Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.2359

v2.c36.2359

Several incidents are related in the books showing the exemplary qualities possessed by Sāriputta—e.g., the stories of Tambadāṭhika, Puṇṇa and his wife, the poor woman in the Kuṇḍakakucchisindhava Jātaka and Losaka-Tissa (q.v.). These show his great compassion for the poor and his eagerness to help them. Reference has already been made to his first teacher, Sañjaya, whom he tried, but failed, to convert to the Buddha’s faith. His second teacher was Assaji. It is said³⁹ that every night on going to bed he would do obeisance to the quarter in which he knew Assaji to be and would sleep with his head in that direction. The stories of the Sāmaṇeras Sukha and Paṇḍita, and of the monk Rādhā, also show his gratitude towards any who had shown him favour.⁴⁰ His extreme affection for and gratitude to the Buddha are shown in the Sampasādanīya Sutta (q.v.). That Sāriputta possessed great patience is shown by the story⁴¹ of the brahmin who, to test his patience, struck him as he entered the city for alms. But when he was wrongly accused and found it necessary to vindicate his good name, he did not hesitate to proclaim his innocence at great length and to declare his pre-eminence in virtue.⁴² Another characteristic of Sāriputta was his readiness to take instruction from others, however modest. Thus one story relates how, in absent-mindedness, he let the fold of his robe hang down. A novice said, “Sir, the robe should be draped around you,” and Sāriputta agreed, saying, “Good, you have done well to point it out to me,” and going a little way, he draped the robe round him.⁴³ A quaint story is told⁴⁴ of a Yakkha who, going through the air at night, saw Sāriputta wrapt in meditation, his head newly shaved. The sight of the shining head was a great temptation to the Yakkha, and, in spite of his companion’s warning, he dealt a blow on the Thera’s head. The blow was said to have been hard enough to shatter a mountain, but Sāriputta suffered only a slight headache afterwards.