Pāṭaligāmiyasuttaṃ [Ud 8.6, PTS 86–90]

6.

The Discourse on the Pāṭali Villager

76. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Magadhans together with a large Community of monks, and arrived at Pāṭaligāma. The lay followers of Pāṭaligāma heard - "The Blessed One, it is said, wandering on a journey among the Magadhans together with a large Community of monks, has arrived at Pāṭaligāma." Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma said this to the Blessed One - "May the Blessed One consent to the rest-house for us, venerable sir." The Blessed One consented by silence.

Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma, having learned of the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from their seats, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on their right, and approached the rest-house; having approached, they completely spread the rest-house with coverings, prepared seats, set up a water jar, and lit an oil lamp, then approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma said this to the Blessed One - "The rest-house is completely spread with coverings, venerable sir; seats have been prepared; a water jar has been set up, an oil lamp has been lit. Now let the Blessed One do as he thinks fit, venerable sir."

Then the Blessed One, having dressed, taking his bowl and robe, together with the Community of monks, approached the rest-house; having approached, having washed his feet, he entered the rest-house and sat down leaning against the middle pillar, facing east. The Community of monks too, having washed their feet, entered the rest-house and sat down leaning against the western wall, facing east, with the Blessed One in front. The lay followers of Pāṭaligāma too, having washed their feet, entered the rest-house and sat down leaning against the eastern wall, facing west, with the Blessed One in front. Then the Blessed One addressed the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma -

"Householders, there are these five dangers of being immoral, of failure in morality. Which five? Here, householders, one who is immoral, failing in morality, because of heedlessness undergoes great loss of wealth. This is the first danger of being immoral, of failure in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, a bad reputation arises for one who is immoral, failing in morality. This is the second danger of being immoral, of failure in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is immoral, failing in morality, whatever assembly he approaches - whether an assembly of warriors, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of ascetics - he approaches unconfident, downcast. This is the third danger of being immoral, of failure in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is immoral, failing in morality, dies deluded. This is the fourth danger of being immoral, of failure in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is immoral, failing in morality, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. This is the fifth danger of being immoral, of failure in morality. These, householders, are the five dangers of being immoral, of failure in morality.

"Householders, there are these five benefits of being moral, of accomplishment in morality. Which five? Here, householders, one who is moral, accomplished in morality, because of diligence attains a great mass of wealth. This is the first benefit of being moral, of accomplishment in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, a good reputation arises for one who is moral, accomplished in morality. This is the second benefit of being moral, of accomplishment in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is moral, accomplished in morality, whatever assembly he approaches - whether an assembly of warriors, whether an assembly of brahmins, whether an assembly of householders, whether an assembly of ascetics - he approaches confident, unabashed. This is the third benefit of being moral, of accomplishment in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is moral, accomplished in morality, dies undeluded. This is the fourth benefit of being moral, of accomplishment in morality.

"Furthermore, householders, one who is moral, accomplished in morality, upon the body's collapse at death, is reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. This is the fifth benefit of being moral, of accomplishment in morality. These, householders, are the five benefits of being moral, of accomplishment in morality."

Then the Blessed One, having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma with a talk on the Teaching for much of the night, dismissed them - "The night has passed, householders; now do as you think fit." Then the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from their seats, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on their right, and departed. Then the Blessed One, when the lay followers of Pāṭaligāma had recently departed, entered the empty house.

Now at that time Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were building a city at Pāṭaligāma to obstruct the Vajjis. Now at that time many deities, in their thousands, were taking possession of sites at Pāṭaligāma. In whatever region influential deities take possession of sites, there the minds of influential kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region middling deities take possession of sites, there the minds of middling kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region inferior deities take possession of sites, there the minds of inferior kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings.

The Blessed One saw with the divine eye, which is pure and surpasses the human, those deities, in their thousands upon thousands, taking possession of sites at Pāṭaligāma. In whatever region influential deities take possession of sites, there the minds of influential kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region middling deities take possession of sites, there the minds of middling kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region inferior deities take possession of sites, there the minds of inferior kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. Then the Blessed One, having risen towards the break of dawn, addressed the Venerable Ānanda -

"Who, Ānanda, is building a city at Pāṭaligāma?" "Sunidha and Vassakāra, venerable sir, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to obstruct the Vajjis." "Just as if, Ānanda, having consulted with the gods of the Tāvatiṃsa heaven; so too, Ānanda, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, are building a city at Pāṭaligāma to obstruct the Vajjis. Here, Ānanda, I saw with the divine eye, which is pure and surpasses the human, many deities, in their thousands upon thousands, taking possession of sites at Pāṭaligāma. In whatever region influential deities take possession of sites, there the minds of influential kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region middling deities take possession of sites, there the minds of middling kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. In whatever region inferior deities take possession of sites, there the minds of inferior kings and royal ministers incline to build dwellings. As far as, Ānanda, the noble realm extends, as far as trade extends, this will be the chief city, Pāṭaliputta, a place for the opening of packages. For Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, there will be three dangers - from fire or from water or from breaking of alliance."

Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, approached the Blessed One; having approached, they exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One - "May Master Gotama consent to accept a meal from us today together with the Community of monks." The Blessed One consented by silence.

Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, having learned of the Blessed One's acceptance, approached their own public rest-house; having approached, they had superior solid and soft food prepared at their own public rest-house and announced the time to the Blessed One - "It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready."

Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, together with the Community of monks, approached the public rest-house of Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, with their own hands satisfied and served the Community of monks headed by the Buddha with superior solid and soft food.

Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, having taken a certain low seat, sat down to one side. When Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were seated to one side, the Blessed One gave thanks with these verses:

Then the Blessed One, having given thanks to Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, with these verses, rose from his seat and departed.

Now at that time Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, were following closely behind the Blessed One - "By whichever door the ascetic Gotama will depart today, that will be named the Gotama Door. By whichever ford he will cross the river Ganges, that will be named the Gotama Ford."

Then by whichever door the Blessed One departed, that was named the Gotama Door. Then the Blessed One went to the river Ganges. Now at that time the river Ganges was full, level to the brim, so that a crow could drink from it. Some people were seeking a boat, some were seeking a raft, some were binding together a float, wishing to go from the near shore to the far shore. Then the Blessed One - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from the near shore of the river Ganges, appeared on the far shore together with the Community of monks.

The Blessed One saw those people, some seeking a boat, some seeking a raft, some binding together a float, wishing to go from the near shore to the far shore.

Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -