Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c7.807

v1.c7.807

Once, while at Sāvatthi, the Buddha saw a poor farmer of Āḷavī, ready for conversion and decided to go and preach in that town. The farmer’s ox had strayed away, and he looked for it for quite a long while before finding it; he knew that the Buddha was in Āḷavī and decided that he still had time to visit the Buddha, and he set off without taking any food. Meanwhile at Āḷavī the Buddha and his monks had been served with a meal by the people, but the Buddha waited until the farmer came before returning thanks. On the farmer’s arrival the Buddha ordered that some food should be given him, and when the man was comforted and his mind was ready the Buddha preached a sermon, at the end of which the man became a Sotāpanna.⁷