Ghaṭikārasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 81

With Ghaṭīkāra · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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may he accept‘adhivāsetu from meme, sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā for tomorrowsvātanāya mealbhattaṁ together withsaddhiṁ with the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghenā’ti.
consentedAdhivāsesi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kassapakassapo the Blessed Onebhagavā the Arahantarahaṁ the Perfectly Enlightened Onesammāsambuddho with silencetuṇhībhāvena.

‘Sir, would the Buddha together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?’ The Buddha Kassapa consented with silence.

thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī king of Kāsikāsirājā of Kassapakassapassa of the Blessed Onebhagavato of the Perfectly Enlightened Onesammāsambuddhassa consentadhivāsanaṁ having knownviditvā rose from his seatuṭṭhāyāsanā Kassapakassapaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ the Arahantarahantaṁ the Perfectly Enlightened Onesammāsambuddhaṁ having bowed downabhivādetvā keeping on the rightpadakkhiṇaṁ having donekatvā he departedpakkāmi.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, King Kikī rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī king of Kāsikāsirājā of thattassā of the nightrattiyā by the passingaccayena in his ownsake residencenivesane excellentpaṇītaṁ hard foodkhādanīyaṁ soft foodbhojanīyaṁ having had preparedpaṭiyādāpetvā of soft saffron ricepaṇḍupuṭakassa of ricesālino with dark grains removedvigatakāḷakaṁ with many soupsanekasūpaṁ with many saucesanekabyañjanaṁ, of Kassapakassapassa of the Blessed Onebhagavato of the Arahantarahato of the Perfectly Awakened Onesammāsambuddhassa the timekālaṁ he had informedārocāpesi:
time‘kālo, sirbhante, is finishedniṭṭhitaṁ the mealbhattan’ti.

And when the night had passed, King Kikī had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home—soft saffron rice with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, ‘Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.’

thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kassapakassapo Blessed Onebhagavā perfected onearahaṁ fully awakened onesammāsambuddho in the morningpubbaṇhasamayaṁ having robed upnivāsetvā taking bowl and robepattacīvaramādāya whereyena of Kikīkikissa of the Kāsi kingkāsirañño homenivesanaṁ he approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā preparedpaññatte on the seatāsane sat downnisīdi together withsaddhiṁ with the Saṅgha of mendicantsbhikkhusaṅghena.
thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī the Kāsi kingkāsirājā headed by the Buddhabuddhappamukhaṁ the mendicant Saṅghabhikkhusaṅghaṁ with deliciouspaṇītena fresh foodskhādanīyena cooked foodsbhojanīyena with his own handssahatthā servedsantappesi satisfiedsampavāresi.
thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī the Kāsi kingkāsirājā Kassapakassapaṁ Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ perfected onearahantaṁ fully awakened onesammāsambuddhaṁ having eatenbhuttāviṁ having washed hand and bowlonītapattapāṇiṁ a certainaññataraṁ lownīcaṁ seatāsanaṁ having takengahetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi.
to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī the Kāsi kingkāsirājā Kassapakassapaṁ Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ perfected onearahantaṁ fully awakened onesammāsambuddhaṁ said this to himetadavoca:
please accept‘adhivāsetu myme, sirbhante, Blessed Onebhagavā in Varanasibārāṇasiyaṁ the rainy season residencevassāvāsaṁ;
of such kindevarūpaṁ for the Saṅghasaṅghassa attendanceupaṭṭhānaṁ it will bebhavissatī’ti.
enough‘Alaṁ, Great Kingmahārāja.
acceptedAdhivuttho by meme the rains residencevassāvāso’ti.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda ……
for a third timetatiyampi indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī the Kāsi kingkāsirājā Kassapakassapaṁ Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ perfected onearahantaṁ fully awakened onesammāsambuddhaṁ said this to himetadavoca:
please accept‘adhivāsetu myme, sirbhante, Blessed Onebhagavā in Varanasibārāṇasiyaṁ the rainy season residencevassāvāsaṁ;

Then Kassapa Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of King Kikī, where he sat down on the seat spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. Then King Kikī served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha Kassapa had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, King Kikī took a low seat and sat to one side. There he said to the Buddha Kassapa, ‘Sir, would the Buddha please accept my invitation to reside in Varanasi for the rainy season? The Saṅgha will be looked after in the same style.’ ‘Enough, Great King. I have already accepted an invitation for the rains residence.’ For a second time … and a third time King Kikī said to the Buddha Kassapa, ‘Sir, would the Buddha please accept my invitation to reside in Varanasi for the rainy season?

suchevarūpaṁ for the Saṅghasaṅghassa attendanceupaṭṭhānaṁ will bebhavissatī’ti.
enough‘Alaṁ, great kingmahārāja.
acceptedAdhivuttho by meme rains residencevassāvāso’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, of Kikīkikissa of the king of Kāsikāsirañño not‘na for meme Kassapakassapo the Blessed Onebhagavā the worthy onearahaṁ the fully awakened onesammāsambuddho acceptsadhivāseti in Varanasibārāṇasiyaṁ for the rains residencevassāvāsan’ti there was indeedahudeva dejectionaññathattaṁ, there wasahu sadnessdomanassaṁ.
thenAtha indeedkho, Ānandaānanda, Kikīkikī king of Kāsikāsirājā to Kassapakassapaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ the worthy onearahantaṁ the fully awakened onesammāsambuddhaṁ said thisetadavoca:
there is‘atthi thennu indeedkho, sirbhante, otherañño anykoci than memayā a better supporterupaṭṭhākataro’ti?

The Saṅgha will be looked after in the same style.’ ‘Enough, Great King. I have already accepted an invitation for the rains residence.’ Then King Kikī, thinking, ‘The Buddha does not accept my invitation to reside for the rains in Varanasi,’ became sad and upset. Then King Kikī said to the Buddha Kassapa, ‘Sir, do you have another supporter better than me?’

there is‘Atthi, great kingmahārāja, Vebhaliṅgavegaḷiṅgaṁ namednāma market towngāmanigamo.
thereTattha Ghaṭīkāraghaṭikāro namednāma potterkumbhakāro;
heso myme supporterupaṭṭhāko chief supporteraggupaṭṭhāko.
for youTuyhaṁ indeedkho butpana, great kingmahārāja, notna myme Kassapakassapo the Blessed Onebhagavā perfected onearahaṁ fully awakened onesammāsambuddho acceptsadhivāseti in Varanasibārāṇasiyaṁ rains residencevassāvāsanti there was justattheva sadnessaññathattaṁ, there isatthi upsetdomanassaṁ.
thatTayidaṁ for Ghaṭīkāraghaṭikārassa for the potterkumbhakārassa there is notnatthi andca notna andca will bebhavissati.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro to the Buddhabuddhaṁ as refugesaraṇaṁ gonegato, to the teachingdhammaṁ as refugesaraṇaṁ gonegato, to the Saṅghasaṅghaṁ as refugesaraṇaṁ gonegato.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā refrainedpaṭivirato, from taking what is not givenadinnādānā refrainedpaṭivirato, from sexual misconductkāmesumicchācārā refrainedpaṭivirato, from false speechmusāvādā refrainedpaṭivirato, from intoxicants causing heedlessnesssurāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā refrainedpaṭivirato.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro in the Buddhabuddhe with experiential confidenceaveccappasādena endowedsamannāgato, in the teachingdhamme with experiential confidenceaveccappasādena endowedsamannāgato, in the Saṅghasaṅghe with experiential confidenceaveccappasādena endowedsamannāgato, loved by the noble onesariyakantehi with ethicssīlehi endowedsamannāgato.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro regarding sufferingdukkhe free of doubtnikkaṅkho, regarding the origin of sufferingdukkhasamudaye free of doubtnikkaṅkho, regarding the cessation of sufferingdukkhanirodhe free of doubtnikkaṅkho, of the practice leading to the cessation of sufferingdukkhanirodhagāminiyā regarding the practicepaṭipadāya free of doubtnikkaṅkho.

‘Great king, there is a market town named Vebhaliṅga, where there is a potter named Ghaṭīkāra. He is my chief supporter. Now, Great King, when you thought, “The Buddha does not accept my invitation to reside for the rains in Varanasi,” you became sad and upset. But Ghaṭīkāra doesn’t get upset, nor will he. Ghaṭīkāra has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. He doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. He has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and possesses the ethics loved by the noble ones. He is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.

GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro eating one mealekabhattiko chastebrahmacārī ethicalsīlavā of good characterkalyāṇadhammo.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro has set aside gems and goldnikkhittamaṇisuvaṇṇo quit using gold and currencyapetajātarūparajato.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro has put down the shovelpannamusalo notna with his own handssahatthā the earthpathaviṁ digskhaṇati.
whatYaṁ ishoti crumbled off by a riverbankkūlapaluggaṁ orvā dug up by micemūsikukkaro orvā thattaṁ in a carrierkājena having broughtāharitvā a potbhājanaṁ having madekaritvā he says thusevamāha:
here“ettha whoyo wishesicchati bagged sesametaṇḍulapaṭibhastāni orvā bagged mung beansmuggapaṭibhastāni orvā bagged chickpeaskaḷāyapaṭibhastāni orvā having depositednikkhipitvā whatyaṁ wishesicchati thattaṁ let him takeharatū”ti.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro blindandhe oldjiṇṇe mother and fathermātāpitaro provided forposeti.
GhaṭīkāraGhaṭikāro indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, potterkumbhakāro of the fivepañcannaṁ lowerorambhāgiyānaṁ fetterssaṁyojanānaṁ from the endingparikkhayā reborn spontaneouslyopapātiko theretattha will become extinguishedparinibbāyī not liable to returnanāvattidhammo from thattasmā worldlokā.

He eats in one part of the day; he’s chaste, ethical, and of good character. He has set aside gems and gold, and quit using gold and currency. He has put down the shovel and doesn’t dig the earth with his own hands. He takes what has crumbled off by a riverbank or been dug up by mice, and brings it back in a carrier. When he has made a pot, he says, “Anyone may leave bagged sesame, mung beans, or chickpeas here and take what they wish.” He provided for his blind old parents. And since he has ended the five lower fetters, Ghaṭīkāra will be reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.

This one time, Great King, I was staying near the market town of Vebhaliṅga. Then I robed up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, went to the home of Ghaṭīkāra’s parents, where I said to them, “Excuse me, where has Bhaggava gone?” “Your supporter has gone out, sir. But take rice from the pot and sauce from the pan and eat.” So that’s what I did. And after eating I rose from my seat and left. Then Ghaṭīkāra went up to his parents and said, “Who took rice from the pot and sauce from the pan, ate it, and left?” “It was the Buddha Kassapa, my dear.” Then Ghaṭīkāra thought,

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