Verses on Dhamma 6.5.p9

6.5.p9

Mahāduggato tassa santikaṃ gantvā ‘‘mayhaṃ pattabhikkhuṃ dehī’’ti āha. So tasmiṃ khaṇe satiṃ labhitvā ‘‘ahaṃ tava bhikkhuṃ pamuṭṭho’’ti āha. Mahāduggato tikhiṇāya sattiyā kucchiyaṃ pahaṭo viya, ‘‘sāmi, kasmā maṃ nāsesi, ahaṃ tayā hiyyo samādapito bhariyāya saddhiṃ divasaṃ bhatiṃ katvā ajja pātova paṇṇatthāya nadītīre āhiṇḍitvā āgato, dehi me ekaṃ bhikkhu’’nti bāhā paggayha paridevi. Manussā sannipatitvā ‘‘kimetaṃ, mahāduggatā’’ti pucchiṃsu. So tamatthaṃ ārocesi. Te veyyāvaṭikaṃ pucchiṃsu – ‘‘saccaṃ kira, samma, tayā esa ‘bhatiṃ katvā ekassa bhikkhussa bhikkhaṃ dehī’ti samādapito’’ti? ‘‘Āma, ayyā’’ti. ‘‘Bhāriyaṃ te kammaṃ kataṃ, yo tvaṃ ettake bhikkhū saṃvidahanto etassa ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ nādāsī’’ti. So tesaṃ vacanena maṅkubhūto taṃ āha – ‘‘samma mahāduggata, mā maṃ nāsayi, ahaṃ tava kāraṇā mahāvihesaṃ patto, manussā paṇṇe āropitaniyāmena attano attano pattabhikkhū nayiṃsu, attano gehe nisinnabhikkhuṃ nīharitvā dento nāma natthi, satthā pana mukhaṃ dhovitvā gandhakuṭiyameva nisinno, rājayuvarājasenāpatiādayo satthu gandhakuṭito nikkhamanaṃ olokentā nisinnā satthu pattaṃ gahetvā ‘gamissāmā’ti. Buddhā nāma duggate anukampaṃ karonti, tvaṃ vihāraṃ gantvā ‘duggatomhi, bhante, mama saṅgahaṃ karothā’ti satthāraṃ vanda, sace te puññaṃ atthi, addhā lacchasī’’ti.

Now the solicitor of alms had sent to the houses of the residents the monks according to the names on the leaf. Mahāduggata met him and said to him, “Give me the monk allotted to me.” The solicitor immediately recollected what he had done and replied, “I forgot to allot you a monk.” Mahāduggata felt as if a sharp dagger had been thrust into his belly. Said he, “Sir, why are you ruining me? Yesterday you urged me to give alms. So my wife and I worked all day for hire, and to-day I got up early in the morning to gather leaves, went to the bank of the river, and spent the day picking up leaves; give me one monk!” And he wrung his arms and burst into tears.

People gathered about and asked, “What is the matter, Mahāduggata?” He told them the facts, whereupon they asked the solicitor, “Is it true, as this man alleges, that you urged him to hire himself out for service to provide food for a monk?” “Yes, noble sirs.” “You have done a grave wrong in that, while making arrangements for so many monks, you failed to allot this man a single monk.” The solicitor was troubled by what they said and said to him, “Mahāduggata, do not ruin me. You are putting me to great inconvenience. The residents have taken to their several houses the monks allotted to them according to the names written on the leaf, and there is no monk in my own house whom I can take away and give to you. But the Teacher is even now sitting in the Perfumed Chamber, having just bathed his face; and without are seated kings, royal princes, commanders-in-chief, and others, waiting for him to come forth, that they may take his bowl and accompany him on his way. Now the Buddhas are wont to show particular tenderness to a poor man. Therefore go to the monastery, pay obeisance to the Teacher, and say to him, ‘I am a poor man, Reverend Sir; bestow your favor on me.’ If you have merit, you will undoubtedly obtain what you seek.” So Mahāduggata went to the monastery. Now on previous occasions he had been seen at the monastery as an eater of remnants of food. Therefore the kings, royal princes, and others said to him, "Mahāduggata, this is not meal-time; why do you come here?" "Sirs," he replied, "I know it is not meal-time; but I have come to pay obeisance to the Teacher." Then he went to the Perfumed Chamber, laid his head on the threshold, paid obeisance to the Teacher with the Five Rests, and said, "Reverend Sir, in this city there is no man poorer than I. Be my refuge; bestow favor on me."