MN 88 The Imported Cloth – Bāhitikasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 88 – Majjhima Nikāya 88

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

2.1

Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

2.2

He wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother, for the day’s meditation.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena pubbārāmo migāramātupāsādo tenupasaṅkami divāvihārāya.

3.1

Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala mounted the Single Lotus Elephant and drove out from Sāvatthī in the middle of the day.

Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo ekapuṇḍarīkaṁ nāgaṁ abhiruhitvā sāvatthiyā niyyāti divā divassa.

3.2

He saw Ānanda coming off in the distance

Addasā kho rājā pasenadi kosalo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

3.3

and said to the minister Sirivaḍḍha,

Disvāna sirivaḍḍhaṁ mahāmattaṁ āmantesi:

3.4

“My dear Sirivaḍḍha, isn’t that Venerable Ānanda?”

“āyasmā no eso, samma sirivaḍḍha, ānando”ti.

3.5

“Indeed it is, great king.”

“Evaṁ, mahārāja, āyasmā eso ānando”ti.

4.1

Then King Pasenadi addressed a man,

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi:

4.2

“Please, mister, go to Venerable Ānanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him:

“ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandāhi:

4.3

‘Sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala bows with his head at your feet.’

‘rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandatī’ti;

4.4

And then say:

evañca vadehi:

4.5

‘Sir, if you have no urgent business, please wait a moment out of compassion.’”

‘sace kira, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa na kiñci accāyikaṁ karaṇīyaṁ, āgametu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando muhuttaṁ anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

5.1

“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.

“Evaṁ, devā”ti kho so puriso rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho so puriso āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āyasmato ānandassa pāde sirasā vandati;

5.3

evañca vadeti:

5.4

‘sace kira, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa na kiñci accāyikaṁ karaṇīyaṁ, āgametu kira, bhante, āyasmā ānando muhuttaṁ anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.

6.1

Ānanda consented in silence.

Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā ānando tuṇhībhāvena.

6.2

Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yāvatikā nāgassa bhūmi nāgena gantvā nāgā paccorohitvā pattikova yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho rājā pasenadi kosalo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

6.3

“Sir, if you have no urgent business, it would be nice of you to go to the bank of the Aciravatī river out of compassion.”

“sace, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa na kiñci accāyikaṁ karaṇīyaṁ, sādhu, bhante, āyasmā ānando yena aciravatiyā nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

7.1

Ānanda consented in silence.

Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā ānando tuṇhībhāvena.

7.2

He went to the river bank and sat at the root of a certain tree on a seat spread out.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena aciravatiyā nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle paññatte āsane nisīdi.

7.3

Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,

7.4

“Here, Venerable Ānanda, sit on this elephant rug.”

“idha, bhante, āyasmā ānando hatthatthare nisīdatū”ti.

7.5

“Enough, great king,

“Alaṁ, mahārāja.

7.6

you sit on it.

Nisīda tvaṁ;

7.7

I’m sitting on my own seat.”

nisinno ahaṁ sake āsane”ti.

8.1

So the king sat down on the seat spread out,

Nisīdi kho rājā pasenadi kosalo paññatte āsane.

8.2

and said,

Nisajja kho rājā pasenadi kosalo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

8.3

“Sir, might the Buddha engage in the sort of behavior—by way of body, speech, or mind—that is faulted by ascetics and brahmins?”

“kiṁ nu kho, bhante ānanda, so bhagavā tathārūpaṁ kāyasamācāraṁ samācareyya, yvāssa kāyasamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehī”ti?

8.4

“No, great king, the Buddha would not engage in the sort of behavior that is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

“Na kho, mahārāja, so bhagavā tathārūpaṁ kāyasamācāraṁ samācareyya, yvāssa kāyasamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

8.5

“Kiṁ pana, bhante ānanda, so bhagavā tathārūpaṁ vacīsamācāraṁ …pe…

8.6

manosamācāraṁ samācareyya, yvāssa manosamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehī”ti?

8.7

“Na kho, mahārāja, so bhagavā tathārūpaṁ manosamācāraṁ samācareyya, yvāssa manosamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

9.1

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

9.2

For I couldn’t fully express the question, but Ānanda’s answer completed it for me.

Yañhi mayaṁ, bhante, nāsakkhimhā pañhena paripūretuṁ taṁ, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena pañhassa veyyākaraṇena paripūritaṁ.

9.3

I don’t believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by incompetent fools, without examining or scrutinizing, is the most important thing.

Ye te, bhante, bālā abyattā ananuvicca apariyogāhetvā paresaṁ vaṇṇaṁ vā avaṇṇaṁ vā bhāsanti, na mayaṁ taṁ sārato paccāgacchāma;

9.4

Rather, I believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by competent and intelligent people after examining and scrutinizing is the most important thing.

ye pana te, bhante, paṇḍitā viyattā medhāvino anuvicca pariyogāhetvā paresaṁ vaṇṇaṁ vā avaṇṇaṁ vā bhāsanti, mayaṁ taṁ sārato paccāgacchāma.

10.1

But sir, what kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”

Katamo pana, bhante ānanda, kāyasamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti?

10.2

“Unskillful behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro akusalo”.

10.3

“But what kind of bodily behavior is unskillful?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro akusalo”?

10.4

“Blameworthy behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro sāvajjo”.

10.5

“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameworthy?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro sāvajjo”?

10.6

“Hurtful behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro sabyābajjho”.

10.7

“But what kind of bodily behavior is hurtful?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro sabyābajjho”?

10.8

“Behavior that results in suffering.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro dukkhavipāko”.

10.9

“But what kind of bodily behavior results in suffering?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro dukkhavipāko”?

10.10

“Bodily behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro attabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, parabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, ubhayabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati.

10.11

and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.

Tassa akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti;

10.12

That kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

evarūpo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

11.1

“But what kind of verbal behavior …

“Katamo pana, bhante ānanda, vacīsamācāro …pe…

11.2

mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …

manosamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti?

11.3

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro akusalo”.

11.4

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro akusalo”?

11.5

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro sāvajjo”.

11.6

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro sāvajjo”?

11.7

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro sabyābajjho”.

12.1

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro sabyābajjho”?

12.2

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro dukkhavipāko”.

12.3

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro dukkhavipāko”?

12.4

“Mental behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro attabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, parabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, ubhayabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati.

12.5

and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.

Tassa akusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti, kusalā dhammā parihāyanti;

12.6

That kind of mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

evarūpo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro opārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

13.1

“Sir, does the Buddha praise giving up all these unskillful things?”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bhante ānanda, so bhagavā sabbesaṁyeva akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

13.2

“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”

“Sabbākusaladhammapahīno kho, mahārāja, tathāgato kusaladhammasamannāgato”ti.

14.1

“But sir, what kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”

“Katamo pana, bhante ānanda, kāyasamācāro anopārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti?

14.2

“Skillful behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro kusalo”.

14.3

“But what kind of bodily behavior is skillful?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro kusalo”?

14.4

“Blameless behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro anavajjo”.

14.5

“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameless?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro anavajjo”?

14.6

“Pleasing behavior.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro abyābajjho”.

14.7

“But what kind of bodily behavior is pleasing?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro abyābajjho”?

14.8

“Behavior that results in happiness.”

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro sukhavipāko”.

14.9

“But what kind of bodily behavior results in happiness?”

“Katamo pana, bhante, kāyasamācāro sukhavipāko”?

14.10

“Bodily behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,

“Yo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro nevattabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, na parabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, na ubhayabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati.

14.11

and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.

Tassa akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.

14.12

That kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

Evarūpo kho, mahārāja, kāyasamācāro anopārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

15.1

“But what kind of verbal behavior …

“Katamo pana, bhante ānanda, vacīsamācāro …pe…

15.2

mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …

manosamācāro anopārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti?

15.3

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro kusalo”.

15.4

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro kusalo”?

15.5

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro anavajjo”.

16.1

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro anavajjo”?

16.2

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro abyābajjho”.

16.3

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro abyābajjho”?

16.4

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro sukhavipāko”.

16.5

“Katamo pana, bhante, manosamācāro sukhavipāko”?

16.6

“Mental behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,

“Yo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro nevattabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, na parabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati, na ubhayabyābādhāyapi saṁvattati.

16.7

and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.

Tassa akusalā dhammā parihāyanti, kusalā dhammā abhivaḍḍhanti.

16.8

That kind of mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

Evarūpo kho, mahārāja, manosamācāro anopārambho samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhī”ti.

17.1

“Sir, does the Buddha praise embracing all these skillful things?”

“Kiṁ pana, bhante ānanda, so bhagavā sabbesaṁyeva kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadaṁ vaṇṇetī”ti?

17.2

“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”

“Sabbākusaladhammapahīno kho, mahārāja, tathāgato kusaladhammasamannāgato”ti.

18.1

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

18.2

How well this was said by Venerable Ānanda!

Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena.

18.3

I’m delighted and satisfied with what you’ve expressed so well.

Iminā ca mayaṁ, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa subhāsitena attamanābhiraddhā.

18.4

So much so that

Evaṁ attamanābhiraddhā ca mayaṁ, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa subhāsitena.

18.5

if an elephant-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.

Sace, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa hatthiratanaṁ kappeyya, hatthiratanampi mayaṁ āyasmato ānandassa dadeyyāma.

18.6

If a horse-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.

Sace, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa assaratanaṁ kappeyya, assaratanampi mayaṁ āyasmato ānandassa dadeyyāma.

18.7

If a prize village was suitable for you, I would give you one.

Sace, bhante, āyasmato ānandassa gāmavaraṁ kappeyya, gāmavarampi mayaṁ āyasmato ānandassa dadeyyāma.

18.8

But, sir, I know that

Api ca, bhante, mayampetaṁ jānāma:

18.9

these things are not suitable for you.

‘netaṁ āyasmato ānandassa kappatī’ti.

18.10

This imported cloth was sent to me by King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha packed in a parasol case. It’s exactly sixteen measures long and eight wide.

Ayaṁ me, bhante, bāhitikā raññā māgadhena ajātasattunā vedehiputtena vatthanāḷiyā pakkhipitvā pahitā soḷasasamā āyāmena, aṭṭhasamā vitthārena.

18.11

May Venerable Ānanda please accept it out of compassion.”

Taṁ, bhante, āyasmā ānando paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

18.12

“Enough, great king. My three robes are complete.”

“Alaṁ, mahārāja, paripuṇṇaṁ me ticīvaran”ti.

19.1

“Sir, we have both seen this river Aciravatī

“Ayaṁ, bhante, aciravatī nadī diṭṭhā āyasmatā ceva ānandena amhehi ca.

19.2

when it has rained heavily in the mountains, and the river overflows both its banks.

Yadā uparipabbate mahāmegho abhippavuṭṭho hoti, athāyaṁ aciravatī nadī ubhato kūlāni saṁvissandantī gacchati;

19.3

In the same way, Venerable Ānanda can make a set of three robes for himself from this imported cloak.

evameva kho, bhante, āyasmā ānando imāya bāhitikāya attano ticīvaraṁ karissati.

19.4

And you can share your old robes with your fellow monks.

Yaṁ panāyasmato ānandassa purāṇaṁ ticīvaraṁ taṁ sabrahmacārīhi saṁvibhajissati.

19.5

In this way my religious donation will come to overflow, it seems to me.

Evāyaṁ amhākaṁ dakkhiṇā saṁvissandantī maññe gamissati.

19.6

Please accept the imported cloth.”

Paṭiggaṇhātu, bhante, āyasmā ānando bāhitikan”ti.

20.1

So Ānanda accepted it.

Paṭiggahesi kho āyasmā ānando bāhitikaṁ.

20.2

Then King Pasenadi said to him,

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

20.3

“Well, now, sir, I must go.

“handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bhante ānanda, gacchāma;

20.4

I have many duties, and much to do.”

bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā”ti.

20.5

“Please, great king, go at your convenience.”

“Yassadāni tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

20.6

Then King Pasenadi approved and agreed with what Ānanda said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Ānanda, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo āyasmato ānandassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

21.1

Soon after he left, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side,

Atha kho āyasmā ānando acirapakkantassa rañño pasenadissa kosalassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

21.2

and told him what had happened.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando yāvatako ahosi raññā pasenadinā kosalena saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.

21.3

He presented the cloth to the Buddha.

Tañca bāhitikaṁ bhagavato pādāsi.

22.1

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhū,

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

22.2

“Bhikkhū, King Pasenadi is lucky, so very lucky,

“lābhā, bhikkhave, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa, suladdhalābhā, bhikkhave, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa;

22.3

to get to see Ānanda and pay homage to him.”

yaṁ rājā pasenadi kosalo labhati ānandaṁ dassanāya, labhati payirupāsanāyā”ti.

22.4

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

22.5

Satisfied, the bhikkhū were happy with what the Buddha said.

Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

22.6

Bāhitikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.