Dhammapada 8.3: 3. Kuṇḍalakesittherīvatthu

8.3.p1

Yo ca gāthāsataṃ bhāseti imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ satthā jetavane viharanto kuṇḍalakesiṃ ārabbha kathesi.

_Though one should recite a hundred Stanzas._ This religious instruction was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana concerning Kuṇḍalakesī.

8.3.p2

Rājagahe kira ekā seṭṭhidhītā soḷasavassuddesikā abhirūpā ahosi dassanīyā pāsādikā. Tasmiñca vaye ṭhitā nāriyo purisajjhāsayā honti purisalolā. Atha naṃ mātāpitaro sattabhūmikassa pāsādassa uparimatale sirigabbhe nivāsāpesuṃ. Ekamevassā dāsiṃ paricārikaṃ adaṃsu. Athekaṃ kulaputtaṃ corakammaṃ karontaṃ gahetvā pacchābāhaṃ bandhitvā catukke catukke kasāhi paharitvā āghātanaṃ nayiṃsu. Seṭṭhidhītā mahājanassa saddaṃ sutvā ‘‘kiṃ nu kho eta’’nti pāsādatale ṭhatvā olokentī taṃ disvā paṭibaddhacittā hutvā taṃ patthayamānā āhāraṃ paṭikkhipitvā mañcake nipajji. Atha naṃ mātā pucchi – ‘‘kiṃ idaṃ, ammā’’ti? ‘‘Sace etaṃ ‘coro’ti gahetvā niyyamānaṃ purisaṃ labhissāmi, jīvissāmi. No ce labhissāmi, jīvitaṃ me natthi, idheva marissāmī’’ti. ‘‘Amma, mā evaṃ kari, amhākaṃ jātiyā ca gottena ca bhogena ca sadisaṃ aññaṃ sāmikaṃ labhissasī’’ti. ‘‘Mayhaṃ aññena kiccaṃ natthi, imaṃ alabhamānā marissāmī’’ti. Mātā dhītaraṃ saññāpetuṃ asakkontī pituno ārocesi. Sopi naṃ saññāpetuṃ asakkonto ‘‘kiṃ sakkā kātu’’nti cintetvā taṃ coraṃ gahetvā gacchantassa rājapurisassa sahassabhaṇḍikaṃ pesesi – ‘‘imaṃ gahetvā etaṃ purisaṃ mayhaṃ dehī’’ti. So ‘‘sādhū’’ti kahāpaṇe gahetvā taṃ muñcitvā aññaṃ māretvā ‘‘mārito, deva, coro’’ti rañño ārocesi. Seṭṭhipi tassa dhītaraṃ adāsi.

A rich merchant of Rājagaha, it seems, had an only daughter who was about sixteen years of age, and she was exceedingly beautiful and fair to see. (When women reach this age, they burn and long for men.) Her mother and father lodged her on the topmost floor of a seven-storied palace in an apartment of royal splendor, and gave her only a single slave-woman to wait upon her.

Now one day a young man of station was caught in the act of robbery. They bound his hands behind his back and led him to the place of execution, scourging him with lashes at every cross-roads. The merchant’s daughter heard the shouts of the crowd, said to herself, “What is that?” looked down from the top of the palace, and saw him.

Straightway she fell in love with him. So great, in fact, was her longing for him that she took to her bed and refused to eat. Her mother asked her, “What does this mean, my dear daughter?” “If I can have that young man who was caught in the act of committing robbery and who was led through the streets, life will be worth living; if not, life is not worth living; I shall die here and now.” “Do not act in this manner, my dear daughter; you shall have some one else for your husband, some one who is our equal in birth and family and wealth.” “I will have no one else; if I cannot have this man I shall die.”

The mother, unable to pacify her daughter, told the father; but the father likewise was unable to pacify his daughter. “What is to be done?” thought he. He sent a thousand pieces of money to the king’s officer who had captured the robber and who was accompanying him to the place of execution, saying, “Take this money and send the robber to me.” “Very well!” said the king’s officer. He took the

money, released the robber, had another man put to death, and sent word to the king, "The robber has been executed, your majesty."

The merchant gave his daughter in marriage to the robber. She resolved to win the favor of her husband; and from that time on, adorned with all her adornments, she prepared her husband's meals with her own hand. After a few days the robber thought to himself, "When can I kill this woman, take her jewels and sell them, and so be able to take my meals in a certain tavern? This is the way!"

8.3.p3

Sā tato paṭṭhāya ‘‘sāmikaṃ ārādhessāmī’’ti sabbābharaṇapaṭimaṇḍitā sayameva tassa yāguādīni saṃvidahati, coro katipāhaccayena cintesi – ‘‘kadā nu kho imaṃ māretvā etissā ābharaṇāni gahetvā ekasmiṃ surāgehe vikkiṇitvā khādituṃ labhissāmī’’ti? So ‘‘attheko upāyo’’ti cintetvā āhāraṃ paṭikkhipitvā mañcake nipajji, atha naṃ sā upasaṅkamitvā ‘‘kiṃ te, sāmi, rujjatī’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Na kiñci me, bhaddeti, kacci pana me mātāpitaro tuyhaṃ kuddhā’’ti? ‘‘Na kujjhanti, bhadde’’ti. Atha ‘‘kiṃ nāmeta’’nti? ‘‘Bhadde, ahaṃ taṃ divasaṃ bandhitvā niyyamāno corapapāte adhivatthāya devatāya balikammaṃ paṭissuṇitvā jīvitaṃ labhiṃ, tvampi mayā tassā eva ānubhāvena laddhā, ‘taṃ me devatāya balikammaṃ ṭhapita’nti cintemi, bhadde’’ti. ‘‘Sāmi, mā cintayi, karissāmi balikammaṃ, vadehi, kenattho’’ti? ‘‘Appodakamadhupāyasena ca lājapañcamakapupphehi cā’’ti. ‘‘Sādhu, sāmi, ahaṃ paṭiyādessāmī’’ti sā sabbaṃ balikammaṃ paṭiyādetvā ‘‘ehi, sāmi, gacchāmā’’ti āha. ‘‘Tena hi, bhadde, tava ñātake nivattetvā mahagghāni vatthābharaṇāni gahetvā attānaṃ alaṅkarohi, hasantā kīḷantā sukhaṃ gamissāmā’’ti. Sā tathā akāsi.

He took to his bed and refused to eat. She came to him and asked, "Are you in pain?" "Not at all, wife." "Then perhaps my mother and father are angry with you?" "They are not angry with me, wife." "What is the matter, then?" "Wife, that day when I was bound and led through the streets, I saved my life by vowing an offering to the deity that lives on Robbers' Cliff; likewise it was through his supernatural power that I gained you for my wife. I was wondering how I could fulfill my vow of an offering to the deity." "Husband, do not worry; I will see to the offering; tell me what is needed." "Rich rice-porridge, flavored with honey; and the five kinds of flowers, including the lāja flower." "Very well, husband, I will make ready the offering."

Having prepared the whole offering, she said to her husband, "Come, husband, let us go." "Very well, wife; let your kinsmen remain behind; put on your costly garments and adorn yourself with your precious jewels, and we will go gayly, laughing and disporting ourselves." She did as she was told. When they reached the foot of the mountain, the robber said to her, "Wife, from this point on let us two go alone; we will send back the rest of the company in a conveyance; you take the vessel containing the offering and carry it yourself." She did as she was told.

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Atha naṃ so pabbatapādaṃ gatakāle āha – ‘‘bhadde, ito paraṃ ubhova janā gamissāma, sesajanaṃ yānakena saddhiṃ nivattāpetvā balikammabhājanaṃ sayaṃ ukkhipitvā gaṇhāhī’’ti. Sā tathā akāsi. Coro taṃ gahetvā corapapātapabbataṃ abhiruhi. Tassa hi ekena passena manussā abhiruhanti, ekaṃ passaṃ chinnapapātaṃ. Pabbatamatthake ṭhitā tena passena core pātenti. Te khaṇḍākhaṇḍaṃ hutvā bhūmiyaṃ patanti. Tasmā ‘‘corapapāto’’ti vuccati. Sā tassa pabbatassa matthake ṭhatvā ‘‘balikammaṃ te, sāmi, karohī’’ti āha. So tuṇhī ahosi. Puna tāya ‘‘kasmā, sāmi, tuṇhībhūtosī’’ti vutte taṃ āha – ‘‘na mayhaṃ balikammenattho, vañcetvā pana taṃ ādāya āgatomhī’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ kāraṇā, sāmī’’ti? ‘‘Taṃ māretvā tava ābharaṇāni gahetvā palāyanatthāyā’’ti. Sā maraṇabhayatajjitā āha – ‘‘sāmi, ahañca ābharaṇāni ca tava santakāneva, kasmā evaṃ vadesī’’ti? So, ‘‘mā evaṃ karohī’’ti, punappunaṃ yāciyamānopi ‘‘māremi evā’’ti āha. ‘‘Evaṃ sante kiṃ te mama maraṇena? Imāni ābharaṇāni gahetvā mayhaṃ jīvitaṃ dehi, ito paṭṭhāya maṃ ‘matā’ti dhārehi, dāsī vā te hutvā kammaṃ karissāmī’’ti vatvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

The robber took her in his arms and climbed the mountain to the top of Robbers' Cliff. (One side of this mountain men can climb; but the other side is a precipitous cliff, from the top of which robbers are flung, being dashed to pieces before they reach the bottom; therefore it is called "Robbers' Cliff.") Standing on the top of the mountain, she said, "Husband, present the offering." Her husband made no reply. Again she spoke, "Husband, why do you remain silent?" Then he said to her, "I have no use for the offering; I deceived you in bringing you here with an offering." "Then why did you bring me here, husband?" "To kill you, seize your jewels, and escape." Terrified with the fear of death, she said to him, "Husband, both my jewels and my person belong to you; why do you speak thus?" Over and over again she pleaded with him, "Do not do this;" but his only reply was, "I will kill you." "After all, what will you gain by killing me? Take these jewels and spare my life; henceforth regard me as your mother, or else let me be your slave-woman and work for you." So saying, she recited the following Stanza,

8.3.p5

‘‘Idaṃ suvaṇṇakeyūraṃ, muttā veḷuriyā bahū;
Sabbaṃ harassu bhaddante, maṃ ca dāsīti sāvayā’’ti. (apa. therī 2.3.27);

Take these golden bracelets, all set with beryls.
Take all, and welcome; call me your slave-woman.

8.3.p6

Taṃ sutvā coro ‘‘evaṃ kate tvaṃ gantvā mātāpitūnaṃ ācikkhissasi, māressāmiyeva, mā tvaṃ bāḷhaṃ paridevasī’’ti vatvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

The robber, hearing this, said to her, "Despite what you say, were I to spare your life, you would go and tell your mother and father all. I will kill you. That is all. Lament not with vehement lamentation." So saying, he recited the following Stanza,

8.3.p7

‘‘Mā bāḷhaṃ paridevesi, khippaṃ bandhāhi bhaṇḍikaṃ;
Na tuyhaṃ jīvitaṃ atthi, sabbaṃ gaṇhāmi bhaṇḍaka’’nti. –

Lament not overmuch; tie up your possessions quickly.
You have not long to live; I shall take all your possessions.

8.3.p8

Sā cintesi – ‘‘aho idaṃ kammaṃ bhāriyaṃ. Paññā nāma na pacitvā khādanatthāya katā, atha kho vicāraṇatthāya katā, jānissāmissa kattabba’’nti, atha naṃ āha – ‘‘sāmi, yadā tvaṃ ‘coro’ti gahetvā nīyasi, tadāhaṃ mātāpitūnaṃ ācikkhiṃ, te sahassaṃ vissajjetvā taṃ āharāpetvā gehe kariṃsu. Tato paṭṭhāya ahaṃ tuyhaṃ upakārikā, ajja me sudiṭṭhaṃ katvā attānaṃ vandituṃ dehī’’ti. So ‘‘sādhu, bhadde, sudiṭṭhaṃ katvā vandāhī’’ti vatvā pabbatante aṭṭhāsi. Atha naṃ sā tikkhattuṃ padakkhiṇaṃ katvā catūsu ṭhānesu vanditvā, ‘‘sāmi, idaṃ te pacchimadassanaṃ, idāni tuyhaṃ vā mama dassanaṃ, mayhaṃ vā tava dassanaṃ natthī’’ti purato ca pacchato ca āliṅgitvā pamattaṃ hutvā pabbatante ṭhitaṃ piṭṭhipasse ṭhatvā ekena hatthena khandhe gahetvā ekena piṭṭhikacchāya gahetvā pabbatapapāte khipi. So pabbatakucchiyaṃ paṭihato khaṇḍākhaṇḍikaṃ hutvā bhūmiyaṃ pati. Corapapātamatthake adhivatthā devatā tesaṃ dvinnampi kiriyaṃ disvā tassā itthiyā sādhukāraṃ datvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

She thought to herself, "Oh, what a wicked deed is this! However, wisdom was not made to be cooked and eaten, but rather to make men look before they leap. I shall find a way of dealing with him." And she said to him, "Husband, when they caught you in the act of committing robbery and led you through the streets, I told my mother and father, and they spent a thousand pieces of money in ransoming you, and they gave you a place in their house, and from that time on I have been your benefactress; to-day do me the favor of letting me pay obeisance to you." "Very well, wife," said he, granted her the favor of paying obeisance to him, and then took his stand near the edge of the cliff.

She walked around him three times, keeping him on her right hand, and paid obeisance to him in the four places. Then she said to him, "Husband, this is the last time I shall see you. Henceforth you will see me no more, neither shall I see you any more." And she embraced him both before and behind. Then, remaining behind him, as he stood off his guard near the edge of the cliff, she put one hand to his shoulder and the other to the small of his back, and flung him over the cliff. Thus was the robber hurled into the abyss of the mountain, and dashed to pieces when he reached the bottom. The deity that dwelt on the top of Robbers' Cliff observed the actions of the two, and applauding the woman, uttered the following Stanza,

8.3.p9

‘‘Na hi sabbesu ṭhānesu, puriso hoti paṇḍito;
Itthīpi paṇḍitā hoti, tattha tattha vicakkhaṇā’’ti. (apa. therī 2.3.31);

Wisdom is not always confined to men; A woman, too, is wise, and shows it now and then. Having thrown the robber over the cliff, the woman thought to herself, “If I go home, they will ask me, ‘Where is your husband?’ and if, in answer to their question, I say, ‘I have killed him,’ they will pierce me with the knives of their tongues, saying, ‘We ransomed the scoundrel with a thousand pieces of money and now you have killed him.’ If, on the other hand, I say, ‘He sought to kill me for my jewels,’ they will not believe me. I’m done with home!” She cast off her jewels, went into the forest, and after wandering about for a time came to a certain hermitage of nuns. She reverently bowed and said, “Sister, receive me into your Order as a nun.” So they received her as a nun.

8.3.p10

Sāpi coraṃ papāte khipitvā cintesi – ‘‘sacāhaṃ gehaṃ gamissāmi, ‘sāmiko te kuhi’nti pucchissanti, sacāhaṃ evaṃ puṭṭhā ‘mārito me’ti vakkhāmi, ‘dubbinīte sahassaṃ datvā taṃ āharāpetvā idāni naṃ māresī’ti maṃ mukhasattīhi vijjhissanti, ‘ābharaṇatthāya so maṃ māretukāmo ahosī’ti vuttepi na saddahissanti, alaṃ me gehenā’’ti tatthevābharaṇāni chaḍḍetvā araññaṃ pavisitvā anupubbena vicarantī ekaṃ paribbājakānaṃ assamaṃ patvā vanditvā ‘‘mayhaṃ, bhante, tumhākaṃ santike pabbajjaṃ dethā’’ti āha. Atha naṃ pabbājesuṃ. Sā pabbajitvāva pucchi – ‘‘bhante, tumhākaṃ pabbajjāya kiṃ uttama’’nti? ‘‘Bhadde, dasasu vā kasiṇesu parikammaṃ katvā jhānaṃ nibbattetabbaṃ, vādasahassaṃ vā uggaṇhitabbaṃ, ayaṃ amhākaṃ pabbajjāya uttamattho’’ti. ‘‘Jhānaṃ tāva nibbattetuṃ ahaṃ na sakkhissāmi, vādasahassaṃ pana uggaṇhissāmi, ayyā’’ti. Atha naṃ te vādasahassaṃ uggaṇhāpetvā ‘‘uggahitaṃ te sippaṃ, idāni tvaṃ jambudīpatale vicaritvā attanā saddhiṃ pañhaṃ kathetuṃ samatthaṃ olokehī’’ti tassa hatthe jambusākhaṃ datvā uyyojesuṃ – ‘‘gaccha, bhadde, sace koci gihibhūto tayā saddhiṃ pañhaṃ kathetuṃ sakkoti, tasseva pādaparicārikā bhavāhi, sace pabbajito sakkoti, tassa santike pabbajāhī’’ti.

After she had become a nun, she asked, “Sister, what is the goal of your Religious Life?” “Sister, the development of spiritual ecstasy through the employment of the ten Kasiṇas, or else the memorizing of a thousand articles of faith; this is the highest aim of our Religious Life.” “Spiritual ecstasy I shall not be able to develop, Reverend Sister; but I will master the thousand articles of faith.” When she had mastered the thousand articles of faith, they said to her, “You have acquired proficiency; now go throughout the length and breadth of the Land of the Rose-Apple and look for some one able to match question and answer with you.”

So, placing a branch of rose-apple in her hands, they dismissed her with these words, “Go forth, sister; if any one who is a layman is able to match question and answer with you, become his slave; if any monk, enter his Order as a nun.” Adopting the name “Nun of the Rose-Apple,” she left the hermitage and went about from place to place asking questions of everyone she saw. No one was able to match question and answer with her; in fact, such a reputation did she acquire that whenever men heard the announcement, “Here comes the ‘Nun of the Rose-Apple,’” they would run away.

8.3.p11

Sā nāmena jambuparibbājikā nāma hutvā tato nikkhamitvā diṭṭhe diṭṭhe pañhaṃ pucchantī vicarati. Tāya saddhiṃ kathetuṃ samattho nāma nāhosi. ‘‘Ito jambuparibbājikā āgacchatī’’ti sutvāva manussā palāyanti. Sā gāmaṃ vā nigamaṃ vā bhikkhāya pavisantī gāmadvāre vālukarāsiṃ katvā tattha jambusākhaṃ ṭhapetvā ‘‘mayā saddhiṃ kathetuṃ samattho jambusākhaṃ maddatū’’ti vatvā gāmaṃ pāvisi. Taṃ ṭhānaṃ upasaṅkamituṃ samattho nāma nāhosi. Sāpi milātāya jambusākhāya aññaṃ jambusākhaṃ gaṇhāti, iminā nīhārena vicarantī sāvatthiṃ patvā gāmadvāre vālukarāsiṃ katvā jambusākhaṃ ṭhapetvā vuttanayeneva vatvā bhikkhāya pāvisi. Sambahulā gāmadārakā jambusākhaṃ parivāretvā aṭṭhaṃsu. Tadā sāriputtatthero piṇḍāya caritvā katabhattakicco nagarā nikkhanto te dārake jambusākhaṃ parivāretvā ṭhite disvā ‘‘kiṃ ida’’nti pucchi. Dārakā therassa taṃ pavattiṃ ācikkhiṃsu. ‘‘Tena hi dārakā imaṃ sākhaṃ maddathā’’ti. ‘‘Bhāyāma, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Ahaṃ pañhaṃ kathessāmi, maddatha tumhe’’ti. Te therassa vacanena sañjātussāhā tathā katvā maddantā jambusākhaṃ ukkhipiṃsu. Paribbājikā āgantvā te paribhāsitvā ‘‘tumhehi saddhiṃ mama pañhena kiccaṃ natthi, kasmā me sākhaṃ maddathā’’ti āha. ‘‘Ayyenamhā maddāpitā’’ti āhaṃsu. ‘‘Bhante, tumhehi me sākhā maddāpitā’’ti? ‘‘Āma, bhaginī’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi mayā saddhiṃ pañhaṃ kathethā’’ti. ‘‘Sādhu kathessāmī’’ti.

Before entering a town or village for alms, she would scrape a pile of sand together before the village gate and there plant her rose-apple branch. Then she would issue her challenge, “Let him that is able to match question and answer with me trample this rose-apple branch under his feet.” So saying, she would enter the village. No one dared to pass beyond that spot. When one branch withered, she would procure a fresh one.

Traveling about in this way, she arrived at Sāvatthi, planted the branch before the city gate, issued her challenge in the usual way, and went in to seek alms. A number of young boys gathered about the branch and waited to see what would happen. Just then the Elder Sāriputta, who had made his round and eaten his breakfast and was on his way out of the city, saw those boys standing about the branch and asked them, “What does this mean?” The boys explained matters to the Elder. Said the Elder, “Go ahead, boys, trample that branch under your feet.” “We are afraid to, Reverend Sir.” “I will answer the question; you go ahead and trample the branch under your feet.” The Elder’s words supplied the boys with the necessary courage. Forthwith they trampled the branch under their feet, shouting and kicking up the dust.

When the nun returned, she rebuked them and said, “I don’t intend to bandy question and answer with *you*; how did you come to trample the branch under your feet?” “Our noble Elder told us to.” “Reverend Sir, did you tell them to trample my branch under their feet?” “Yes, sister.” “Well then, match question and answer with me.” “Very well, I will do so.”

8.3.p12

Sā vaḍḍhamānakacchāyāya pañhaṃ pucchituṃ therassa santikaṃ agamāsi, sakalanagaraṃ saṅkhubhi. ‘‘Dvinnaṃ paṇḍitānaṃ kathaṃ suṇissāmā’’ti nāgarā tāya saddhiṃyeva gantvā theraṃ vanditvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu. Paribbājikā theraṃ āha – ‘‘bhante, pucchāmi te pañha’’nti. ‘‘Puccha, bhaginī’’ti. Sā vādasahassaṃ pucchi, pucchitaṃ pucchitaṃ thero vissajjesi. Atha naṃ thero āha – ‘‘ettakā eva te pañhā, aññepi atthī’’ti? ‘‘Ettakā eva, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Tayā bahū pañhā puṭṭhā, mayampi ekaṃ pucchāma, vissajjissasi no’’ti? ‘‘Jānamānā vissajjissāmi pucchatha, bhante’’ti. Thero ‘‘ekaṃ nāma ki’’nti (khu. pā. 4.1) pañhaṃ pucchi. Sā ‘‘evaṃ nāmesa vissajjetabbo’’ti ajānantī ‘‘kiṃ nāmetaṃ, bhante’’ti pucchi. ‘‘Buddhapañho nāma, bhaginī’’ti. ‘‘Mayhampi taṃ detha, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Sace mādisā bhavissasi, dassāmī’’ti. ‘‘Tena hi maṃ pabbājethā’’ti. Thero bhikkhunīnaṃ ācikkhitvā pabbājesi. Sā pabbajitvā laddhūpasampadā kuṇḍalakesittherī nāma hutvā katipāhaccayeneva saha paṭisambhidāhi arahattaṃ pāpuṇi.

As the shades of evening drew on, she went to the Elder’s residence to put her questions. The entire city was stirred up. The people said to each other, “Let us go and hear the talk of the two learned persons.” Accompanying the nun from the city to the Elder’s residence, they bowed to the Elder and seated themselves respectfully on one side.

The nun said to the Elder, “Reverend Sir, I wish to ask you a question.” “Ask it, sister.” So she asked him the thousand articles of faith. Every question the nun asked, the Elder answered correctly. Then he said to her, “You have asked only these few questions; are there any others?” “These are all, Reverend Sir.” “You have asked many questions; I will ask you just one; will you answer me?” “Ask your question, Reverend Sir.” Then the Elder asked her the following question, “What is ‘One’?” She said to herself, “This is a question I should be able to answer;” but not knowing the answer, she inquired of the Elder, “What is it, Reverend Sir?” “That is the Buddha’s question, sister.” “Tell me also the answer, Reverend Sir.” “If you will enter our Order, I will tell you the

answer." "Very well, admit me to the Order." The Elder sent word to the nuns and had her admitted. After being admitted to the Order, she made her full profession, took the name Kuṇḍalakesī, and after a few days became an Arahat endowed with the Supernatural Faculties.

8.3.p13

Bhikkhū dhammasabhāyaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ – ‘‘kuṇḍalakesittheriyā dhammassavanañca bahuṃ natthi, pabbajitakiccañcassā matthakaṃ pattaṃ, ekena kira corena saddhiṃ mahāsaṅgāmaṃ katvā jinitvā āgatā’’ti. Satthā āgantvā ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘bhikkhave, mayā desitadhammaṃ ‘appaṃ vā bahuṃ vā’ti pamāṇaṃ mā gaṇhatha, anatthakaṃ padasatampi seyyo na hoti, dhammapadaṃ pana ekampi seyyova. Avasesacore jinantassa ca jayo nāma na hoti, ajjhattikakilesacore jinantasseva pana jayo nāma hotī’’ti vatvā anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā abhāsi –

In the Hall of Truth the monks began a discussion of the incident. "Kuṇḍalakesī heard little of the Law and yet she succeeded in being admitted to the Order; moreover, she came here after fighting a fierce battle with a robber and defeating him." The Teacher came in and asked them, "Monks, what is it that you are sitting here discussing now?" They told him, "Monks, measure not the Law I have taught as being 'little' or 'much.' There is no superior merit in a hundred sentences that are meaningless; but one Sentence of the Law is better. He that defeats all other robbers wins no victory at all, but he who defeats the robbers that are his own Depravities, his is victory indeed." Then he joined the connection, and preaching the Law, pronounced the following Stanzas,

8.3.102

‘‘Yo ca gāthāsataṃ bhāse, anatthapadasaṃhitā;
Ekaṃ dhammapadaṃ seyyo, yaṃ sutvā upasammati.

102. Though one should recite a hundred Stanzas composed of meaningless sentences,
Yet one Sentence of the Law were better, which if a man hear he is at peace.

8.3.103

‘‘Yo sahassaṃ sahassena, saṅgāme mānuse jine;
Ekañca jeyyamattānaṃ, sa ve saṅgāmajuttamo’’ti.

103. Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand men in battle,
Yet would he be the mightiest conqueror who should conquer one, himself.

8.3.103_2

Tattha gāthāsatanti yo ca puggalo sataparicchedā bahūpi gāthā bhāseyyāti attho. Anatthapadasaṃhitāti ākāsavaṇṇanādivasena anatthakehi padehi saṃhitā. Dhammapadanti atthasādhakaṃ khandhādipaṭisaṃyuttaṃ, ‘‘cattārimāni paribbājakā dhammapadāni. Katamāni cattāri? Anabhijjhā paribbājakā dhammapadaṃ, abyāpādo paribbājakā dhammapadaṃ, sammāsati paribbājakā dhammapadaṃ, sammāsamādhi paribbājakā dhammapada’’nti (a. ni. 4.30) evaṃ vuttesu catūsu dhammapadesu ekampi dhammapadaṃ seyyo. Yo sahassaṃ sahassenāti yo eko saṅgāmayodho sahassena guṇitaṃ sahassaṃ mānuse ekasmiṃ saṅgāme jineyya, dasamanussasatasahassaṃ jinitvā jayaṃ āhareyya, ayampi saṅgāmajinataṃ uttamo pavaro nāma na hoti. Ekañca jeyyamattānanti yo rattiṭṭhānadivāṭṭhānesu ajjhattikakammaṭṭhānaṃ sammasanto attano lobhādikilesajayena attānaṃ jineyya. Sa ve saṅgāmajuttamoti so saṅgāmajinānaṃ uttamo pavaro saṅgāmasīsayodhoti.

8.3.103_3

Desanāvasāne bahū sotāpattiphalādīni pāpuṇiṃsūti.

8.3.103_4

Kuṇḍalakesittherīvatthu tatiyaṃ.