AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.21 With Ugga of Vesālī

Numbered Discourses 8.21 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.21

3. Householders – 3. Gahapativagga

AN 8.21 With Ugga of Vesālī – Paṭhamauggasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

1.2

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū:

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.3

“Bhikkhū, you should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities.”

“aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ uggaṁ gahapatiṁ vesālikaṁ dhārethā”ti.

1.4

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

1.5

When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

2.1

Then a certain bhikkhu robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the householder Ugga of Vesālī, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena uggassa gahapatino vesālikassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

2.2

Then Ugga of Vesālī went up to that bhikkhu, bowed, and sat down to one side. The bhikkhu said to him:

Atha kho uggo gahapati vesāliko yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho uggaṁ gahapatiṁ vesālikaṁ so bhikkhu etadavoca:

3.1

“Householder, the Buddha declared that you have eight amazing and incredible qualities.

“Aṭṭhahi kho tvaṁ, gahapati, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato.

3.2

What are the eight qualities that he spoke of?”

Katame te, gahapati, aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, yehi tvaṁ samannāgato bhagavatā byākato”ti?

3.3

“Sir, I don’t know

“Na kho ahaṁ, bhante, jānāmi:

3.4

what eight amazing and incredible qualities the Buddha was referring to.

‘katamehi aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato’ti.

3.5

But these eight amazing and incredible qualities are found in me.

Api ca, bhante, ye me aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā saṁvijjanti,;

3.6

Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

taṁ suṇohi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi, bhāsissāmī”ti.

3.7

“Yes, householder,” replied the bhikkhu.

“Evaṁ, gahapatī”ti kho so bhikkhu uggassa gahapatino vesālikassa paccassosi.

3.8

Ugga of Vesālī said this:

Uggo gahapati vesāliko etadavoca:

3.9

“Sir, when I first saw the Buddha off in the distance,

“yadāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ paṭhamaṁ dūratova addasaṁ;

3.10

my heart was inspired as soon as I saw him.

saha dassaneneva me, bhante, bhagavato cittaṁ pasīdi.

3.11

This is the first incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

4.1

With confident heart I paid homage to the Buddha.

So kho ahaṁ, bhante, pasannacitto bhagavantaṁ payirupāsiṁ.

4.2

The Buddha taught me step by step,

Tassa me bhagavā anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ—

4.3

with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He explained the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation.

dānakathaṁ sīlakathaṁ saggakathaṁ; kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi.

4.4

And when he knew that my mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he explained the special teaching of the Buddhas:

Yadā maṁ bhagavā aññāsi kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā taṁ pakāsesi—

4.5

suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

dukkhaṁ, samudayaṁ, nirodhaṁ, maggaṁ.

4.6

Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye,

Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ vatthaṁ apagatakāḷakaṁ sammadeva rajanaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya;

4.7

in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in me:

evamevaṁ kho me tasmiṁyeva āsane virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi:

4.8

‘Everything that has a beginning has an end.’

‘yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman’ti.

4.9

I saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. I went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions.

So kho ahaṁ, bhante, diṭṭhadhammo pattadhammo viditadhammo pariyogāḷhadhammo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane

4.10

Right there I went for refuge to the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha. And I undertook the five training rules with celibacy as the fifth.

tattheva buddhañca dhammañca saṅghañca saraṇaṁ agamāsiṁ, brahmacariyapañcamāni ca sikkhāpadāni samādiyiṁ.

4.11

This is the second incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

5.1

I had four teenage wives.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, catasso komāriyo pajāpatiyo ahesuṁ.

5.2

And I went to them and said:

Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, yena tā pajāpatiyo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā tā pajāpatiyo etadavacaṁ:

5.3

‘Sisters, I’ve undertaken the five training rules with celibacy as fifth.

‘mayā kho, bhaginiyo, brahmacariyapañcamāni sikkhāpadāni samādinnāni.

5.4

If you wish, you may stay here, enjoy my wealth, and do good deeds. Or you can return to your own families.

Yā icchati sā idheva bhoge ca bhuñjatu puññāni ca karotu, sakāni vā ñātikulāni gacchatu.

5.5

Or would you prefer if I gave you to another man?’

Hoti vā pana purisādhippāyo, kassa vo dammī’ti?

5.6

When I said this, my eldest wife said to me:

Evaṁ vutte, sā, bhante, jeṭṭhā pajāpati maṁ etadavoca:

5.7

‘Master, please give me to such-and-such a man.’

‘itthannāmassa maṁ, ayyaputta, purisassa dehī’ti.

5.8

Then I summoned that man. Taking my wife with my left hand and a ceremonial vase with my right, I presented her to that man with the pouring of water.

Atha kho ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ purisaṁ pakkosāpetvā vāmena hatthena pajāpatiṁ gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena bhiṅgāraṁ gahetvā tassa purisassa oṇojesiṁ.

5.9

But I can’t recall getting upset while giving away my teenage wife.

Komāriṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dāraṁ pariccajanto nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattaṁ.

5.10

This is the third incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

6.1

And though my family has wealth,

Saṁvijjanti kho pana me, bhante, kule bhogā.

6.2

it’s shared without reserve with ethical people of good character.

Te ca kho appaṭivibhattā sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi.

6.3

This is the fourth incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

7.1

When I pay homage to a bhikkhu,

Yaṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhuṁ payirupāsāmi;

7.2

I do so carefully, not carelessly.

sakkaccaṁyeva payirupāsāmi, no asakkaccaṁ.

7.3

This is the fifth incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

8.1

If that venerable teaches me the Dhamma,

So ce, bhante, me āyasmā dhammaṁ deseti;

8.2

I listen carefully, not carelessly.

sakkaccaṁyeva suṇomi, no asakkaccaṁ.

8.3

But if they don’t teach me the Dhamma, I teach them.

No ce me so āyasmā dhammaṁ deseti, ahamassa dhammaṁ desemi.

8.4

This is the sixth incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

9.1

It’s not unusual for deities to come to me and announce:

Anacchariyaṁ kho pana maṁ, bhante, devatā upasaṅkamitvā ārocenti:

9.2

‘Householder, the Buddha’s teaching is well explained!’

‘svākkhāto, gahapati, bhagavatā dhammo’ti.

9.3

When they say this I say to them:

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, tā devatā evaṁ vadāmi:

9.4

‘The Buddha’s teaching is well explained, regardless of whether or not you deities say so!’

‘vadeyyātha vā evaṁ kho tumhe devatā no vā vadeyyātha, atha kho svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo’ti.

9.5

But I don’t recall getting too excited by the fact that

Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi tatonidānaṁ cittassa unnatiṁ:

9.6

the deities come to me, and I have a conversation with them.

‘maṁ vā devatā upasaṅkamanti, ahaṁ vā devatāhi saddhiṁ sallapāmī’ti.

9.7

This is the seventh incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

10.1

Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.

Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni, nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani appahīnaṁ samanupassāmi.

10.2

This is the eighth incredible and amazing quality found in me.

Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.

11.1

These eight amazing and incredible qualities are found in me.

Ime kho me, bhante, aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā saṁvijjanti.

11.2

But I don’t know

Na ca kho ahaṁ jānāmi—

11.3

what eight amazing and incredible qualities the Buddha was referring to.”

katamehi cāhaṁ aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato”ti.

12.1

Then that bhikkhu, after taking almsfood in Ugga of Vesālī’s home, got up from his seat and left.

Atha kho so bhikkhu uggassa gahapatino vesālikassa nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

12.2

Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

Atha kho so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

12.3

He informed the Buddha of all he had discussed with the householder Ugga of Vesālī. The Buddha said:

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu yāvatako ahosi uggena gahapatinā vesālikena saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo, taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

13.1

“Good, good, bhikkhu!

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu.

13.2

When I declared that the householder Ugga of Vesālī was someone who has eight amazing and incredible qualities, I was referring to the same eight qualities that he rightly explained to you.

Yathā taṁ uggo gahapati vesāliko sammā byākaramāno byākareyya, imeheva kho, bhikkhu, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato uggo gahapati vesāliko mayā byākato.

13.3

You should remember the householder Ugga of Vesālī as someone who has these eight amazing and incredible qualities.”

Imehi ca pana, bhikkhu, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ uggaṁ gahapatiṁ vesālikaṁ dhārehī”ti.

13.4

Paṭhamaṁ.