MN87: Piyajātikasutta - Born From the Beloved
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Now on that occasion a certain householder's dear and beloved only son had died. After his son's death, he had no more desire to work or to eat. He kept going to the charnel ground and crying: "My only son, where are you? My only son, where are you?"
Then that householder went to the Blessed One, and after paying homage to him, sat down at one side. The Blessed One said to him: "Householder, your faculties are not those of one in control of his own mind. Your faculties are deranged."
"How could my faculties not be deranged, venerable sir? For my dear and beloved only son has died. Since he died I have no more desire to work or to eat. I keep going to the charnel ground and crying: ‘My only son, where are you? My only son, where are you?’"
"So it is, householder, so it is! Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear."
"Venerable sir, who would ever think that sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear? Venerable sir, happiness and joy are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear." Then, displeased with the Blessed One's words, disapproving of them, the householder rose from his seat and left.
2Now on that occasion some gamblers were playing with dice not far from the Blessed One. Then the householder went to those gamblers and said: "Just now, sirs, I went to the recluse Gotama, and after paying homage to him, I sat down at one side. When I had done so, the recluse Gotama said to me: ‘Householder, your faculties are not those of one in control of his own mind.’ … repeat the entire conversation as above … ‘Venerable sir, happiness and joy are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.’ Then, displeased with the recluse Gotama's words, disapproving of them, I rose from my seat and left."
"So it is, householder, so it is! Happiness and joy are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear."
Then the householder left thinking: "I agree with the gamblers."
Eventually this story reached the king's palace.
3Then King Pasenadi of Kosala told Queen Mallikā: "This is what has been said by the recluse Gotama, Mallikā: ‘Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.’"
"If that has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so."
"No matter what the recluse Gotama says, Mallikā applauds it thus: ‘If that has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so.’ Just as a pupil applauds whatever his teacher says to him, saying: ‘So it is, teacher, so it is!’; so too, Mallikā, no matter what the recluse Gotama says, you applaud it thus: ‘If that has been said by the Blessed One, sire, then it is so.’ Be off, Mallikā, away with you!"
4Then Queen Mallikā addressed the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha: "Come, brahmin, go to the Blessed One and pay homage in my name with your head at his feet, and ask whether he is free from illness and affliction and is healthy, strong, and abiding in comfort, saying: ‘Venerable sir, Queen Mallikā pays homage with her head at the Blessed One's feet and asks whether the Blessed One is free from illness … and abiding in comfort.’ Then say this: ‘Venerable sir, have these words been uttered by the Blessed One: "Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear"?’ Learn well what the Blessed One replies and report it to me; for Tathāgatas do not speak untruth."
"Yes, madam," he replied, and he went to the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him. When this courteous and amiable talk was finished, he sat down at one side and said: "Master Gotama, Queen Mallikā pays homage with her head at Master Gotama's feet and asks whether he is free from illness … and abiding in comfort. And she says this: ‘Venerable sir, have these words been spoken by the Blessed One: "Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear"?’"
5"So it is, brahmin, so it is! Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.
"It can be understood from this, brahmin, how sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear. Once in this same Sāvatthī there was a certain woman whose mother died. Owing to her mother's death, she went mad, lost her mind, and wandered from street to street and from crossroad to crossroad, saying: ‘Have you seen my mother? Have you seen my mother?’
"And it can also be understood from this how sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.
6Once in this same Sāvatthī there was a certain woman whose father died … whose brother died … whose sister died … whose son died … whose daughter died … whose husband died. Owing to her husband's death, she went mad, lost her mind, and wandered from street to street and from crossroad to crossroad, saying: ‘Have you seen my husband? Have you seen my husband?’
"And it can also be understood from this how sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.
7Once in this same Sāvatthī there was a certain man whose mother died …
8… whose father died … whose brother died … whose sister died … whose son died … whose daughter died … whose wife died. Owing to his wife's death, he went mad, lost his mind, and wandered from street to street and from crossroad to crossroad, saying: ‘Have you seen my wife? Have you seen my wife?’
"And it can also be understood from this how sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.
9Once in this same Sāvatthī there was a certain woman who went to live with her relatives’ family. Her relatives wanted to divorce her from her husband and give her to another whom she did not want. Then the woman said to her husband: ‘Lord, these relatives of mine want to divorce me from you and give me to another whom I do not want.’ Then the man cut the woman in two and disemboweled himself, thinking: ‘We shall be together in the after-life. ’ It can also be understood from this how sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear."
10Then, delighting and rejoicing in the Blessed One's words, the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha rose from his seat, went to Queen Mallikā, and reported to her his entire conversation with the Blessed One. Then Queen Mallikā went to King Pasenadi of Kosala and asked him:
11"What do you think, sire? Is Princess Vajīrī dear to you?"
"Yes, Mallikā, Princess Vajīrī is dear to me."
"What do you think, sire? If change and alteration[n.828] The expression is often used to mean serious illness and death. took place in Princess Vajīrī, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair arise in you?"
"Change and alteration in Princess Vajīrī would mean an alteration in my life. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair not arise in me?"
"It was with reference to this, sire, that the Blessed One who knows and sees, accomplished and fully enlightened, said: ‘Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.’
12–14"What do you think, sire? Is the noble Queen Vāsabhā dear to you? … Is General Viḍūḍabha dear to you? … … Am I dear to you? …
15… Are Kāsi and Kosala dear to you?"[n.829] Viḍūḍabha was the king's son, who eventually overthrew him. Kāsi and Kosala are lands over which the king ruled.
"Yes, Mallikā, Kāsi and Kosala are dear to me. We owe it to Kāsi and Kosala that we use Kāsi sandalwood and wear garlands, scents, and unguents."
"What do you think, sire? If change and alteration took place in Kāsi and Kosala, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair arise in you?"
"Change and alteration in Kāsi and Kosala would mean an alteration in my life. How could sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair not arise in me?"
"It was with reference to this, sire, that the Blessed One who knows and sees, accomplished and fully enlightened, said: ‘Sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are born from those who are dear, arise from those who are dear.’"
16"It is wonderful, Mallikā, it is marvellous how far the Blessed One penetrates with wisdom and sees with wisdom! Come, Mallikā, give me the ablution water."[n.830] MA: He used this to wash his hands and feet and clean his mouth before saluting the Buddha.
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala rose from his seat, and arranging his upper robe on one shoulder, he extended his hands in reverential salutation towards the Blessed One and uttered this exclamation three times:
17"Honour to the Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened!
18Honour to the Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened!
19Honour to the Blessed One, accomplished and fully enlightened!"
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa gahapatissa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti. Tassa kālaṁkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. So āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandati: "kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā"ti.
Atha kho so gahapati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ gahapatiṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan"ti.
"Kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati; mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputto piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tassa kālaṁkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi: ‘kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’"ti.
"Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā"ti.
"Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti? Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā"ti. Atha kho so gahapati bhagavato bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.
2Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā akkhadhuttā bhagavato avidūre akkhehi dibbanti. Atha kho so gahapati yena te akkhadhuttā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā akkhadhutte etadavoca: "Idhāhaṁ, bhonto, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁ. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho maṁ, bhonto, samaṇo gotamo etadavoca: ‘Na kho te, gahapati, sake citte ṭhitassa indriyāni, atthi te indriyānaṁ aññathattan’ti. Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhonto, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘kiñhi me, bhante, indriyānaṁ nāññathattaṁ bhavissati; mayhañhi, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tassa kālaṅkiriyāya neva kammantā paṭibhanti, na bhattaṁ paṭibhāti. Sohaṁ āḷāhanaṁ gantvā kandāmi — kahaṁ, ekaputtaka, kahaṁ, ekaputtakā’ti. ‘Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti. ‘Kassa kho nāmetaṁ, bhante, evaṁ bhavissati — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā? Piyajātikā hi kho, bhante, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā’ti. Atha khvāhaṁ, bhonto, samaṇassa gotamassa bhāsitaṁ anabhinanditvā paṭikkositvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamin"ti.
"Evametaṁ, gahapati, evametaṁ, gahapati. Piyajātikā hi, gahapati, ānandasomanassā piyappabhavikā"ti.
Atha kho so gahapati "sameti me akkhadhuttehī"ti pakkāmi.
Atha kho idaṁ kathāvatthu anupubbena rājantepuraṁ pāvisi.
3Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ āmantesi: "Idaṁ te, mallike, samaṇena gotamena bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
"Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ, evametan"ti.
"Evameva panāyaṁ mallikā yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodati: ‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti. Seyyathāpi nāma, yaññadeva ācariyo antevāsissa bhāsati taṁ tadevassa antevāsī abbhanumodati: ‘evametaṁ, ācariya, evametaṁ, ācariyā’ti. Evameva kho tvaṁ, mallike, yaññadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsati taṁ tadevassa abbhanumodasi: ‘Sacetaṁ, mahārāja, bhagavatā bhāsitaṁ evametan’ti. Cara pire, mallike, vinassā"ti.
4Atha kho mallikā devī nāḷijaṅghaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘mallikā, bhante, devī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti; evañca vadehi: ‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti. Yathā te bhagavā byākaroti taṁ sādhukaṁ uggahetvā mama āroceyyāsi. Na hi tathāgatā vitathaṁ bhaṇantī"ti.
"Evaṁ, bhotī"ti kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo mallikāya deviyā paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "mallikā, bho gotama, devī bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati; appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati; evañca vadeti: ‘bhāsitā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā esā vācā — piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
5"Evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evametaṁ, brāhmaṇa. Piyajātikā hi, brāhmaṇa, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
Tadamināpetaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā. Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā mātā kālamakāsi. Sā tassā kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
6Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarissā itthiyā pitā kālamakāsi … bhātā kālamakāsi … bhaginī kālamakāsi … putto kālamakāsi … dhītā kālamakāsi … sāmiko kālamakāsi. Sā tassa kālakiriyāya ummattikā khittacittā rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me sāmikaṁ addassatha, api me sāmikaṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
7Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa mātā kālamakāsi. So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me mātaraṁ addassatha, api me mātaraṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
8Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarassa purisassa pitā kālamakāsi … bhātā kālamakāsi … bhaginī kālamakāsi … putto kālamakāsi … dhītā kālamakāsi … pajāpati kālamakāsi. So tassā kālakiriyāya ummattako khittacitto rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evamāha: ‘api me pajāpatiṁ addassatha, api me pajāpatiṁ addassathā’ti?
Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikāti.
9Bhūtapubbaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññatarā itthī ñātikulaṁ agamāsi. Tassā te ñātakā sāmikaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā. Sā ca taṁ na icchati. Atha kho sā itthī sāmikaṁ etadavoca: ‘ime, maṁ, ayyaputta, ñātakā tvaṁ acchinditvā aññassa dātukāmā. Ahañca taṁ na icchāmī’ti. Atha kho so puriso taṁ itthiṁ dvidhā chetvā attānaṁ upphālesi: ‘ubho pecca bhavissāmā’ti. Imināpi kho etaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā"ti.
10Atha kho nāḷijaṅgho brāhmaṇo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena mallikā devī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ mallikāya deviyā ārocesi. Atha kho mallikā devī yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca:
11"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te vajirī kumārī"ti?
"Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vajirī kumārī"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vajiriyā te kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Vajiriyā me, mallike, kumāriyā vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
12Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te vāsabhā khattiyā"ti? "Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me vāsabhā khattiyā"ti. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, vāsabhāya te khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Vāsabhāya me, mallike, khattiyāya vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
13Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyo te viṭaṭūbho senāpatī"ti? "Evaṁ, mallike, piyo me viṭaṭūbho senāpatī"ti. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, viṭaṭūbhassa te senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Viṭaṭūbhassa me, mallike, senāpatissa vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
14Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te ahan"ti? "Evaṁ, mallike, piyā mesi tvan"ti. "Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, mayhaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Tuyhañhi me, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti? "Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’ti.
15Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, piyā te kāsikosalā"ti?
"Evaṁ, mallike, piyā me kāsikosalā. Kāsikosalānaṁ, mallike, ānubhāvena kāsikacandanaṁ paccanubhoma, mālāgandhavilepanaṁ dhāremā"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, kāsikosalānaṁ te vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjeyyuṁ sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Kāsikosalānañhi, mallike, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā jīvitassapi siyā aññathattaṁ, kiṁ pana me na uppajjissanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā"ti?
"Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ: ‘piyajātikā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā piyappabhavikā’"ti.
16"Acchariyaṁ, mallike, abbhutaṁ, mallike. Yāvañca so bhagavā paññāya ativijjha maññe passati. Ehi, mallike, ācamehī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
17"Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
18Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
19Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassā"ti.
Piyajātikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.