Verses on Dhamma 6.1.p3

6.1.p3

Thero taṃ ādāya satthu santikaṃ gantvā vanditvā nisīdi. Atha naṃ satthā paṭisanthāraṃ katvā āha – ‘‘suvaco nu kho, sāriputta, te antevāsiko’’ti. ‘‘Āma, bhante, ativiya suvaco, kismiñci dose vuccamāne na kuddhapubbo’’ti. ‘‘Sāriputta, evarūpe saddhivihārike labhanto kittake gaṇheyyāsī’’ti? ‘‘Bhante, bahukepi gaṇheyyamevā’’ti. Athekadivasaṃ dhammasabhāya kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ – ‘‘sāriputtatthero kira kataññū katavedī, kaṭacchubhikkhāmattaṃ upakāraṃ saritvā duggatabrāhmaṇaṃ pabbājesi. Theropi ovādakkhamo ovādakkhamameva labhī’’ti. Satthā tesaṃ kathaṃ sutvā ‘‘na, bhikkhave, idāneva, pubbepi sāriputto kataññū katavedīyevā’’ti vatvā tamatthaṃ pakāsetuṃ –

Now one day the monks began a discussion in the Hall of Truth: “They say the Elder Sāriputta is grateful and thankful. When a poor Brahman gave him but a ladleful of food, he remembered his kindness and made a monk of him. Moreover the Elder Rādha, patient of admonition, received a patient teacher.” The Teacher, hearing their talk, said, “Monks, this is not the first time Sāriputta has shown himself grateful and thankful. He showed the same disposition in a previous state of existence also.” And to illustrate his meaning, he related the Alīnacitta Jātaka, found in the Second Book, as follows: