Dhammapada 5.3.p5

5.3.p5

Sāpi yāvassā so kucchigato, tāva yāpanamattampi kicchena labhitvā puttaṃ vijāyi. Tassa hatthā ca pādā ca akkhīni ca kaṇṇā ca nāsā ca mukhañca yathāṭhāne na ahesuṃ. So evarūpena aṅgavekallena samannāgato paṃsupisācako viya ativirūpo ahosi. Evaṃ santepi taṃ mātā na pariccaji. Kucchiyaṃ vasitaputtasmiñhi sineho balavā hoti. Sā taṃ kicchena posayamānā taṃ ādāya gatadivase kiñci alabhitvā gehe katvā sayameva gatadivase bhatiṃ labhati. Atha naṃ piṇḍāya caritvā jīvituṃ samatthakāle sā kapālakaṃ hatthe ṭhapetvā, ‘‘tāta, mayaṃ taṃ nissāya mahādukkhaṃ pattā, idāni na sakkomi taṃ posetuṃ, imasmiṃ nagare kapaṇaddhikādīnaṃ paṭiyattabhattāni atthi, tattha bhikkhāya caritvā jīvāhī’’ti taṃ vissajjesi. So gharapaṭipāṭiyā caranto ānandaseṭṭhikāle nivuttaṭṭhānaṃ gantvā jātissaro hutvā attano gehaṃ pāvisi. Tīsu pana dvārakoṭṭhakesu na koci sallakkhesi. Catutthe dvārakoṭṭhake mūlasiriseṭṭhino puttakā disvā ubbiggahadayā parodiṃsu. Atha naṃ seṭṭhipurisā ‘‘nikkhama kāḷakaṇṇī’’ti pothetvā nīharitvā saṅkāraṭṭhāne khipiṃsu. Satthā ānandattherena pacchāsamaṇena piṇḍāya caranto taṃ ṭhānaṃ patto theraṃ oloketvā tena puṭṭho taṃ pavattiṃ ācikkhi. Thero mūlasiriṃ pakkosāpesi. Atha mahājanakāyo sannipati. Satthā mūlasiriṃ āmantetvā ‘‘jānāsi eta’’nti pucchitvā ‘‘na jānāmī’’ti vutte, ‘‘pitā te ānandaseṭṭhī’’ti vatvā asaddahantaṃ ‘‘ānandaseṭṭhi puttassa te pañca mahānidhiyo ācikkhāhī’’ti ācikkhāpetvā saddahāpesi. So satthāraṃ saraṇaṃ agamāsi. Tassa dhammaṃ desento imaṃ gāthamāha –

His hands and feet and eyes and ears and nose and mouth were

not where they should have been. Monstrosity that he was, he looked like a mud sprite and was exceedingly repulsive. In spite of this, however, his mother did not abandon him, for great is the love of a mother for the child she has carried in her womb. She had great difficulty in feeding him. If she took him with her when she went out, she got nothing. But if she left him at home and went out alone, she received food to support her. When he was old enough to get a living by begging alms, she placed a potsherd in his hand and sent him away, saying to him, “Dear son, because of you we have been brought to great distress. Now we can support you no longer. In this city meals are provided for poor folk and travelers. Get your living by begging alms in the city.”

He went from house to house, finally coming to the house where he had formerly lived in his existence as Treasurer Ānanda. Remembering his former existence, he entered his own house. He went through three chambers, and no one noticed him. But when he entered the fourth chamber, the young sons of Treasurer Mūlasiri took fright and burst into tears. The treasurer’s servants came in and said to him, “Leave this house, unspeakable monster!” So saying, they beat him and pulled him and dragged him out and threw him on the dust-heap.

As the Teacher was going his round for alms, accompanied by the Elder Ānanda as junior monk, he came to this very place. The Teacher looked at the Elder and, in response to a question, told him what had happened. The Elder sent for Mūlasiri, and a great company of people assembled. The Teacher, addressing Mūlasiri, asked him, “Do you know that man?” “I do not.” “He is your father, Treasurer Ānanda.” Mūlasiri would not believe it. So the Teacher said to Treasurer Ānanda, “Ānanda, point out your five great stores of treasure to your son.” He did so, and Mūlasiri believed and sought refuge in the Teacher. The Teacher, instructing him in the Law, pronounced the following Stanza,