Udayasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.12

Linked Discourses 7.12

2. Upāsakavagga

2. Lay Followers

Udayasutta

With Udaya

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena udayassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Udaya.

Atha kho udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavato pattaṁ odanena pūresi.

Then Udaya filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice.

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena udayassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami …pe…

The next day … Udaya again filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice.

tatiyampi kho udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavato pattaṁ odanena pūretvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

But when he had filled the Buddha’s bowl on the third day, he said to the Buddha,

“pakaṭṭhakoyaṁ samaṇo gotamo punappunaṁ āgacchatī”ti.

“This ascetic Gotama is such a drag! He keeps coming back again and again!”

“Punappunañceva vapanti bījaṁ,

“Again and again, they sow the seed;

Punappunaṁ vassati devarājā;

again and again, the king of the heavens sends rain;

Punappunaṁ khettaṁ kasanti kassakā,

again and again, farmers plough the field;

Punappunaṁ dhaññamupeti raṭṭhaṁ.

again and again, grain is produced for the nation.

Punappunaṁ yācakā yācayanti,

Again and again, the beggars beg;

Punappunaṁ dānapatī dadanti;

again and again, the donors give.

Punappunaṁ dānapatī daditvā,

Again and again, when the donors have given,

Punappunaṁ saggamupenti ṭhānaṁ.

again and again, they take their place in heaven.

Punappunaṁ khīranikā duhanti,

Again and again, dairy farmers milk;

Punappunaṁ vaccho upeti mātaraṁ;

again and again, a calf cleaves to its mother;

Punappunaṁ kilamati phandati ca,

again and again, oppressing and intimidating,

Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando.

that dullard returns to the womb again and again.

Punappunaṁ jāyati mīyati ca,

Again and again, you’re reborn and die;

Punappunaṁ sivathikaṁ haranti;

again and again, you get carried to a charnel ground.

Maggañca laddhā apunabbhavāya,

But when they’ve gained the path
for no further rebirth,

Na punappunaṁ jāyati bhūripañño”ti.

one of vast wisdom is not reborn again and again.”

Evaṁ vutte, udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, the brahmin Udaya said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama …

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”