AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.16 Nakula’s Father

Numbered Discourses 6.16 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.16

2. Warm-hearted – 2. Sāraṇīyavagga

AN 6.16 Nakula’s Father – Nakulapitusutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.

1.2

Now at that time the householder Nakula’s father was sick, suffering, gravely ill.

Tena kho pana samayena nakulapitā gahapati ābādhiko hoti dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.

1.3

Then the housewife Nakula’s mother said to him:

Atha kho nakulamātā gahapatānī nakulapitaraṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Householder, don’t pass away with concerns.

“Mā kho tvaṁ, gahapati, sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

2.2

Such concern is suffering,

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

2.3

and it’s criticized by the Buddha.

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

2.4

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

2.5

‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother won’t be able to provide for the children and keep up the household carpets.’

‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sakkhissati dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharitun’ti.

2.6

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

2.7

I’m skilled at spinning cotton and carding wool.

Kusalāhaṁ, gahapati, kappāsaṁ kantituṁ veṇiṁ olikhituṁ.

2.8

I’m able to provide for the children and keep up the household carpets.

Sakkomahaṁ, gahapati, tavaccayena dārake posetuṁ, gharāvāsaṁ santharituṁ.

2.9

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

2.10

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

2.11

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

3.1

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

3.2

‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother will take another husband.’

‘nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena aññaṁ gharaṁ gamissatī’ti.

3.3

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

3.4

Both you and I know that we have remained celibate while at home for the past sixteen years.

Tvañceva kho, gahapati, jānāsi ahañca, yaṁ no soḷasavassāni gahaṭṭhakaṁ brahmacariyaṁ samāciṇṇaṁ.

3.5

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

3.6

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

3.7

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

4.1

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

4.2

‘When I’ve gone, the housewife Nakula’s mother won’t want to see the Buddha and his Saṅgha of bhikkhū.’

‘nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena na dassanakāmā bhavissati bhagavato na dassanakāmā bhikkhusaṅghassā’ti.

4.3

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

4.4

When you’ve gone, I’ll want to see the Buddha and his bhikkhu Saṅgha even more.

Ahañhi, gahapati, tavaccayena dassanakāmatarā ceva bhavissāmi bhagavato, dassanakāmatarā ca bhikkhusaṅghassa.

4.5

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

4.6

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

4.7

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

5.1

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

5.2

‘The housewife Nakula’s mother won’t fulfill ethics.’

‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī mamaccayena sīlesu paripūrakārinī’ti.

5.3

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

5.4

I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who fulfills their ethics.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā.

5.5

Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu.

5.6

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

5.7

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

5.8

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

6.1

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

6.2

‘The housewife Nakula’s mother doesn’t have internal serenity of heart.’

‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī lābhinī ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassā’ti.

6.3

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

6.4

I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has internal serenity of heart.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā.

6.5

Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu.

6.6

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns …

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

6.7

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

6.8

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā.

7.1

Householder, you might think:

Siyā kho pana te, gahapati, evamassa:

7.2

‘The housewife Nakula’s mother has not gained a basis, a firm basis, and solace in this teaching and training. She has not gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and gained assurance. And she’s not independent of others in the Teacher’s instructions.’

‘na nakulamātā gahapatānī imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharatī’ti.

7.3

But you should not see it like this.

Na kho panetaṁ, gahapati, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ.

7.4

I am one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has gained a basis, a firm basis, and solace in this teaching and training. I have gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and gained assurance. And I am independent of others in the Teacher’s instructions.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, tassa bhagavato sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, ahaṁ tāsaṁ aññatarā.

7.5

Whoever doubts this can go and ask the Buddha. He is staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Yassa kho panassa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā—ayaṁ so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye—taṁ bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchatu.

7.6

So householder, don’t pass away with concerns.

Tasmātiha tvaṁ, gahapati, mā sāpekkho kālamakāsi.

7.7

Such concern is suffering,

Dukkhā, gahapati, sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā;

7.8

and it’s criticized by the Buddha.”

garahitā ca bhagavatā sāpekkhassa kālakiriyā”ti.

8.1

And then, as Nakula’s mother was giving this advice to Nakula’s father, his illness died down on the spot.

Atha kho nakulapituno gahapatissa nakulamātarā gahapatāniyā iminā ovādena ovadiyamānassa so ābādho ṭhānaso paṭippassambhi.

8.2

And that’s how Nakula’s father recovered from that illness.

Vuṭṭhahi ca nakulapitā gahapati tamhā ābādhā;

8.3

tathā pahīno ca pana nakulapituno gahapatissa so ābādho ahosi.

8.4

Soon after recovering, leaning on a staff he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

Atha kho nakulapitā gahapati gilānā vuṭṭhito aciravuṭṭhito gelaññā daṇḍamolubbha yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nakulapitaraṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

9.1

“You’re fortunate, householder, so very fortunate,

“Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati.

9.2

to have the housewife Nakula’s mother advise and instruct you out of kindness and compassion.

Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā.

9.3

She is one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who fulfills their ethics.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā sīlesu paripūrakāriniyo, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.

9.4

She is one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has internal serenity of heart.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā lābhiniyo ajjhattaṁ cetosamathassa, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.

9.5

She is one of those white-robed disciples of the Buddha who has gained a basis, a firm basis, and solace in this teaching and training. She has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and gained assurance. And she is independent of others in the Teacher’s instructions.

Yāvatā kho, gahapati, mama sāvikā gihī odātavasanā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ogādhappattā patigādhappattā assāsappattā tiṇṇavicikicchā vigatakathaṅkathā vesārajjappattā aparappaccayā satthusāsane viharanti, nakulamātā gahapatānī tāsaṁ aññatarā.

9.6

You’re fortunate, householder, so very fortunate,

Lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati.

9.7

to have the housewife Nakula’s mother advise and instruct you out of kindness and compassion.”

Yassa te nakulamātā gahapatānī anukampikā atthakāmā ovādikā anusāsikā”ti.

9.8

Chaṭṭhaṁ.