Connected Discourses 7.10

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1. Linked Discourses 7.10
2. 1. The Perfected Ones
3. Many Daughters
4. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.
5. Now at that time one of the brahmins of the Bhāradvāja clan had lost fourteen oxen.
6. While looking for them he went to that forest grove, where he saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged, his body set straight, and mindfulness established in his presence.
7. He went up to the Buddha, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
8. “This ascetic mustn’t have
9. fourteen oxen
10. missing for the past six days:
11. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
12. This ascetic mustn’t have
13. a field of sesame ruined,
14. with just one or two leaves:
15. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
16. This ascetic mustn’t have
17. rats in a vacant barn
18. dancing merrily:
19. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
20. This ascetic mustn’t have
21. carpets that for seven months
22. have been infested with fleas:
23. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
24. This ascetic mustn’t have
25. seven widowed daughters
26. with one or two children each:
27. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
28. This ascetic mustn’t have
29. a wife with sallow, blotchy skin
30. to wake him with a kick:
31. that’s why this ascetic is happy.
32. This ascetic mustn’t have
33. creditors knocking at dawn,
34. demanding, ‘Pay up! Pay up!’:
35. that’s why this ascetic is happy.”
36. “You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
37. fourteen oxen
38. missing for the past six days:
39. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
40. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
41. a field of sesame ruined,
42. with just one or two leaves:
43. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
44. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
45. rats in a vacant barn
46. dancing merrily:
47. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
48. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
49. carpets that for seven months
50. have been infested with fleas:
51. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
52. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
53. seven widowed daughters
54. with one or two children each:
55. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
56. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
57. a wife with blotchy, pockmarked skin
58. to wake me up with a kick:
59. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.
60. You’re right, brahmin, I don’t have
61. creditors knocking at dawn,
62. warning, ‘Pay up! Pay up!’:
63. that’s why I’m happy, brahmin.”
64. When he had spoken, the brahmin said to the Buddha,
65. “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …
66. As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways.
67. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.
68. May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the worthy Gotama’s presence?”
69. And the brahmin received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.
70. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Bhāradvāja, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.
71. He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”
72. And Venerable Bhāradvāja became one of the perfected.