Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c6.2345

v1.c6.2345

Abhibhūta.—A Thera. He was born in the Rājā’s family in Veṭṭha (v.l. Veṭṭhipura) and succeeded to his father’s estate. When the Buddha came to the city during a tour, Abhibhūta heard him and invited him for a meal; he later entered the Order and became an arahant. Three verses ascribed to Abhibhūta occur in the Theragāthā, uttered, it is said, when his kinsmen and retainers came to him lamenting that he had left them without a leader.¹ The second of these verses is elsewhere² attributed to Abhibhū, chief disciple of Sikhī Buddha. But in the Milindapañha,³ Nāgasena ascribes the second verse to the Buddha, and in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta⁴ the third verse also is ascribed to him. The second verse is also assigned to the Buddha in the Divyāvadāna,⁵ but elsewhere in the same book⁶ it is said to have been uttered by devas.