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Mv I 4
PTS: Mv I 1.4 | CS: vin.mv.01.04
Rājāyatanakathā
The Discussion of the Rājāyatana[1] (Tree)
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: "line by line" Pāḷi - English

(Mv.I.4.1) [6] Then, with the passing of seven days, after emerging from that concentration, the Blessed One went from the root of the Mucalinda (tree) to the Rājāyatana (tree) and sat at the root of the Rājāyatana tree for seven days in one session, sensitive to the bliss of release.

(Mv.I.4.2) Now on that occasion the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika were traveling on the road from Ukkalā to that district. Then a devatā who had been a blood-relative of Tapussa and Bhallika said to the merchants, “There is the Blessed One, my dears, staying at the root of the Rājāyatana tree, newly fully awakened. Go and serve the Blessed One cooked grain-meal and honey balls. That will be for your long-term welfare & happiness.”

(Mv.I.4.3) Then the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika, taking cooked grain-meal and honey balls, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, stood to one side. As they were standing there, the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika said to the Blessed One, “Lord, May the Blessed One accept our cooked grain-meal and honey balls, for that will be for our long-term welfare & happiness.”

(Mv.I.4.4) Then the thought occurred to the Blessed One, “Tathāgatas do not accept things with their hands. How shall I accept the cooked grain-meal and honey balls?” Then the Four Great Kings, having known with their awareness the train of thought in the Blessed One’s awareness, presented four stone bowls from the four directions to the Blessed One, (thinking) “May the Blessed One accept the cooked grain-meal and honey balls here [in the bowls].” The Blessed One accepted the exquisite stone bowls and the cooked grain-meal and honey balls. Having accepted them, he consumed them.

(Mv.I.4.5) Then the merchants Tapussa and Bhallika [knowing that the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, fell down with their heads at the Blessed One’s feet and][2] said to the Blessed One, “We go to the Blessed One for refuge, & to the Dhamma. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge from this day forward, for life.”

And they were the first two-statement[3] lay followers in the world.

Notes

1.
Rājāyatana: King’s Realm.
2.
Passage in between breaks is found in the Burmese Edition.
3.
dvevācikā: As the third member of the triple gem, the Noble Saṅgha, had not yet arisen, they went for refuge in the Buddha and Dhamma.
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