English
"Are you, Raṭṭhapāla, permitted by your parents to go forth from the home life into homelessness?" "No, venerable sir, I am not permitted by my parents to go forth from the home life into homelessness." "Indeed, Raṭṭhapāla, the Tathāgatas do not ordain one who is not permitted by their mother and father. their son to go forth.” “I, venerable sir, will do so that my parents will permit me to go forth from home to homelessness.” 295. Then the householder Raṭṭhapāla, rising from his seat, having saluted the Blessed One, and circumambulated him, approached his parents. Having approached, he said to his parents: “Mother, father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living at home to lead the holy life perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home to homelessness. Permit me to go forth from home to homelessness.” When this was said, Raṭṭhapāla’s parents said to the householder Raṭṭhapāla: “You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, cared for in comfort. You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, we shall be separated from you against our will. How then shall we permit you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness?” A second time, the householder Raṭṭhapāla… A third time, the householder Raṭṭhapāla said to his parents: “Mother, father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy for one living at home to lead the holy life perfectly complete, perfectly pure, like a polished conch shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, put on saffron robes, and go forth from home to homelessness.” to go forth. Allow me to go forth from home to homelessness.’ For a third time, indeed, Raṭṭhapāla the young man's parents said this to Raṭṭhapāla the young man: ‘You are, dear Raṭṭhapāla, our only son, beloved, pleasing, well-nourished, well-cared for. You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, we would be separated from you unwillingly. How then could we allow you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness?’ Then indeed Raṭṭhapāla the young man, thinking: ‘My parents do not allow me to go forth from home to homelessness,’ lay down right there on the bare ground, saying: ‘Here will be my death, or my going forth.’ Then indeed Raṭṭhapāla the young man did not eat even one meal, did not eat two meals, did not eat three meals, did not eat four meals, did not eat five meals, did not eat six meals, did not eat seven meals. Then indeed Raṭṭhapāla the young man's parents said this to Raṭṭhapāla the young man: ‘You are, dear Raṭṭhapāla, our only son, beloved, pleasing, well-nourished, well-cared for. You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, we would be separated from you unwillingly. How then could we allow you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness? Arise, dear Raṭṭhapāla, eat and drink and enjoy yourself; eating, drinking, enjoying, indulging in sensual pleasures, doing good deeds, delight yourself. We do not allow you to go forth from home to homelessness.’ Even by death, we shall be separated from you, against our will. How then shall we permit you, while living, to go forth from home into homelessness? When this was said, Raṭṭhapāla the young man remained silent. A second time, Raṭṭhapāla the young man's parents said this to Raṭṭhapāla the young man... A second time, Raṭṭhapāla the young man remained silent. A third time, Raṭṭhapāla the young man's parents said this to Raṭṭhapāla the young man: "You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, are our only son, beloved and pleasing, raised in comfort, cared for in comfort. You, dear Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, we shall be separated from you, against our will. How then shall we permit you, while living, to go forth from home into homelessness? Arise, dear Raṭṭhapāla! Eat and drink and amuse yourself. Eating, drinking, amusing yourself, enjoying sensual pleasures, making merit, delight yourself. We do not permit you to go forth from home into homelessness. Even by death, we shall be separated from you, against our will. How then shall we permit you, while living, to go forth from home into homelessness?" A third time, Raṭṭhapāla the young man remained silent. 297. Then, Raṭṭhapāla the young man's friends approached where Raṭṭhapāla the young man was. Having approached, they said this to Raṭṭhapāla the young man: "You, friend Raṭṭhapāla, are your parents' only son, beloved and pleasing, raised in comfort, cared for in comfort. You, friend Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, your parents shall be separated from you, against their will. How then shall they permit you, while living... for going forth from home to homelessness." "Arise, friend Raṭṭhapāla, eat and drink and enjoy; eating, drinking, enjoying, experiencing sensual pleasures, making merit, delight yourself. Your parents will not permit you to go forth from home to homelessness. Even by death, your parents will be unwillingly separated from you. How then will they permit you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness?" When this was said, Raṭṭhapāla, the young man, remained silent. A second time… A third time, Raṭṭhapāla's friends said this to Raṭṭhapāla, the young man: "You are, friend Raṭṭhapāla, your parents' only son, dear, beloved, brought up in comfort, nurtured in comfort. You, friend Raṭṭhapāla, know no suffering. Even by death, your parents will be unwillingly separated from you. How then will they permit you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness? Arise, friend Raṭṭhapāla, eat and drink and enjoy; eating, drinking, enjoying, experiencing sensual pleasures, making merit, delight yourself. Your parents will not permit you to go forth from home to homelessness. Even by death, your parents will be unwillingly separated from you. How then will they permit you, while living, to go forth from home to homelessness?" A third time, Raṭṭhapāla, the young man, remained silent. 298. Then Raṭṭhapāla, the young man's friends, approached Raṭṭhapāla, the young man's parents; having approached, they said this to Raṭṭhapāla, the young man's parents: "Mother, Father, this Raṭṭhapāla, the young man, is lying right there on the bare ground, saying: 'Here will be my death, or going forth.' If you do not permit Raṭṭhapāla, the young man, to go forth from home to homelessness, right there (he will remain/die)." Death will come. But if you permit the young man Raṭṭhapāla to go forth from home to homelessness, you will see him even as one gone forth. If the young man Raṭṭhapāla does not delight in going forth from home to homelessness, what other destination will there be for him? He will return right here. Permit the young man Raṭṭhapāla to go forth from home to homelessness." "We permit, dear one, the young man Raṭṭhapāla to go forth from home to homelessness. But having gone forth, he must show himself to his parents." Then Raṭṭhapāla the young man's friends approached Raṭṭhapāla the young man; having approached, they said to Raṭṭhapāla the young man: "Arise, friend Raṭṭhapāla, you are permitted by your parents to go forth from home to homelessness. But having gone forth, you must show yourself to your parents." 299. Then Raṭṭhapāla the young man, having arisen and gathered his strength, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Raṭṭhapāla the young man said to the Blessed One: "I am permitted, venerable sir, by my parents to go forth from home to homelessness. Let the Blessed One ordain me." Then Raṭṭhapāla the young man obtained the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, he obtained the full ordination. Then the Blessed One, after staying in Thullakoṭṭhita as long as he wished, with the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla having been fully ordained for a short time, for half a month, set out on tour towards Sāvatthī. He set out. Wandering by stages, he arrived at Sāvatthī. There, it is said, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla, dwelling alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, resolute, not long thereafter, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, entered upon and dwelt in that unsurpassed goal of the holy life, for the sake of which sons of good families rightly go forth from the home life into homelessness. He knew: "Birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being." And the venerable Raṭṭhapāla became one of the Arahants. Then, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla said to the Blessed One: "I wish, venerable sir, to visit my parents, if the Blessed One permits me." Then, the Blessed One comprehended the thought in the venerable Raṭṭhapāla's mind with his own mind. When the Blessed One understood: "It is impossible for the noble son Raṭṭhapāla to renounce the training and revert to a lower state," then the Blessed One said to the venerable Raṭṭhapāla: "Now, Raṭṭhapāla, do as you see fit." Then, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla, rising from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, put away his lodging, and taking his bowl and robe, set out on tour towards Thullakoṭṭhika. Wandering by stages, he arrived at Thullakoṭṭhika. There, it is said, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla was dwelling in Thullakoṭṭhika, in King Korabya's deer park. Then, the venerable Raṭṭhapāla, having dressed in the morning, and taking his bowl and robe, entered Thullakoṭṭhika for alms. Wandering for alms from house to house in Thullakoṭṭhika, he approached his own father's house. Now, at that time, At that time, Venerable Raṭṭhapāla's father