Dhammapada 8.2.p5

8.2.p5

Bāhiyo rattibhāge devatāya kathaṃ sutvā saṃviggamānaso taṃ khaṇaṃyeva suppārakā nikkhamitvā ekarattivāsena sāvatthiṃ agamāsi, sabbaṃ vīsayojanasatikaṃ maggaṃ ekarattivāseneva agamāsi. Gacchanto ca pana devatānubhāvena gato. ‘‘Buddhānubhāvenā’’tipi vadantiyeva. Tasmiṃ pana khaṇe satthā sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya paviṭṭho hoti. So bhuttapātarāse kāyaālasiyavimocanatthaṃ abbhokāse caṅkamante sambahule bhikkhū ‘‘kahaṃ etarahi satthā’’ti pucchi. Bhikkhū ‘‘bhagavā sāvatthiṃ piṇḍāya paviṭṭho’’ti vatvā taṃ pucchiṃsu – ‘‘tvaṃ pana kuto āgatosī’’ti? ‘‘Suppārakā āgatomhī’’ti. ‘‘Kadā nikkhantosī’’ti? ‘‘Hiyyo sāyaṃ nikkhantomhī’’ti. ‘‘Dūratosi āgato, nisīda, tava pāde dhovitvā telena makkhetvā thokaṃ vissamāhi, āgatakāle satthāraṃ dakkhissasī’’ti. ‘‘Ahaṃ, bhante, satthu vā attano vā jīvitantarāyaṃ na jānāmi, ekarattenevamhi katthaci aṭṭhatvā anisīditvā vīsayojanasatikaṃ maggaṃ āgato, satthāraṃ passitvāva vissamissāmī’’ti. So evaṃ vatvā taramānarūpo sāvatthiṃ pavisitvā bhagavantaṃ anopamāya buddhasiriyā piṇḍāya carantaṃ disvā ‘‘cirassaṃ vata me gotamo sammāsambuddho diṭṭho’’ti diṭṭhaṭṭhānato paṭṭhāya onatasarīro gantvā antaravīthiyameva pañcapatiṭṭhitena vanditvā gopphakesu daḷhaṃ gahetvā evamāha – ‘‘desetu me, bhante, bhagavā dhammaṃ, desetu sugato dhammaṃ, yaṃ mamassa dīgharattaṃ hitāya sukhāyā’’ti. Atha naṃ satthā ‘‘akālo kho tāva, bāhiya, antaragharaṃ paviṭṭhamhā piṇḍāyā’’ti paṭikkhipi.

As Bāhiya listened in the night time to the speech of the deity, he became greatly agitated in mind; and instantly departing from Suppāraka, in the space of one night he arrived at Sāvatthi. The entire distance of a hundred and twenty leagues he traveled in the space of one night; but when he went thus, he went by the supernatural power of the deity. (Others would say, “by the supernatural power of the Buddha.”) At the moment when he arrived, the Teacher had entered the city for alms. When Bāhiya had breakfasted, he observed many monks taking their exercise in the open air by walking up and down, and he asked them, “Where is the Teacher now?” Said the monks, “He has just entered Sāvatthi for alms.” Then the monks asked Bāhiya, “But whence have you come?” “I have come from Suppāraka.” “When did you leave Suppāraka?” “Yesterday evening.” “You have come a long way. Just sit down, bathe your feet, anoint them with oil, and rest yourself a while. When the Teacher returns you will see him.” “Reverend Sir, I know not when the Teacher may die, or when I may die myself. I came here in the space of but a single night, neither stopping nor sitting down anywhere to rest. I have come a journey of a hundred and twenty leagues. So soon as I have seen the Teacher, I will rest myself.”

When he had thus spoken, his body all of a tremble, he entered Sāvatthi and beheld the Exalted One making his round for alms with the incomparable grace of a Buddha. Said he to himself, “It is a long time indeed since I have seen Gotama the Supremely Enlightened." And from the point where he had first seen him, he proceeded with his body inclined in an attitude of profound reverence; even as he stood in the street, he paid obeisance to him with the Five Rests, and took him firmly by the ankles, and spoke thus to him, "Let the Exalted One teach me the Law; let the Happy One teach me the Law, that it may avail for a long time to come to my welfare and salvation."

But the Teacher turned him away, saying, "You come out of due season, Bāhiya; I have entered among the houses for alms." When Bāhiya heard these words, he said, "Reverend Sir, as I have passed through the round of existences, I have not before received material food. I know not the hour when you or I shall die: teach me the Law." But the Teacher turned him away the second time as before. (This, we are told, was the thought that occurred to him, "From the time this man first saw me, his whole body has been suffused with joy; from the great shock of joy he has received, though he should listen to the Law, he would not be able to comprehend it; let him remain for a time in a state of placid equanimity. Moreover, by reason of the fact that he has come a journey of a hundred and twenty leagues in but a single night, his weariness is great; just let this subside.") Therefore did the Teacher turn him away twice. When Bāhiya put his request the third time, the Teacher, remaining where he was in the street, said to him: