Verses on Dhamma 7.9.p5

7.9.p5

Tattha pana dve mahallakabhikkhū satthu khadiravanaṃ pavisanakāle evaṃ cintayiṃsu – ‘‘ayaṃ bhikkhu ettakaṃ navakammaṃ karonto kiṃ sakkhissati samaṇadhammaṃ kātuṃ, satthā ‘sāriputtassa kaniṭṭho’ti mukholokanakiccaṃ karonto evarūpassa navakammikassa bhikkhussa santikaṃ āgato’’ti. Satthāpi taṃ divasaṃ paccūsakāle lokaṃ voloketvā te bhikkhū disvā tesaṃ cittācāraṃ aññāsi. Tasmā tattha māsamattaṃ vasitvā nikkhamanadivase yathā te bhikkhū attano telanāḷiñca udakatumbañca upāhanāni ca pamussanti, tathā adhiṭṭhahitvā nikkhamanto vihārūpacārato bahi nikkhantakāle iddhiṃ vissajjesi. Atha te bhikkhū ‘‘mayā idañcidañca pamuṭṭhaṃ, mayāpi pamuṭṭha’’nti ubhopi nivattitvā taṃ ṭhānaṃ asallakkhetvā khadirarukkhakaṇṭakehi vijjhamānā vicaritvā ekasmiṃ khadirarukkhe olambantaṃ attano bhaṇḍakaṃ disvā ādāya pakkamiṃsu. Satthāpi bhikkhusaṅghaṃ ādāya puna māsamatteneva sīvalittherassa puññaṃ anubhavamāno paṭigantvā pubbārāmaṃ pāvisi.

But there were two old monks living there who, when the Teacher entered the acacia forest, said to themselves, “How will this monk be able to perform his meditations while engaged in all this new work? The Teacher shows favoritism to one who is the youngest brother of Sāriputta in coming to live with the builder of all this new work.”

As the Teacher surveyed the world on the morning of that day, he saw those two monks and became aware of their disposition of mind. So when he had resided there for a month and the day came for him to depart, he resolved that those monks should forget to take with them their measure of oil and their water-vessel and their sandals. Accordingly when he came to depart, withdrawing just beyond the entrance to the monastery, he sent forth his magical power.

Straightway those monks exclaimed, “I have forgotten this and that;” “I have forgotten it too;” and both turned to retrace their steps. But they were unable to find the place where they had left their belongings, and as they wandered about, the thorns of the acacia-trees pierced their feet. Finally they saw their belongings hanging on the branch of an acacia-tree and taking them with them, departed.

The Teacher with the Congregation of Monks remained for yet another month, enjoying the fruit of the merit of the Elder Sīvali, and then went into residence at Pubbārāma. Those two old monks bathed their faces early in the morning and said, “Let us go to the house of Visākhā the giver of alms to pilgrims and drink broth.” So they went there and sat down, drinking broth and eating hard food. Visākhā asked them, “Reverend Sirs, did you accompany the Teacher to the place where the Elder Sīvali resides?” “Yes, lay disciple.” “A charming place, Reverend Sirs, where the Elder resides.” “Where does its charm come in? It’s a jungle of acacia-trees full of white thorns, lay disciple, fit only for ascetics to live in.”