Nāgasuttaṃ [Ud 4.5, PTS 42]

5.

The Discourse on the Bull Elephant

35. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in Ghosita's park. Now at that time the Blessed One was dwelling crowded by monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers, kings, royal ministers, sectarians, and disciples of sectarians. Being crowded, he dwelt in suffering, not comfortably. Then this occurred to the Blessed One: "I am now dwelling crowded by monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers, kings, royal ministers, sectarians, and disciples of sectarians. Being crowded, I dwell in suffering, not comfortably. What if I were to dwell alone, withdrawn from the group?"

Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Kosambī for almsfood. Having walked for almsfood in Kosambī, after the meal, having returned from his alms round, having set in order his lodging by himself, taking his bowl and robe, without addressing his attendants, without taking leave of the Community of monks, alone, without a companion, he set out on a journey towards Pālileyyaka. Wandering on a journey gradually, he arrived at Pālileyyaka. There the Blessed One stayed at Pālileyyaka in the Protected Forest Grove at the foot of the Bhaddasāla tree.

A certain large bull elephant too was dwelling crowded by elephants, she-elephants, young elephants, and elephant calves. He ate grass with cut-off tips, and they ate his bent-down broken branches, and he drank turbid water, and when he had come up from the water, she-elephants went along rubbing against his body. Being crowded, he dwelt in suffering, not comfortably. Then this occurred to that large bull elephant: "I am now dwelling crowded by elephants, she-elephants, young elephants, and elephant calves; I eat grass with cut-off tips, and they eat my bent-down broken branches, and I drink turbid water, and when I have come up from the water, she-elephants go along rubbing against my body; being crowded, I dwell in suffering, not comfortably. What if I were to dwell alone, withdrawn from the group?"

Then that large bull elephant, having departed from the herd, approached the Protected Forest Grove at Pālileyyaka, the foot of the Bhaddasāla tree, approached the Blessed One. There that large bull elephant kept the place where the Blessed One was dwelling free of green vegetation, and with his trunk he set out drinking water and water for washing for the Blessed One.

Then, when the Blessed One had gone to a private place and was in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: "I formerly dwelt crowded by monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers, kings, royal ministers, sectarians, and disciples of sectarians; being crowded, I dwelt in suffering, not comfortably. Now I dwell uncrowded by monks, nuns, male lay followers, female lay followers, kings, royal ministers, sectarians, and disciples of sectarians; being uncrowded, I dwell happily, comfortably."

This reflection also arose in the mind of that large bull elephant: "I formerly dwelt crowded by elephants, she-elephants, young elephants, and elephant calves; I ate grass with cut-off tips, and they ate my bent-down broken branches, and I drank turbid water, and when I had come up from the water, she-elephants went along rubbing against my body; being crowded, I dwelt in suffering, not comfortably. Now I dwell uncrowded by elephants, she-elephants, young elephants, and elephant calves; I eat grass with uncut tips, and they do not eat my bent-down broken branches, and I drink clear water, and when I have come up from the water, she-elephants do not go along rubbing against my body; being uncrowded, I dwell happily, comfortably."

Then the Blessed One, having understood his own solitude and having known with his mind the reflection in the mind of that large bull elephant, at that time uttered this inspired utterance: