Verses on Dhamma 6.7.p2

6.7.p2

Tadā pana kāṇamātarā atucchahatthaṃ dhītaraṃ patikulaṃ pesetuṃ pakkesu pūvesu catukkhattuṃ catunnaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ dinnakāle satthārā tasmiṃ vatthusmiṃ sikkhāpade paññatte kāṇāya sāmikena aññāya pajāpatiyā ānītāya kāṇā taṃ pavattiṃ sutvā ‘‘imehi me gharāvāso nāsito’’ti diṭṭhadiṭṭhe bhikkhū akkosati paribhāsati. Bhikkhū taṃ vīthiṃ paṭipajjituṃ na visahiṃsu. Satthā taṃ pavattiṃ ñatvā tattha agamāsi. Kāṇamātā satthāraṃ vanditvā paññattāsane nisīdāpetvā yāgukhajjakaṃ adāsi. Satthā katapātarāso ‘‘kahaṃ kāṇā’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Esā, bhante, tumhe disvā maṅkubhūtā rodantī ṭhitā’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā’’ti? ‘‘Esā, bhante, bhikkhū akkosati paribhāsati, tasmā tumhe disvā maṅkubhūtā rodamānā ṭhitā’’ti. Atha naṃ satthā pakkosāpetvā – ‘‘kāṇe, kasmā maṃ disvā maṅkubhūtā nilīyitvā rodasī’’ti. Athassā mātā tāya katakiriyaṃ ārocesi. Atha naṃ satthā āha – ‘‘kiṃ pana kāṇamāte mama sāvakā tayā dinnakaṃ gaṇhiṃsu, adinnaka’’nti? ‘‘Dinnakaṃ, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Sace mama sāvakā piṇḍāya carantā tava gehadvāraṃ pattā tayā dinnakaṃ gaṇhiṃsu, ko tesaṃ doso’’ti? ‘‘Natthi, bhante, ayyānaṃ doso’’. ‘‘Etissāyeva doso’’ti. Satthā kāṇaṃ āha – ‘‘kāṇe, mayhaṃ kira sāvakā piṇḍāya caramānā gehadvāraṃ āgatā, atha nesaṃ tava mātarā pūvā dinnā, ko nāmettha mama sāvakānaṃ doso’’ti? ‘‘Natthi, bhante, ayyānaṃ doso, mayhameva doso’’ti satthāraṃ vanditvā khamāpesi.

For at that time the Mother of Kāṇā was forced to send her daughter to her husband’s house empty-handed because on four different occasions she gave cakes she had fried to four monks; and in accordance with the precept laid down by the Teacher in such cases, Kāṇā’s husband had taken to himself another wife. When Kāṇā learned the circumstances, she said to herself, “These monks have ruined my married life.” And from that time on she reviled and abused every monk she saw. Indeed the monks did not dare to go into the street where she lived.

The Teacher, knowing what had happened, went there. The Mother of Kāṇā caused the Teacher to sit down in a seat already provided and gave him rice-porridge and hard food. After the Teacher had eaten his breakfast, he asked, “Where is Kāṇā?” “Reverend Sir, when she saw you, she was troubled and is now weeping.” “For what reason?” “Reverend Sir, she has been reviling and abusing

the monks. Therefore when she saw you, she was troubled and is now weeping.”

The Teacher caused her to be summoned and said to her, “Kāṇā, why was it that when you saw me you were troubled and hid yourself and wept?” Then her mother told the Teacher what she had done. Said the Teacher to her, “But, Mother of Kāṇā, did you give my disciples what they took, or did you not?” “I gave them what they took, Reverend Sir.” “If my disciples came to the door of your house while going their rounds for alms and accepted the alms which you gave them, what blame rests upon my disciples for so doing?” “Their reverences are in no wise to blame, Reverend Sir; she alone is to blame.”

Turning to the daughter, the Teacher said, “Kāṇā, I learn that my disciples came to the door of your house while they were going their rounds for alms and that your mother gave them some cakes; what blame rests upon my disciples for so doing?” “Their reverences are in no wise to blame, Reverend Sir; she alone is to blame.” Then Kāṇā paid obeisance to the Teacher and begged him to forgive her. The Teacher preached the Law to her in orderly sequence, and she obtained the Fruit of Conversion. The Teacher then rose from his seat and set out for the monastery.