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From desire springs fear; For one freed from desire, There is no sorrow, how could there be fear? 15. From craving springs sorrow, From craving springs fear; For one freed from craving, There is no sorrow, how could there be fear? Then, gradually, he went to Pañcamadhuranagara, announced his arrival to the king, and, permitted by him, went to the king. Then the brahmin Uddāḷa was sitting not far from the king, on a fine blanket seat, and the gandharva brahmin was sitting with his daughter, making music. At that moment, Suvaṇṇatilakā, sitting behind her father, asked, "Where is the brahmin Uddāḷa?" Hearing, "He is sitting on that fine seat," she looked at him with clear blue eyes, and with a gentle smile on her lips, a mixture of red and the gleam of her teeth, she removed her outer garment and released the radiance of her body. Seeing that, the brahmin became mad, his body scorched with grief, his mouth and nose filled with hot air, his eyes wet with tears, he became unconscious. Then, regaining consciousness after a moment, like a sick man, he departed from the king's presence, went to his own house, summoned his friends, and said to them: "Behold! 16. He who stands by, In times of trouble; Who is the same in joy and sorrow, He is a friend, a relative to be mourned. 17. He who speaks of another's virtues, and hides his faults; What should be done must be forbidden, he is a friend, a relative to be mourned. 18. Suvaṇṇatilakā by name, A woman, a haunt of desire; With her blue-eyed, sharp arrows, She has shattered my mind. 19. In her lotus-like face, My bee-like eyes are caught, Not even remembering me a little, They delight there alone. 20. Along with them, my mind, Has gone, leaping and rushing, Over the moat of modesty and depth, And scaled the rampart of resolve. 21. I am confused, I am bewildered, all directions are lost to me; Be ye my refuge, give me your support." Hearing that, they said to him: 22. "That woman you desire, O teacher, is a caṇḍālī, untouchable; How could there ever be union of filth and sandalwood?" 23. "She who goes to an improper union, from men, glory departs afar; Reputation, life, strength, intellect, and fame, all go with her." Then the brahmin said to them: 24. "This world does not reject, a most excellent jewel in filth; A woman, a young woman, is a treasure, and fine cloth." Even taking hold of. And having spoken thus, knowing that she had an owner, he said, "Bring her here," and they did so. Then, from the time the brahmin's wife came to his house, for four months he did not go to attend upon the king. But five hundred princes were learning various skills from that brahmin. Knowing the reason, they thought, "While Suvaṇṇatilakā is alive, there will be an obstacle to our learning skills; it is fitting to kill her by some means." Having thought this, they summoned the elephant driver, gave him a bribe, and said, "Make the elephant drunk with liquor and kill Suvaṇṇatilakā." Then all of them gathered in the royal courtyard and sent a messenger, saying, "We wish to see the teacher." Then, when the brahmin came and sat down, they exchanged greetings and said, "Teacher, we wish to see the teacher's wife." Then he sent men, saying, "Bring Suvaṇṇatilakā here." They did so, and when she reached the middle of the street, they released the elephant. It ran, striking the ground with its trunk, and having run up, it lifted her up with its trunk and made her sit on its head. Then, the kings, unable to kill her in that way, again employed men and had her killed at night. The brahmin, lamenting and grieving, thinking, "Death is better for me than living without such a woman," had a pyre of wood made in the royal courtyard, entered the fire, and died. Thus, being under the influence of women, they attain great misfortune, calamity, and death. This was said by the Blessed One. 25. Like an illusion, like a mirage, Sorrow, disease, and oppression; Like harsh bonds, Death's snare, a hidden lair; The person who trusts in them, Is the lowest of men. 26. Unwisely, in a former birth, Having done merit, she obtained such a destiny; Endowed with wisdom, ku Making peace, May you turn towards Nibbāna. The second story about Suvaṇṇatilakā. 33. The following story is in the tale of the Miserly Woman: When the Blessed One had attained Parinibbāna, monks, nuns, male and female lay followers, here and there in Jambudīpa, mostly went to worship the Jaya Mahābodhi. Then, later on, many monks gathered together and, while going to worship the Mahābodhi, after going for alms in a certain village, went to the assembly hall, finished their meal, and rested a little. At that time, a certain poor, wretched woman, seeing the monks sitting there, approached them, saluted them with the five-point prostration, and stood to one side, asking, "Venerable sirs, where are you going?" The monks, hearing that, told of the power of the Jaya Mahābodhi and of their going to worship it, saying thus: 1. Where the Jina sat and conquered, the ensign of Makara with its army; Having slain the army of defilements, the Buddha became unsurpassed. 2. Whom the Great Hero honored, standing without moving his foot; For seven nights and days with his eye, with rays like a blue lotus. 3. The rows of eyes of gods, demons, and men, falling in turn; With petals of dark blue hue, it shines like a crest jewel. 4. Like a wish-fulfilling tree of the gods for beings, it stands on the earth; In this world and the next, granting desires as wished. 5. Even an old leaf of it, fallen, which a person here; Honors, that great tree gives him, worldly pleasures and existence. 6. With perfumes, garlands, and waters, which a person always worships; Inwardly and outwardly, he destroys evil. 7. Which gives benefit in this world, Which gives benefit in the next world, That Jaya Bodhi with prosperity, We are going to worship. Hearing that, delighted and filled with joy, she said to the monks: "Venerable sirs, working for wages in another's family, I maintain my life with difficulty and hardship. For tomorrow, I do not have even a measure of rice, let alone other wealth. Besides this, I have no other cloth either. Because I had not done good deeds before, therefore, venerable sirs, for my benefit, tie this cloth as a flag at the Bodhi tree," having requested, she washed the cloth and gave it to them. The monks, too, for her benefit, took it and went. She, having given the cloth, with a mind full of joy and gladness, went home, and that very night, in the middle watch, struck by a cutting wind, passed away, and in a beautiful grove on the path of those monks, was reborn as a ground deity. Then, by the power of her merit, in a three-yojana area, divine wish-fulfilling trees appeared, and there, various flags and banners of detachment hung down. And divine sons and divine daughters, adorned with all ornaments, taking those flags and banners, played. They produced various wonders of dance and song. Then, on the second day, those monks, going to the Bodhi-mandala, in the evening, reaching that place, thought, "Today we will stay in this grove and then go," and they took up residence there. Then, in the night, seeing the various colored flags, and the songs and music being performed by the deities, and the wish-fulfilling trees in the three-yojana area, all this divine power having arisen through her influence, with astonished minds, they addressed the divine daughter, "By what deed were you reborn here?" they asked. She, having bowed to the monks, standing with hands joined in reverence, said, "Venerable sirs, do you not recognize me?" When the monks said, "We do not recognize you, sister," she, recounting her own nature, spoke thus: 8. "Yesterday in the assembly hall, you sat together; to your presence, the poor woman went and paid homage. 9. She who, for the sake of honoring the Bodhi tree, provided the cloth; I, afflicted by illness, passed away last night. 10. Endowed with various riches, adorned with various ornaments, in a jeweled mansion, I was born here in this forest. 11. Yesterday you saw my body, covered with dust and dirt; today you see my body, radiant and shining. 12. Yesterday you saw me, venerable sirs," Clothed in soiled garments; Today, behold, O Venerable Ones, my excellent divine raiment. 13. With hair disheveled, with scattered ends, a nest for lice; Repulsive with lice and excrement, yesterday my head was miserable. 14. Today, transformed by the power of my merit; Deep blue, soft, a beautiful braid, adorned with floral ornaments. 15. Formerly, with my own head, I carried wood, water, and the like; By merit, today I bear on my head a garland, a burden. 16. Yesterday, a coarse cloth was offered by me for a flag; Today, O Venerable Ones, it has produced great divine wealth for me. 17. Knowing this, one should perform meritorious deeds like giving, which are greatly fruitful; Giving is the best, giving happiness in the world of gods and humans. Having heard that, all the monks were astonished and amazed. At the end of that night, that deity invited the monks and satisfied them with divine foods prepared by her own hand. Coming along the road with them, giving alms, she went to the Great Bodhi Tree and, with all, with flags, banners, and various kinds of fragrant and colorful flowers, with lamps and incense, she worshiped the Bodhi Tree. Giving divine cloths for robes to the monks, she returned and, dwelling in that same grove, performing various meritorious deeds, she was reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa heaven. The monks, too, proclaiming that wonder here and there, encouraged many people in meritorious deeds. 18. Even a poor woman in the Dispensation of the Conqueror, Having gained faith with a coarse rag, And worshiped, obtained divine splendor, knowing this, Be devoted to worship with the three objects of reverence, it is fitting.