Suppavāsāsuttaṃ [Ud 2.8, PTS 16–18]

8.

The Discourse on Suppavāsā

18. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kuṇḍikā in the Kuṇḍadhāna grove. Now at that time Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter had been carrying an embryo for seven years. For a week with an obstructed womb, she, touched by painful, sharp, harsh, bitter feelings, endured with three thoughts - "The Blessed One is indeed a Perfectly Enlightened One who expounds the Teaching for the abandoning of such suffering as this; the Community of that Blessed One's disciples is indeed practicing well, who are practicing for the abandoning of such suffering as this; very happy indeed is that Nibbāna where such suffering as this is not found."

Then Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter addressed her husband - "Come, master's son, approach the Blessed One; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet; ask about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort - 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet; she asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort.' And say this: 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter has been carrying an embryo for seven years. For a week with an obstructed womb, she, touched by painful, sharp, harsh, bitter feelings, endured with three thoughts - the Blessed One is indeed a Perfectly Enlightened One who expounds the Teaching for the abandoning of such suffering as this; the Community of that Blessed One's disciples is indeed practicing well, who are practicing for the abandoning of such suffering as this; very happy indeed is that Nibbāna where such suffering as this is not found.'"

"Yes," the Koliyan's son, having assented to Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Koliyan's son said this to the Blessed One - "Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort; and he says thus - 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter has been carrying an embryo for seven years. For a week with an obstructed womb, she, touched by painful, sharp, harsh, bitter feelings, endured with three thoughts - the Blessed One is indeed a Perfectly Enlightened One who expounds the Teaching for the abandoning of such suffering as this; the Community of that Blessed One's disciples is indeed practicing well, who are practicing for the abandoning of such suffering as this; very happy indeed is Nibbāna where such suffering as this is not found.'"

"May Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter be happy; may she, healthy, give birth to a healthy son." And together with the Blessed One's words, Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy son.

"Yes, venerable sir," that Koliyan's son, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and returned to his own house. That Koliyan's son saw Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter happy, healthy, having given birth to a healthy son. Having seen him, this occurred to him: "Wonderful indeed, friend, marvellous indeed, friend, is the great supernormal power and great majesty of the Truth-finder, in that this Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter, together with the Blessed One's words, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy son!" He was delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness.

Then Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter addressed her husband - "Come, master's son, approach the Blessed One; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet - 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet'; and say this - 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter has been carrying an embryo for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult delivery; she is now happy and healthy, having given birth to a healthy son. She invites the Community of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal for seven days. May the Blessed One consent to accept seven meals from Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter together with the Community of monks, venerable sir.'"

"Yes," the Koliyan's son, having assented to Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, that Koliyan's son said this to the Blessed One:

"Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet; and he says thus - 'Suppavāsā, venerable sir, the Koliyan daughter has been carrying an embryo for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult delivery; she is now happy and healthy, having given birth to a healthy son. She invites the Community of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal for seven days. May the Blessed One consent to accept seven meals from Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter together with the Community of monks, venerable sir.'"

Now at that time the Community of monks headed by the Buddha had been invited by a certain lay follower for a meal for the morrow. And that lay follower was the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna's attendant. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Come, Moggallāna, approach that lay follower; having approached, say this to that lay follower - 'Suppavāsā, friend, the Koliyan daughter carried the embryo for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult delivery; she is now happy and healthy, having given birth to a healthy son. She invites the Community of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal for seven days. Let Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter make the seven meals; afterwards you will make yours.' He is your attendant."

"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having assented to the Blessed One, approached that lay follower; having approached, he said this to that lay follower - "Suppavāsā, friend, the Koliyan daughter, has been carrying an embryo for seven years. For seven days she had a difficult delivery; she is now happy and healthy, having given birth to a healthy son. She invites the Community of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal for seven days. Let Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter provide the seven meals, afterwards you will do so."

"If, venerable sir, the noble Mahāmoggallāna is a surety for three things - for wealth and for life and for faith, let Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter provide the seven meals, afterwards I will do so." "For two things, friend, I am a surety for you - for wealth and for life. But for faith you yourself are the surety."

"If, venerable sir, the noble Mahāmoggallāna is a surety for two things - for wealth and for life, let Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter provide the seven meals, afterwards I will do so."

Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having convinced that lay follower, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "That lay follower has been convinced by me, venerable sir; let Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter provide the seven meals, afterwards he will do so."

Then Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter for seven days with her own hand satisfied and served the Community of monks headed by the Buddha with superior solid and soft food, and she had that child pay respect to the Blessed One and to the entire Community of monks.

Then the Venerable Sāriputta said this to that child - "Is it bearable for you, child, is it endurable, is there no suffering?" "How could it be bearable for me, venerable sir Sāriputta, how could it be endurable! For seven years I dwelt in a pot of blood."

Then Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter - "My son is consulting with the General of the Teaching" - was delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness. Then the Blessed One, having known that Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter was delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, said this to Suppavāsā the Koliyan daughter - "Would you wish, Suppavāsā, for another son of such kind?" "I would wish, Blessed One, for even seven more sons of such kind."

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