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Mv VIII 18
PTS: Mv VIII 15 | CS: vin.mv.08.18
Visākhāvatthu
'Line by Line'
The Story of Visākhā
by
Ven. Khematto Bhikkhu
Alternate translations/layout: 'read-friendly' layout

219. visākhāvatthu (Mv.VIII.15.1)

The Story of Visākhā [BMC]

[153] athakho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena sāvatthī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena sāvatthī tadavasari.

Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Bārāṇasī as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour toward Sāvatthī, and traveling by stages, arrived at Sāvatthī.

Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

He stayed there in Sāvatthī, at Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

athakho visākhā migāramātā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side.

ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ Bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.

As she was sitting there, the Blessed One instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged her with a Dhamma talk.

athakho visākhā migāramātā bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca adhivāsetu me bhante bhagavā svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenāti.

Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, having been instructed, urged, roused, & encouraged by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, said to him, “Lord, may the Blessed One acquiesce to my meal tomorrow, together with the Saṅgha of monks.”

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

The Blessed One acquiesced with silence.

athakho visākhā migāramātā bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, understanding the Blessed One’s acquiescence, got up from her seat, bowed down to him, circumambulated him, keeping him to her right, and left.

(Mv.VIII.15.2) tena kho pana samayena tassā rattiyā accayena cātuddīpiko mahāmegho pāvassi.

Now on that occasion, as the night was ending, a great storm-cloud, covering the four continents, rained down.

athakho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi yathā bhikkhave jetavane vassati evaṁ catūsu dīpesu vassati ovassāpetha bhikkhave kāyaṁ ayaṁ pacchimako cātuddīpiko mahāmeghoti.

The Blessed One addressed the monks, “Monks, on all four continents, it’s raining like it is in Jeta’s Grove. Let your bodies be rained on. This is the last great, four-continent storm-cloud.”

evaṁ bhanteti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissuṇitvā nikkhittacīvarā kāyaṁ ovassāpenti.

Responding, “As you say,” to the Blessed One, taking off their robes, they let their bodies be rained on.

(Mv.VIII.15.3) athakho visākhā migāramātā paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā dāsiṁ āṇāpesi gaccha je ārāmaṁ gantvā kālaṁ ārocehi kālo bhante niṭṭhitaṁ bhattanti.

Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother — after having exquisite staple & non-staple food prepared — commanded a slave girl, “Hey, go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.’”

evaṁ ayyeti kho sā dāsī visākhāya migāramātuyā paṭissuṇitvā ārāmaṁ gantvā addassa bhikkhū nikkhittacīvare kāyaṁ ovassāpente

Responding, “As you say, Lady,” to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, the slave girl went to the monastery and saw the monks, having taken off their robes, letting their bodies be rained on.

disvāna natthi ārāme bhikkhū ājīvakā kāyaṁ ovassāpentīti yena visākhā migāramātā tenupasaṅkami upasaṅkamitvā visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ etadavoca natthayye ārāme bhikkhū ājīvakā kāyaṁ ovassāpentīti.

On seeing them, (thinking,) “There aren’t any monks in the monastery, only naked ascetics letting their bodies be rained on,” went to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, and on arrival said to her, “Lady, there aren’t any monks in the monastery, only naked ascetics letting their bodies be rained on.”

athakho visākhāya Migāramātuyā paṇḍitāya viyattāya medhāviniyā etadahosi nissaṁsayaṁ kho ayyā nikkhittacīvarā kāyaṁ ovassāpenti sāyaṁ bālā maññittha natthi ārāme bhikkhū ājīvakā kāyaṁ ovassāpentīti.

Then the thought occurred to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother — wise, competent, and intelligent — “Undoubtedly the masters, having taken off their robes, are letting their bodies be rained on. And this foolish girl thought, ‘There aren’t any monks in the monastery, only naked ascetics letting their bodies be rained on.’”

Dāsiṁ āṇāpesi gaccha je ārāmaṁ gantvā kālaṁ ārocehi kālo bhante niṭṭhitaṁ bhattanti.

So she commanded the slave girl, “Hey, go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.’”

(Mv.VIII.15.4) athakho te bhikkhū gattāni sītikaritvā kallakāyā cīvarāni gahetvā yathāvihāraṁ pavisiṁsu.

Then the monks, having cooled their limbs, their bodies refreshed, put on their robes and each entered his own dwelling.

athakho sā dāsī ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhū apassantī natthi ārāme bhikkhū suñño ārāmoti yena visākhā migāramātā tenupasaṅkami upasaṅkamitvā visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ etadavoca natthayye ārāme bhikkhū suñño ārāmoti.

Then the slave girl, having gone to the monastery, not seeing any monks, (thinking,) “There aren’t any monks in the monastery. It’s an empty monastery,” went to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, and on arrival said to her, “Lady, there aren’t any monks in the monastery. It’s an empty monastery.”

athakho visākhāya migāramātuyā paṇḍitāya viyattāya medhāviniyā etadahosi nissaṁsayaṁ kho ayyā gattāni sītikaritvā kallakāyā cīvarāni gahetvā yathāvihāraṁ paviṭṭhā sāyaṁ bālā maññittha natthi ārāme bhikkhū suñño ārāmoti.

Then the thought occurred to Visākhā, Migāra’s mother — wise, competent, and intelligent — “Undoubtedly the masters, having cooled their limbs, their bodies refreshed, having put on their robes, have each entered his own dwelling. And this foolish girl thought, ‘There aren’t any monks in the monastery. It’s an empty monastery.’”

Puna dāsiṁ āṇāpesi gaccha je ārāmaṁ gantvā kālaṁ ārocehi kālo bhante niṭṭhitaṁ bhattanti.

Again, she commanded the slave girl, “Hey, go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.’”

(Mv.VIII.15.5) athakho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi sannahatha [ME: sandahatha] bhikkhave pattacīvaraṁ kālo bhattassāti.

Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: “Monks, get together your bowl and robes. It’s time for the meal.”

evaṁ bhanteti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

The monks responded, “As you say, lord.” to the Blessed One.

athakho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso sammiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ sammiñjeyya evameva jetavane antarahito visākhāya migāramātuyā Koṭṭhake pāturahosi.

Then, early in the morning, having adjusted his under robe and, carrying his bowl & robes — just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm or flex his extended arm — the Blessed One disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and appeared at Visākhā’s gate.

Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena.

He sat down on a seat laid out, along with the Saṅgha of monks.

(Mv.VIII.15.6) athakho visākhā migāramātā acchariyaṁ vata bho abbhutaṁ vata bho tathāgatassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā yatra hi nāma jannukamattesupi oghesu vattamānesu kaṭimattesupi oghesu vattamānesu na hi nāma ekabhikkhussāpi pādā vā cīvarāni vā allāni bhavissantīti haṭṭhā udaggā buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappetvā sampavāretvā bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, exultant (with the thought,) “How amazing! How astounding! The great power and might of the Tathāgata — in that in crossing even a knee-deep flood or even a waist-deep flood not a single monk’s foot or robe would get wet!” served & satisfied the Blessed One & the Saṅgha of monks with her own hand with choice staple & non-staple foods. When the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from the bowl, she sat to one side.

ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho visākhā migāramātā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca aṭṭhāhaṁ bhante bhagavantaṁ varāni yācāmīti.

As she was sitting there, she said to the Blessed One, “Lord, I have eight boons to ask of the Blessed One.”

Atikkantavarā kho visākhe tathāgatāti.

“Tathāgatas have gone beyond boons, Visākhā.”

Yāni ca bhante kappanti yāni ca anavajjānīti.

“They are allowable and blameless, lord.”

Vadehi visākheti.

“Say it, Visākhā.”

(Mv.VIII.15.7) Icchāmahaṁ bhante saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ vassikasāṭikaṁ dātuṁ āgantukabhattaṁ dātuṁ gamikabhattaṁ dātuṁ gilānabhattaṁ dātuṁ gilānupaṭṭhākabhattaṁ dātuṁ gilānabhesajjaṁ dātuṁ dhuvayāguṁ dātuṁ bhikkhunīsaṅghassa udakasāṭikaṁ dātunti.

As long as I live, I want to give to the Saṅgha rains-bathing cloths, meals for newcomers, meals for those going away, meals for the sick, meals for those tending the sick, medicine for the sick, a steady supply of conjey, and to the Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs, water bathing-cloths.”

Kiṁ pana tvaṁ visākhe atthavasaṁ sampassamānā tathāgataṁ aṭṭha varāni yācasīti.

“But, Visākhā, with what purpose in mind do you ask the eight favors of the Tathāgata?”

Idhāhaṁ bhante dāsiṁ āṇāpesiṁ gaccha je ārāmaṁ gantvā kālaṁ ārocehi kālo bhante niṭṭhitaṁ bhattanti

“Lord, just now I commanded a slave girl, ‘Hey, go to the monastery and announce the time: ‘It’s time, lord. The meal is ready.’

athakho sā bhante dāsī ārāmaṁ gantvā addasa bhikkhū nikkhittacīvare kāyaṁ ovassāpente Disvāna natthi ārāme bhikkhū ājīvakā kāyaṁ ovassāpentīti yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami upasaṅkamitvā maṁ etadavoca natthayye ārāme bhikkhū ājīvakā kāyaṁ ovassāpentīti

“Then, going to the monastery, she saw the monks, having taken off their robes, letting their bodies be rained on. On seeing them, (thinking,) ‘There aren’t any monks in the monastery, only naked ascetics letting their bodies be rained on,’ she came to me and said, ‘Lady, there aren’t any monks in the monastery, only naked ascetics letting their bodies be rained on.’

asuci bhante naggiyaṁ jegucchaṁ paṭikūlaṁ imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ vassikasāṭikaṁ dātuṁ.

“Lord, nakedness is vile, repulsive, and disgusting. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha rains-bathing cloths for as long as I live.

(Mv.VIII.15.8) Puna caparaṁ bhante āgantuko bhikkhu na vīthikusalo na gocarakusalo kilanto piṇḍāya carati so me āgantukabhattaṁ bhuñjitvā vīthikusalo gocarakusalo akilanto piṇḍāya carissati imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ āgantukabhattaṁ dātuṁ.

“Again, lord, a monk who is a newcomer, unskilled in the roads and the area, would have difficulty in going for alms. Having eaten my meals for newcomers, he would become skilled in the roads and the area, and would not become exhausted going for alms. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha meals for newcomers for as long as I live.

Puna caparaṁ bhante gamiko bhikkhu attano bhattaṁ pariyesamāno satthā vā vihāyissati yattha vā vāsaṁ gantukāmo bhavissati tattha vikāle upagacchissati kilanto addhānaṁ gamissati so me gamikabhattaṁ bhuñjitvā satthā na vihāyissati yattha vāsaṁ gantukāmo bhavissati tattha vikāle na upagacchissati akilanto addhānaṁ gamissati imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ gamikabhattaṁ dātuṁ.

“Again, lord, a monk who is going away, searching for his own meal, would miss the caravan or he would arrive at the wrong time[1] at the place he wanted to stay, and would travel the road exhausted. Having eaten my meals for those going away, he would not miss the caravan, wouldn’t arrive at the wrong time at the place he wanted to stay, and wouldn’t travel the road exhausted. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha meals for those going away for as long as I live.

(Mv.VIII.15.9) Puna caparaṁ bhante gilānassa bhikkhuno sappāyāni bhojanāni alabhantassa ābādho vā abhivaḍḍhissati kālakiriyā vā bhavissati tassa me gilānabhattaṁ bhuttassa ābādho nābhivaḍḍhissati kālakiriyā na bhavissati imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ gilānabhattaṁ Dātuṁ.

“Again, for a sick monk not getting suitable food, his illness would increase or his death would come about. Having eaten my meals for the sick, his illness would not increase and his death would not come about. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha meals for the sick for as long as I live.

Puna caparaṁ bhante gilānupaṭṭhāko bhikkhu attano bhattaṁ pariyesamāno gilānassa ussūre bhattaṁ nīharissati bhattacchedaṁ karissati so me gilānupaṭṭhākabhattaṁ bhuñjitvā gilānassa kālena bhattaṁ nīharissati bhattacchedaṁ na karissati imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ gilānupaṭṭhākabhattaṁ dātuṁ.

“Again, lord, a monk attending the sick, searching for his own meal brings back a meal for the sick (monk) after noon and he misses his meal.[2] Having eaten my meals for those tending the sick, he brings back a meal for the sick (monk) on time and he doesn’t miss his meal. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha meals for those tending the sick for as long as I live.

(Mv.VIII.15.10) Puna caparaṁ bhante gilānassa bhikkhuno sappāyāni bhesajjāni alabhantassa ābādho vā abhivaḍḍhissati kālakiriyā vā bhavissati tassa me gilānabhesajjaṁ paribhuttassa ābādho nābhivaḍḍhissati kālakiriyā na bhavissati imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ gilānabhesajjaṁ dātuṁ.

“Again, lord, for a sick monk not getting suitable medicine, his illness would increase or his death would come about. Having taken my medicine for the sick, his illness would not increase and his death would not come about. It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the Saṅgha medicine for the sick for as long as I live.

Puna caparaṁ bhante bhagavatā andhakavinde dasānisaṁseciṇṇena sampassamānena yāgu anuññātā tyāhaṁ bhante ānisaṁse sampassamānā icchāmi saṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ dhuvayāguṁ dātuṁ.

“Again, lord, conjey was allowed by the Blessed One at Andhakavinda with ten benefits in mind. With these benefits in mind I want to give the Saṅgha a steady supply of conjey for as long as I live.

(Mv.VIII.15.11) Idha bhante bhikkhuniyo aciravatiyā nadiyā vesiyāhi saddhiṁ naggā ekatitthe nahāyanti tā bhante vesiyā bhikkhuniyo uppaṇḍesuṁ

“There was the case, lord, when the bhikkhunīs were bathing naked in the Aciravatī River along with the prostitutes, at the same bathing spot. The prostitutes ridiculed the bhikkhunīs,

kinnu kho nāma tumhākaṁ ayye daharānaṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciṇṇe [ME: ciṇṇena] nanu nāma kāmā paribhuñjitabbā yadā jiṇṇā bhavissatha tadā brahmacariyaṁ carissatha evaṁ tumhākaṁ ubho antā [ME: ubho atthā] pariggahitā bhavissantīti

“‘Ladies, why are you living the holy life when you’re young? Shouldn’t you partake in sensuality? When you’re old, then live the holy life. That way both ends will be achieved.’

tā bhante bhikkhuniyo vesiyāhi uppaṇḍiyamānā maṅkū ahesuṁ asuci bhante mātugāmassa naggiyaṁ jegucchaṁ paṭikūlaṁ

“Being ridiculed by the prostitutes, the bhikkhunīs became embarrassed. Lord, the nakedness of a woman is vile, repulsive, and disgusting.

imāhaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamānā icchāmi bhikkhunīsaṅghassa yāvajīvaṁ udakasāṭikaṁ dātunti.

“It is with this purpose in mind that I want to give the bhikkhunī Saṅgha water-bathing cloths for as long as I live.”

(Mv.VIII.15.12) Kiṁ pana tvaṁ visākhe ānisaṁsaṁ sampassamānā tathāgataṁ aṭṭha varāni yācasīti.

“But, Visākhā, with what rewards in mind do you ask the eight boons of the Tathāgata?”

Idha bhante disāsu vassaṁ vutthā bhikkhū sāvatthiṁ āgacchissanti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya

“Here, lord, after the Rains retreat, monks from far away places will come to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One.

te bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchissanti itthannāmo bhante bhikkhu kālakato tassa kā gati ko abhisamparāyoti

“Having arrived, they will ask the Blessed One, ‘Lord, the monk named so-and-so has died. What is his destination, what his future state?’

taṁ bhagavā byākarissati sotāpattiphale vā sakadāgāmiphale vā anāgāmiphale vā arahatte vā

“The Blessed One will answer about him, in terms of the fruit of stream-entry, of once-return, of non-return, or of arahantship.

tyāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchissāmi āgatapubbā nu kho bhante tena ayyena sāvatthīti

“Approaching them, I will ask, ‘Venerable sirs, did the master ever come to Sāvatthī?’

(Mv.VIII.15.13) sace me vakkhanti āgatapubbā tena bhikkhunā sāvatthīti niṭṭhamettha gacchissāmi nissaṁsayaṁ paribhuttā tena ayyena vassikasāṭikā vā āgantukabhattaṁ vā gamikabhattaṁ vā gilānabhattaṁ vā gilānupaṭṭhākabhattaṁ vā gilānabhesajjaṁ vā dhuvayāgu vāti

“If they tell me that he did come to Sāvatthī, then I will come to the conclusion that, ‘Undoubtedly the master used a rains-bathing cloth of mine, or a meal for newcomers, or a meal for those going away, or a meal for the sick, or a meal for those tending the sick, or medicine for the sick, or constant conjey.’

tassā me tadanussarantiyā pāmujjaṁ jāyissati pamuditāya pīti jāyissati pītimanāya kāyo passambhissati passaddhakāyā sukhaṁ vedayissāmi sukhiniyā cittaṁ samādhiyissati

“For me, recollecting that, gladness will be born. When gladdened, rapture will be born. When enraptured at heart, my body will grow calm. My body calm, I will be sensitive to pleasure. When feeling pleasure, the mind will become concentrated.

sā me bhavissati indriyabhāvanā balabhāvanā bojjhaṅgabhāvanā

“That will be the development of my (five) faculties, (five) strengths, and (seven) factors (for Awakening).

imāhaṁ bhante ānisaṁsaṁ sampassamānā tathāgataṁ aṭṭha varāni yācāmīti.

“It is with this reward in mind that I ask the eight boons of the Tathāgata.”

(Mv.VIII.15.14) sādhu sādhu visākhe sādhu kho tvaṁ visākhe imaṁ ānisaṁsaṁ sampassamānā tathāgataṁ aṭṭha varāni yācasi

“Good, good, Visākhā. It’s good that you, with this reward in mind, ask the eight boons of the Tathāgata.

anujānāmi te visākhe aṭṭha varānīti.

“Visākhā, I allow the eight boons.”

athakho bhagavā visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ Imāhi gāthāhi anumodi

Then the Blessed One rejoiced in the merit of Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, with these verses:

[154] Yā annapānaṁ dadatī pamoditā

[ME: dadatippamoditā]

sīlūpapannā sugatassa sāvikā

dadāti dānaṁ abhibhuyya maccharaṁ

sovaggikaṁ sokanudaṁ sukhāvahaṁ

“She who gives food and drink —

joyful, possessed of virtue,

a female disciple of the Well-gone One —

having conquered stinginess,

gives a gift

conducive to heaven,

dispelling sorrow,

bringing happiness.

dibbaṁ balaṁ sā labhate ca āyuṁ

āgamma maggaṁ virajaṁ anaṅgaṇaṁ

sā puññakāmā sukhinī anāmayā

saggamhi kāyamhi ciraṁ pamodatīti.

She gains heavenly strength and life,

by means of a dustless, flawless path.

Desiring merit,

happy, free from affliction,

she rejoices long,

in the heavenly hosts.”

[155] athakho bhagavā visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ imāhi gāthāhi anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

Then the Blessed One, having rejoiced in the merit of Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, with these verses, got up from his seat and left.

(Mv.VIII.15.15) athakho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi

Then the Blessed One, having given a Dhamma talk with regard to this cause, to this incident, addressed the monks:

anujānāmi bhikkhave vassikasāṭikaṁ āgantukabhattaṁ gamikabhattaṁ gilānabhattaṁ gilānupaṭṭhākabhattaṁ gilānabhesajjaṁ dhuvayāguṁ bhikkhunīsaṅghassa udakasāṭikanti.

“Monks, I allow rains-bathing cloths, meals for newcomers, meals for those going away, meals for the sick, meals for those tending the sick, medicine for the sick, constant conjey, and for the Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs, water bathing-cloths.” [BMC]

Visākhābhāṇavāraṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The recitation section on Visākhā is finished.

Notes

1.
i.e. after noon, when he can’t eat.
2.
It is not specified who misses his meal here, but it seems to make more sense that it is the sick monk, as the attendant is late because he is “searching for his own meal.” However, in the Thai translation, it is the attendant who has to miss his meal.
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