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3. Nandavagga 1. On the Result of Kamma Sutta 21. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now on that occasion a certain bhikkhu was sitting not far from the Blessed One, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, enduring a painful, sharp, severe, bitter feeling arisen from the result of past kamma, mindful, clearly comprehending, and not complaining. The Blessed One saw that bhikkhu sitting not far from him, having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, enduring a painful, sharp, severe, bitter feeling arisen from the result of past kamma, mindful, clearly comprehending, and not complaining. Then, having understood this matter, on that occasion the Blessed One uttered this inspired utterance: “For the bhikkhu who has abandoned all kamma, Who is shaking off the dust of past deeds; Who is without possessions, steadfast, such, There is no need to speak to people.” 2. Nanda Sutta 22. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now on that occasion the Venerable Nanda, the Blessed One’s brother, his mother’s sister’s son, was telling a number of bhikkhus this: “Friends, I do not delight in living the holy life; I am unable to sustain the holy life; I shall renounce the training and return to a lower state.” Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the Venerable Nanda, the Blessed One’s brother, his mother’s sister’s son, is telling a number of bhikkhus this: ‘Friends, I do not delight in living the holy life; I am unable to sustain the holy life; I shall renounce the training and return to a lower state.’” Then the Blessed One addressed a certain bhikkhu: “Come, bhikkhu, in my name address the bhikkhu Nanda: ‘The Teacher "Friend Nanda, the Teacher calls you." "Yes, venerable sir," that monk replied to the Blessed One, and went to Venerable Nanda. Having approached, he said to Venerable Nanda: "Friend Nanda, the Teacher calls you." "Yes, friend," Venerable Nanda replied to that monk, and went to the Blessed One. Having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As Venerable Nanda sat to one side, the Blessed One said to him: "Is it true, Nanda, that you told many monks this: 'Friends, I am displeased with the holy life, I cannot sustain the holy life, I will renounce the training and return to a lower state'?" "Yes, venerable sir." "Why, Nanda, are you displeased with the holy life, cannot sustain the holy life, and will renounce the training and return to a lower state?" "Venerable sir, the Sakyan lady, the country's beauty, as I was leaving the house, looked at me with half-braided hair and said: 'Come back quickly, my lord!' Remembering her, venerable sir, I am displeased with the holy life, I cannot sustain the holy life, I will renounce the training and return to a lower state." Then the Blessed One, taking Venerable Nanda by the arm—just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm or flex an extended arm—even so, vanished from Jetavana and appeared among the Tāvatiṃsa devas. Now at that time, five hundred celestial nymphs, with heron-like feet, had come to attend Sakka, king of devas. Then the Blessed One addressed Venerable Nanda: "Do you see, Nanda, “Nanda, are these five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet?” “Yes, venerable sir.” “What do you think, Nanda, which are more beautiful, more lovely, more charming: the Sakyan lady, the country beauty, or these five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet?” “Just as, venerable sir, a plucked monkey with ears and nose cut off— even so, venerable sir, the Sakyan lady, the country beauty, compared to these five hundred celestial nymphs, does not count, does not amount to a fraction, does not bear comparison. Rather, these five hundred celestial nymphs are more beautiful, more lovely, and more charming.” “Rejoice, Nanda, rejoice, Nanda! I am your guarantor for the attainment of five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet.” “If, venerable sir, the Blessed One is my guarantor for the attainment of five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet, then I will rejoice, venerable sir, in the Blessed One’s holy life.” Then the Blessed One, taking Venerable Nanda by the arm— just as a strong man might extend a bent arm or bend an extended arm— even so, disappeared from the Tāvatiṃsa gods and reappeared in Jetavana. The bhikkhus heard: “It seems Venerable Nanda, the Blessed One’s brother, his mother’s sister’s son, is practicing the holy life for the sake of celestial nymphs; it seems the Blessed One is his guarantor for the attainment of five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet.” Then the companion bhikkhus of Venerable Nanda addressed Venerable Nanda with the charge of being a hireling and with the charge of being a mercenary: “It seems Venerable Nanda is a hireling, it seems Venerable Nanda is a mercenary, practicing the holy life for the sake of celestial nymphs; it seems the Blessed One is his guarantor for the attainment of five hundred celestial nymphs with hen’s feet.” Then Venerable Nanda’s companions Annoyed, ashamed, and disgusted by the monks' talk of him being a hireling and a bought man, he lived alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, resolute, and not long after – for the sake of which young men rightly go forth from home to homelessness, that unsurpassed culmination of the holy life – he realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life, and having attained it, he dwelled in it. He understood: "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 indeed, Venerable Nanda became one of the Arahants. Then, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with radiant beauty illuminating the entire Jeta Grove, approached the Blessed One; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said to the Blessed One: "Venerable Nanda, sir, the Blessed One's brother, son of his mother's sister, by the destruction of the taints, has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having attained it, he dwells in it." And knowledge arose in the Blessed One: "Nanda, by the destruction of the taints, has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having attained it, he dwells in it." Then, when that night had passed, Venerable Nanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Nanda said to the Blessed One: "Sir, as to the guarantee the Blessed One gave me for obtaining five hundred nymphs with heron-feet, I release the Blessed One from that promise." "Indeed, Nanda, I too have known your mind with my mind – 'Nanda, by the destruction of the taints, has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having attained it, he dwells in it.' A deity also informed me of this matter..." proceeded – ‘Venerable sir, the venerable Nanda, the Buddha’s brother, his mother’s sister’s son, by the destruction of the taints, having realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, having attained it, he dwells therein.’ As soon as your mind, Nanda, is liberated from the taints without clinging, then I am freed from that promise.” Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “He whose mire is crossed, The thorn of sensual desires crushed; Who has attained the destruction of delusion, He, the monk, does not tremble in pleasure and pain.” The second. 3. The Yasojā Sutta 23. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time, five hundred monks, with Yasojā as their chief, had arrived in Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. These visiting monks, conversing with the resident monks, arranging their lodgings, putting away their bowls and robes, were making a loud noise, a great noise. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: “Who are these, Ānanda, making a loud noise, a great noise? Fishermen, I suppose, disturbing the fish?” “These, venerable sir, are five hundred monks, with Yasojā as their chief, who have arrived in Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. These visiting monks, conversing with the resident monks, arranging their lodgings, putting away their bowls and robes, are making a loud noise, a great noise.” “Then, Ānanda, by my word, invite those monks: ‘The Teacher invites the venerable ones.’” “Yes, venerable sir,” the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and went to where those monks were; having approached, he said to those monks: “The Teacher invites the venerable ones.” “Yes, friend,” those monks replied to the Venerable Ānanda, and went to where the Blessed One was; having approached Having greeted the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. To those bhikkhus sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this – "What is it, monks, that you are so noisy, so very noisy? Like fishermen, I suppose, at a fish market?" When this was said, Venerable Yasojo said to the Blessed One: "These, venerable sir, are five hundred bhikkhus, who have arrived in Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. These visiting bhikkhus, chatting with the resident bhikkhus, arranging their lodgings, and putting away their bowls and robes, are noisy, very noisy." "Go, monks, I dismiss you; you are not to stay in my presence."