmaṇopi taṃ dānaṃ datvā pasannacitto somanassajāto there adhimattaṃ sinehamakāsi. So there sineheneva kālaṃ katvā sāvatthiyaṃ therassūpaṭṭhākakule paṭisandhiṃ gaṇhi. Taṃkhaṇeyeva panassa mātā ‘‘kucchiyaṃ me gabbho patiṭṭhito’’ti ñatvā sāmikassa ārocesi. So tassā gabbhaparihāraṃ adāsi.

But the Brahman said to him, "Reverend Sir, here is but a single portion of rice-porridge; grant me happiness in the next life, not in this; I desire to give you all without reserve." So saying, he poured all of the porridge into the Elder's bowl. The Elder ate the porridge then and there. When he had finished his meal, the Brahman gave him the cloth, bowing and saying, "Reverend Sir, may I also obtain

the same Truth you have seen." "So be it, Brahman," replied the Elder, returning thanks to him. Then, rising from his seat, he set out on his journey and in due course arrived at Jetavana. There is a saying, "Alms given in time of poverty rejoice the heart above measure;" and so it was with the Brahman. After he had made this offering his mind was at peace and his heart was filled with joy. And he conceived warm affection for the Elder.

When he died, he was conceived, solely because of his affection for the Elder, in the womb of the wife of a supporter of the Elder living at Sāvatthi. As soon as the mother knew that a child was conceived in her womb she told her husband, and he saw to it that she received the treatment necessary for the protection of the embryo. Avoiding foods that were excessively hot or cold or sour, enfolding the child in her womb happily, the longing of pregnancy arose within her. "Oh," she said, "that I might invite the five hundred monks led by the Elder Sāriputta to my house, provide seats for them, and offer them porridge of milk and rice unceasingly! Oh, that I myself might put on yellow robes, take my golden vessel, sit in the outer circle of the seats, and partake of the porridge left uneaten by so many monks!" (We are told that this longing of hers to put on yellow robes was a sign that her unborn child should one day become a monk under the dispensation of the Buddha.)