Verses on Dhamma 6.4.p11

6.4.p11

Atha satthā tassāgamanabhāvaṃ ñatvā yathā attano santike nisinnā bhikkhū na paññāyanti, evamakāsi. Sāpi gacchantī gacchantī satthu sarīrato nikkhantā chabbaṇṇarasmiyo disvā tatheva cintetvā satthāraṃ upasaṅkamitvā vanditvā ekamantaṃ ṭhitā pucchi – ‘‘bhante, mahākappino tumhākaṃ uddissa nikkhanto āgatettha maññe, kahaṃ so, amhākampi naṃ dassethā’’ti? ‘‘Nisīdatha tāva, idheva naṃ passissathā’’ti. Tā sabbāpi tuṭṭhacittā ‘‘idheva kira nisinnā sāmike passissāmā’’ti nisīdiṃsu. Satthā tāsaṃ anupubbiṃ kathaṃ kathesi, anojādevī desanāvasāne saparivārā sotāpattiphalaṃ pāpuṇi. Mahākappinatthero tāsaṃ vaḍḍhitadhammadesanaṃ suṇanto saparivāro saha paṭisambhidāhi arahattaṃ pāpuṇi. Tasmiṃ khaṇe satthā tāsaṃ te bhikkhū arahattappatte dassesi. Tāsaṃ kira āgatakkhaṇeyeva attano sāmike kāsāvadhare muṇḍakasīse disvā cittaṃ ekaggaṃ na bhaveyya, tena maggaphalāni pattuṃ na sakkuṇeyyuṃ. Tasmā acalasaddhāya patiṭṭhitakāle tāsaṃ te bhikkhū arahattappatteyeva dassesi.

When the Teacher became aware of her approach, he rendered the monks invisible that they might not be seen sitting with him. As she drew nearer and nearer and saw the rays of light issuing from the body of the Teacher, the same thought came to her as had previously come to the king. Having approached the Teacher, she paid obeisance to him, stood respectfully on one side, and asked him, “Reverend Sir, methinks Kappina the Great has come to you and told you that he has renounced the world for your sake. Where is he? Show him to us.” “Just sit down; you will presently see him even here.” The hearts of all those women were filled with joy at the thought that while seated even there they should see their husbands. So they sat down.

The Teacher preached the Law in orderly sequence. At the conclusion of his discourse the queen and her retinue were established in the Fruit of Conversion. The Elder Kappina the Great and his retinue, who heard the Teacher preach the Law to the women, attained Arahatship together with the Supernatural Faculties. At that moment the Teacher showed the monks to the women. We are told that the reason why the Teacher did not show the monks to the women at the very moment when they arrived, was for fear that should they see their husbands with yellow robes and shaven heads, their minds would be disturbed and they would therefore be unable to attain the Path and the Fruits. Hence it was that he waited until the women were firmly grounded in faith to show them the monks in their state as Arahats.