English
the middling deities take up residence, the minds of middling kings and royal ministers there are inclined to build dwellings. In whatever place the lowly deities take up residence, the minds of lowly kings and royal ministers there are inclined to build dwellings. As far as, Ānanda, the noble realm extends, as far as trade routes go, this Pāṭaliputta will be a chief city, a center of commerce. Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, will have three dangers: from fire, or from water, or from internal strife.” Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan ministers, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having exchanged courteous talk Having exchanged friendly greetings, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One: "May Master Gotama consent to our meal today, together with the community of monks." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, knowing the Blessed One's consent, went to their own dwelling. Having gone there, they had excellent hard and soft food prepared in their dwelling, and announced the time to the Blessed One: "It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having dressed and taken his bowl and robe, went with the community of monks to the dwelling of Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha. Having gone there, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, with their own hands, satisfied and served the community of monks headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, took a low seat and sat down to one side. As Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, sat to one side, the Blessed One gave his approval with these verses: In whatever place a wise person makes their home, there they should feed the virtuous, the restrained, the holy ones. To the deities who are there, they should offer a dedication. Honored, they honor in return; respected, they respect them. Then they show compassion to them, like a mother to her own child. A person favored by deities always sees good fortune. Then the Blessed One, having given his approval to Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, with these verses, rose from his seat and departed. Now at that time, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, followed closely behind the Blessed One. will be – “The gate through which the ascetic Gotama will exit today will be called ‘Gotama’s Gate.’ The ford by which he will cross the river Gaṅgā will be called ‘Gotama’s Ford.’” Then the Blessed One exited through the gate, and it was called ‘Gotama’s Gate.’ Then the Blessed One approached the river Gaṅgā. At that time, the river Gaṅgā was full, brimful, crow-drinkable. Some people were looking for a boat, some were looking for a raft, some were binding a float, desiring to go from this shore to the other. Then the Blessed One – just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm, or flex his extended arm – vanished from the near bank of the river Gaṅgā and reappeared on the far bank, together with the assembly of monks. Then the Blessed One saw those people, some looking for a boat, some looking for a raft, some binding a float, desiring to go from this shore to the other. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “Those who cross the ocean-like flood, Having made a bridge, abandoning the puddles; Indeed, people bind a float, But the wise people have crossed over.” The sixth. 7. The Discourse on the Forked Path 77. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was traveling on a road in Kosala, with the Venerable Nāgasamāla as his attendant monk. The Venerable Nāgasamāla saw a forked path on the way. Having seen it, he said to the Blessed One: “This, Venerable Sir, is the path for the Blessed One; let us go by this.” When this was said, the Blessed One said to the Venerable Nāgasamāla: “This, Nāgasamāla, is the path; let us go by this.” A second time… and a third time, the Venerable Nāgasamāla said to the Blessed One: “This “Venerable sir, this is the path for the Blessed One; by this we shall go.” A third time the Blessed One said to Venerable Nāgasamāla, “Nāgasamāla, this is the path; by this we shall go.” Then Venerable Nāgasamāla, placing the Blessed One’s bowl and robe right there on the ground, departed, saying, “Venerable sir, this is the Blessed One’s bowl and robe.” Then, as Venerable Nāgasamāla was going along that path, robbers came out on the way and struck him with their hands and feet, broke his bowl, and tore his outer robe. Then Venerable Nāgasamāla, with his broken bowl and torn outer robe, went to the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Nāgasamāla said to the Blessed One, “Here, venerable sir, as I was going along that path, robbers came out on the way and struck me with their hands and feet, broke my bowl, and tore my outer robe.” Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: “Living together as one, A sage, mixed with other people; The wise one abandons evil, Like a crane from a milky river.” Seventh. 8. The Visākhā Sutta 78. Thus have I heard – at one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī, in the Eastern Park, in Migāra’s Mother’s Palace. Now at that time, Visākhā Migāra’s Mother’s beloved and pleasing granddaughter had passed away. Then Visākhā Migāra’s Mother, with wet clothes and wet hair, in the middle of the day, went to the Blessed One; having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. The Blessed One said to Visākhā Migāra’s Mother, as she sat to one side: “Well, Visākhā, from where do you come, with wet clothes and wet hair, having approached here in the middle of the day?” “Venerable sir, my beloved and pleasing granddaughter has passed away. Therefore, I am here with wet clothes and wet hair.” They day by day. "Would you wish, Visakha, for as many sons and grandsons as there are people in Savatthi?" "I would wish, Blessed One, for as many sons and grandsons as there are people in Savatthi." "But how many people, Visakha, die in Savatthi each day?" "Ten people, Venerable Sir, die in Savatthi each day; nine, Venerable Sir... eight, Venerable Sir... seven, Venerable Sir... six, Venerable Sir... five, Venerable Sir... four, Venerable Sir... three, Venerable Sir... two, Venerable Sir, people die in Savatthi each day. Even one person, Venerable Sir, dies in Savatthi each day. Savatthi, Venerable Sir, is not free from people dying." "What do you think, Visakha, would you ever be without wet clothes or without wet hair?" "No, Venerable Sir. Enough for me, Venerable Sir, of so many sons and grandsons." "For whom, Visakha, a hundred are dear, a hundred are their sorrows; for whom ninety are dear, ninety are their sorrows; for whom eighty are dear, eighty are their sorrows; for whom seventy are dear, seventy are their sorrows; for whom sixty are dear, sixty are their sorrows; for whom fifty are dear, fifty are their sorrows; for whom forty are dear, forty are their sorrows; for whom thirty are dear, thirty are their sorrows; for whom twenty are dear, twenty are their sorrows; for whom ten are dear, ten are their sorrows; for whom nine are dear, nine are their sorrows; for whom eight are dear, eight are their sorrows; for whom seven are dear, seven are their sorrows; for whom six are dear, six are their sorrows; for whom five are dear, five are their sorrows; for whom four are dear, four are their sorrows; for whom three dear things, three are their sufferings; for whom two are dear, two are their sufferings; for whom one is dear, one is their suffering; for whom nothing is dear, nothing is their suffering, sorrowless are they, stainless, without anguish, I say. Then indeed the Blessed One, having understood this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance – Whatever sorrows, or lamentations, And pains of many kinds in the world; These arise dependent on what is dear, When what is dear is absent, these do not arise. Therefore, happy are they, free from sorrow, For whom nothing is dear anywhere in the world; Therefore, desiring sorrowlessness, stainlessness, One should not make anything dear anywhere in the world. the eighth; 9. The First Discourse on Dabba 79. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Ground. Then indeed the Venerable Dabba the Mallian approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Dabba the Mallian said to the Blessed One – “Now is the time for my final Nibbāna, O Fortunate One.” “Whatever time you now deem fit, Dabba.” Then indeed the Venerable Dabba the Mallian, rising from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, ascended into the air, sat cross-legged in the sky, entered the fire element, rose from it, and attained final Nibbāna. Then indeed, as the body of the Venerable Dabba the Mallian, who had ascended into the air, sat cross-legged in the sky, entered the fire element, risen from it, and attained final Nibbāna, was burning and being consumed, neither ash nor soot was discernible. Just as when ghee or oil is burning and being consumed, neither ash nor soot is discernible; even so, as the body of the Venerable Dabba the Mallian, who had ascended into the air, sat cross-legged in the sky, entered the fire element, risen from it, and attained final Nibbāna, was burning and being consumed,