9.
The Discourse on the Well
69.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Mallas together with a large Community of monks, and arrived at a brahmin village of the Mallas named Thūṇa.
The brahmin householders of Thūṇa heard -
"Indeed, my dear, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, wandering on a journey among the Mallas together with a large Community of monks, has arrived at Thūṇa." They filled the well with grass and chaff up to the brim -
"May those shavelings, those petty ascetics, not drink the drinking water."
Then the Blessed One, having turned aside from the road, approached a tree-root; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Come now, Ānanda, bring me drinking water from that well."
When this was said, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One - "Just now, venerable sir, that well has been filled by the brahmin householders of Thūṇa with grass and chaff up to the brim - 'May those shavelings, those petty ascetics, not drink the drinking water.'"
For the second time, etc. For the third time the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda - "Come now, Ānanda, bring me drinking water from that well." "Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and taking the bowl, he approached that well. Then that well, as the Venerable Ānanda approached, having ejected all that grass and chaff from its mouth, stood, methinks, filled to the brim with clear, unsullied, very pure water, overflowing.
Then this occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "Wonderful indeed, friend, marvellous indeed, friend, is the great supernormal power and great majesty of the Truth-finder! For this well, as I approached, having ejected all that grass and chaff from its mouth, stood, methinks, filled to the brim with clear, unsullied, very pure water, overflowing." Having taken drinking water with the bowl, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "Wonderful, venerable sir, marvellous, venerable sir, is the great supernormal power and great majesty of the Truth-finder! For this well, venerable sir, as I approached, having ejected all that grass and chaff from its mouth, stood, methinks, filled to the brim with clear, unsullied, very pure water, overflowing. Let the Blessed One drink the drinking water, let the Fortunate One drink the drinking water."
Then the Blessed One, having understood this matter, at that time uttered this inspired utterance -
If waters were always available;
Having cut craving at the root,
Why should one wander in quest of anything?" The ninth.