Mahavogga 6.34

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Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

MAHAVAGGA

SIXTH KHANDHAKA(ON MEDICAMENTS)

Chapter-34.

1. Now at that time in Bhaddiya-nagara there dwelt a householder named Mendaka (the Goat), who was possessed of this miraculous power: When he had bathed his head, and had had his granary swept out, he could sit outside and fill the granary

by making showers of grain fall down from the sky. His wife was possessed of this miraculous power: When she sat down beside a pint pot and vessel for curry and sauce she could serve the serving men with food; and so long as she did not get up, it was not exhausted. Their son was possessed of this miraculous power: He could take a bag containing a thousand, and give to each serving man six months' wages; and so long as he held it in his hand, it was not exhausted.

2. Their daughter-in-law was possessed of this miraculous power.: When she sat down beside a four-bushel basket she could give six months' rice to the serving men; and so long as she did not get up, it was not exhausted. Their slave was possessed of this miraculous power: When he ploughed with one plough-share seven furrows were formed.

3, 4. Now the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisara heard: 'In Bhaddiya-nagara in our kingdom there dwells, they say, a householder named Mendaka, who is possessed (&c., as in §§-1, 2, down to the end).'

5. Then the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisara said to a certain minister who had charge of general affairs: 'They say, good Sir, that in Bhaddiya-nagara (&c., as above). Go, good Sir, and find out about this. When you have seen it, it shall be the same as if I myself had seen it.'

'Even so, Lord,' said that minister, in assent, to the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisara, and he set out for Bhaddiya-nagara with his fourfold host.

6. And proceeding straight on he came to Bhaddiya-nagara, and to the place where the householder

Mendaka the was; householder Mendaka a 'I have there, said to received command from the king, "They say, good Sir (&c., as above, S 5)." Let us behold, O householder, your miraculous power.'

Then Mendaka the householder bathed his head, and had his granary swept out, and sat down outside it. And showers of grain fell down from the sky and filled the granary.

'I have seen, O householder, your miraculous power. Let us see that of your wife.'

7. Then Mendaka the householder gave command to his wife, 'Serve then the fourfold host with food.'

And the wife of Mendaka the householder took her seat beside a pint pot and a vessel of sauces and curry, and served the fourfold host with food; and until she rose up it was not exhausted.

'I have seen, O householder, the miraculous power of your wife. Let us see that of your son.'

8. Then Mendaka the householder gave command to his son, 'Pay then, my dear boy, six months' wages to the fourfold host.'

And the son of Mendaka the householder took one bag containing a thousand, and paid the four-fold army six months' wages. And so long as he held it in his hand, it was not exhausted.

'I have seen, O householder, the miraculous power of your son. Let us see that of your daughter-in-law.'

9. Then Mendaka the householder gave command to his daughter-in-law, 'Give, then, six months' rice to the fourfold host.'

And the daughter-in-law of Mendaka the householder

sat down beside one four-bushel basket, and provided the fourfold host with six months' rice. And so long as she did not get up, it was not exhausted.

'I have seen, O householder, the miraculous power of your daughter-in-law. Let us see that of your slave.'

'The miraculous power of my slave, Sir, must be seen in the field.'

'It is enough, O householder. I have seen the miraculous power of your slave.'

Then that minister returned again to Rajagaha with his fourfold host, and went to the place where the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisara was, and when he had come there he told the matter to the Magadha king Seniya Bimbisara.

10. Now the Lord Buddha, when he had remained at Veshali as long as he thought fit, went on his way to Bhaddiya with a great company of Bhikkhus, with one thousand two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus. And the Lord Buddha wandering straight on arrived at Bhaddiya. And there the Lord Buddha stayed in the Gatiyavana.

11. And Mendaka the householder heard: 'Behold, that Samana Gotama(Buddha), of the Sakya clan, who left the Sakya tribe to adopt the dhamma life, is now arrived at Bhaddiya and is staying in the Gatiyavana. Now regarding that venerable Gotama, such is the high reputation that has been noised abroad that he is said to be a fully-enlightened one, benevolent, and worthy, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed, who guides men as a driver curbs a bullock, a teacher of gods and men, a Great Buddha. He by himself thoroughly understands, and sees, as it

were face to face, this universe, the world with its Devas, and with its Brahmas; and with its Maras, and all creatures, Samanas(monks) and Brahmanas(priests), gods and men: and he then makes that knowledge known to others. The truth doth he make known, both in the spirit and in the letter: lovely in its origin, lovely in its progress, lovely in its consummation. The higher life doth he proclaim, in all its purity and all its perfectness. benevolent is the sight of Arahats like that.'

12. Then Mendaka the householder had a number of splendid carriages made ready, and mounting one of them he set out from Bhaddiya with the train of splendid carriages to visit the Lord Buddha.

And many Titthiyas saw Mendaka the householder as he was coming from afar; .and when-they had seen him, they said to Mendaka the householder:

'Where, O householder, are you going?'

'I am going, Sirs, to visit the Lord Buddha, the Samana Gotama(Buddha).'

'But why, O householder, do you, being a Kiriya-vada, go out to visit the Lord Buddha who is an Akiriya-vada? For, O householder, the Samana Gotama, who is an Akiriya-vada, teaches Dhamma without the doctrine of action, and in this Dhamma he instructs his hearers.'

13. Then thought Mendaka the householder: 'For a certainty that Lord Buddha must be an Arahat Buddha: since these Titthiyas are so jealous of him.' And he went on to the place where the Lord Buddha was, proceeding in the carriage as far

as the ground was passable for carriages, and then dismounting from the carriage, and going on foot. And when he had come there, he bowed down before the Lord Buddha, and took his seat on one side.

And when he was so seated the Lord Buddha preached (&c., as usual, for instance, I, 8, 2; 3, down to:) 'taken his refuge in him.'

'May the Lord Buddha consent to take his meal, together with the Bhikkhu-sangha, at my house to-morrow.'

The Lord Buddha consented by remaining silent.

14. Then Mendaka the householder when he saw that the Lord Buddha had consented (&c., as usual, see VI, 18, 1, 2, down to:) sat down on the seat prepared for him.

15. Then the wife, and the son, and the daughter-in-law, and the slave of Mendaka the householder went to the place where the Lord Buddha was: and when they had come there they bowed down before the Lord Buddha and took their seats on one side.

And the Lord Buddha preached to them (&c., as in §-13, down to:) 'taken their refuge in him.'

16. Then Mendaka the householder served the Bhikkhu-sangha with the Buddha at their head (&c., as usual, down to:) sat down on one side.

And when he was so seated Mendaka the householder said to the Lord Buddha: 'So long as the Lord Buddha shall stay at Bhaddiya, so long will I provide the Bhikkhu-sangha with the Buddha at their head with food every day.'

Then the Lord Buddha gladdened (&c., as usual, down to:) the Lord Buddha rose from his seat, and went away.

17. Now when the Lord Buddha had remained

at Bhaddiya as long as he thought fit, he went on, without informing Mendaka the householder, to Anguttarapa with a great company of Bhikkhus(Monks), with one thousand two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus.

And Mendaka the householder heard: 'The Lord Buddha, they say, has gone on to Anguttarapa with (&c., down to:) Bhikkhus.' And Mendaka the householder gave command to his slaves and servants: 'Load then, my men, a quantity of salt and oil, and rice, and hard food, and come: and let one thousand two hundred and fifty cow-keepers come with one thousand two hundred and fifty cows. Wherever we find the Lord Buddha there will we supply him with fresh milk.'

18. And Mendaka the householder came up with the Lord Buddha in a desert place on the way. And Mendaka the householder went up to the place where the Lord Buddha was: and when he had come he stood on one side. And so standing, Mendaka the householder said to the Lord Buddha: 'May the Lord Buddha consent to take his meal (&c., as usual, down to:) 'The time has come, and the meal is ready.'

19. And the Lord Buddha early in the morning (&c., down to:) sat down on the seat prepared for him.

Then Mendaka the householder gave command to those thousand two hundred and fifty cow-keepers: 'Take then, my men, each of you a cow, and wait each of you upon a. Bhikkhu, and provide him with fresh milk.'

And Mendaka the householder waited upon the Bhikkhu-sangha with the Buddha at their head with his own hand, and satisfied them with sweet food, hard and soft, and with fresh milk.

The Bhikkhus, fearing to offend, would not take the milk:

'Take it, Bhikkhus, and drink it.'

20. And Mendaka the householder, when he had waited with his own hand upon the Bhikkhu-sangha with the Buddha at their head, and had satisfied them with sweet food, hard and soft, and with fresh milk; and when the Lord Buddha had finished his meal, and had washed his hands and his bowl, took his seat on one side.

And, so sitting, Mendaka the householder said to the Lord Buddha: 'There are desert ways, Lord, waterless and foodless, where it is not easy to travel without supplies for the journey. It would be well if the Lord Buddha were to allow the Bhikkhus to take supplies with them.'

Then the Lord Buddha gladdened (&c., as usual, down to:) rose from his seat, and went away.

21. And the Lord Buddha, in that connection, and on that account, after having delivered a dhamma discourse, said to the Bhikkhus:

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, the five products of the cow;--milk, curds, ghee, buttermilk, and butter. There are, O Bhikkhus, desert ways, waterless and foodless, where it is not easy to travel without supplies for the journey. I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to provide yourselves with supplies for a journey;--rice for him who wants rice, beans for him who wants beans, salt for him who wants salt, molasses for him who wants molasses, oil for him who wants oil, ghee for him who wants ghee. There are, O Bhikkhus, faithful and converted men who deposit gold with a kappiya-karaka, saying, "Provide whatever is allowable for this Bhikkhu." I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to accept whatever is allowable. But I do not say by that, O Bhikkhus, that you may, on any pretext whatsoever, accept or seek for gold.'