Raṭṭhapālasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 82

With Raṭṭhapāla · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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dear mother and father“ammatātā, asyathā as Iyathāhaṁ by the Blessed Onebhagavatā the teachingdhammaṁ taughtdesitaṁ I understandājānāmi, not·thisnayidaṁ easysukaraṁ houseagāraṁ while livingajjhāvasatā completely perfectekantaparipuṇṇaṁ completely pureekantaparisuddhaṁ polished like a shellsaṅkhalikhitaṁ holy lifebrahmacariyaṁ to leadcarituṁ.
wish + IIcchāmahaṁ hair and beardkesamassuṁ having removedohāretvā ochrekāsāyāni robesvatthāni having put onacchādetvā from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ to go forthpabbajituṁ.
allowAnujānātha memaṁ from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāyā”ti.
for a third timeTatiyampi indeedkho of Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālassa of the son of a good familykulaputtassa mother and fathermātāpitaro to Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālaṁ son of a good familykulaputtaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
you are“tvaṁ you are indeedkhosi, deartāta Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, ouramhākaṁ only sonekaputtako dearpiyo belovedmanāpo raised in comfortsukhedhito reared in luxurysukhaparibhato.
notNa youtvaṁ, deartāta Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of anyonekassaci of sufferingdukkhassa you knowjānāsi.
even by deathMaraṇenapi of youte wemayaṁ unwillingakāmakā withoutvinā we will bebhavissāma.
whatKiṁ thenpana wemayaṁ youtaṁ while livingjīvantaṁ we should allowanujānissāma from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāyā”ti?
thenAtha indeedkho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo son of a good familykulaputto:
not“na memaṁ mother and fathermātāpitaro do not allowanujānanti from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāyā”ti right theretattheva on the bareanantarahitāya groundbhūmiyā he lay downnipajji:
right here“idheva myme deathmaraṇaṁ will bebhavissati going forthpabbajjā orvā”ti.

Then Raṭṭhapāla thought, “My parents don’t allow me to go forth.” He laid down right there on the bare ground, saying, “I’ll either die right here or go forth.”

thenAtha indeedkho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo clan·sonkulaputto one·evenekampi mealbhattaṁ notna atebhuñji, two·evendvepi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji, three·eventīṇipi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji, four·evencattāripi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji, five·evenpañcapi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji, six·evenchapi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji, seven·evensattapi mealsbhattāni notna atebhuñji.

And he refused to eat, up to the seventh meal.

Then Raṭṭhapāla’s parents said to him, “Dear Raṭṭhapāla, you’re our only child. You’re dear to us and we love you. You’re pampered and raised in comfort. You know nothing of suffering. When you die we will lose you against our wishes. So how can we allow you to go forth from lay life to homelessness while you’re still living? Get up, Raṭṭhapāla! Eat, drink, and amuse yourself. While enjoying sensual pleasures, delight in making merit. We don’t allow you to go forth. When you die we will lose you against our wishes. So how can we allow you to go forth while you’re still alive?” When they said this, Raṭṭhapāla kept silent. For a second time,

third·tooTatiyampi indeedkho of Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālassa clan·sonkulaputtassa mother·fathermātāpitaro to Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālaṁ clan·sonkulaputtaṁ this·saidetadavocuṁ:
you“tvaṁ are indeedkhosi, deartāta Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, ouramhākaṁ one·sonekaputtako dearpiyo lovelymanāpo raised in happinesssukhedhito nurtured in happinesssukhaparibhato.
notNa youtvaṁ, deartāta Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of anykassaci sufferingdukkhassa you knowjānāsi.
death·evenMaraṇenapi of youte wemayaṁ not·willingakāmakā withoutvinā we will bebhavissāma, howkiṁ thenpana wemayaṁ youtaṁ livingjīvantaṁ along·allowanujānissāma from homeagārasmā not·homeanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāya.
get upUṭṭhehi, deartāta Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, eatbhuñja andca drinkpiva andca around·moveparicārehi andca;
eatingbhuñjanto drinkingpivanto around·enjoyingparicārento sensual pleasureskāme around·indulgingparibhuñjanto meritspuññāni makingkaronto delightabhiramassu.
notNa youtaṁ wemayaṁ along·allowanujānāma from homeagārasmā not·homeanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāya.
death·evenMaraṇenapi of youte wemayaṁ not·willingakāmakā withoutvinā we will bebhavissāma.
howKiṁ thenpana wemayaṁ youtaṁ livingjīvantaṁ along·allowanujānissāma from homeagārasmā not·homeanagāriyaṁ for going forthpabbajjāyā”ti?

and a third time, Raṭṭhapāla’s parents made the same request.

third·againTatiyampi indeedkho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo clan·sonkulaputto silenttuṇhī wasahosi.

And for a third time, Raṭṭhapāla kept silent. Raṭṭhapāla’s parents then went to see his friends. They told them of the situation and asked for their help.

thenAtha indeedkho of Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālassa of the clansmankulaputtassa friendssahāyakā whereyena Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo clansmankulaputto him·approachedtenupasaṅkamiṁsu; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālaṁ clansmankulaputtaṁ this·saidetadavocuṁ:
you“tvaṁ you arekhosi, dearsamma Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of your parentsmātāpitūnaṁ only sonekaputtako dearpiyo belovedmanāpo raised in comfortsukhedhito pamperedsukhaparibhato.
notNa youtvaṁ, dearsamma Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of anykassaci of sufferingdukkhassa you knowjānāsi.
even through deathMaraṇenapi yourte parentsmātāpitaro against their wishesakāmakā withoutvinā they will bebhavissanti.
howKiṁ thenpana yourte youtaṁ livingjīvantaṁ along·knowanujānissanti from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ to going forthpabbajjāya.
get upUṭṭhehi, dearsamma Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, eatbhuñja andca drinkpiva andca amuse yourselfparicārehi andca;
eatingbhuñjanto drinkingpivanto amusing yourselfparicārento sensual pleasureskāme around·enjoyparibhuñjanto meritspuññāni makingkaronto delightabhiramassu.
notNa youtaṁ parentsmātāpitaro along·knowanujānissanti from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ to going forthpabbajjāya.
even through deathMaraṇenapi yourte parentsmātāpitaro against their wishesakāmakā withoutvinā they will bebhavissanti.
howKiṁ thenpana yourte youtaṁ livingjīvantaṁ along·knowanujānissanti from homeagārasmā homelessnessanagāriyaṁ going-forth·quote-markerpabbajjāyā”ti?
thusEvaṁ saidvutte, Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo clansmankulaputto silenttuṇhī he wasahosi.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho ……

Then Raṭṭhapāla’s friends went to him and said, “Our dear Raṭṭhapāla, you are your parents’ only child. You’re dear to them and they love you. You’re pampered and raised in comfort. You know nothing of suffering. When you die your parents will lose you against their wishes. So how can they allow you to go forth while you’re still alive? Get up, Raṭṭhapāla! Eat, drink, and amuse yourself. While enjoying sensual pleasures, delight in making merit. Your parents will not allow you to go forth. Even when you die your parents will lose you against their wishes. So how can they allow you to go forth while you’re still alive?” When they said this, Raṭṭhapāla kept silent. For a second time …

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