Udāna 2.6
Translators: sujato
Heartfelt Sayings 2.6
Gabbhinīsutta
The Pregnant Woman
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa paribbājakassa daharamāṇavikā pajāpati hoti gabbhinī upavijaññā.
Now at that time a certain wanderer had a young brahmin wife who was pregnant and about to give birth.
Atha kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:
She said to him,
“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.
“Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.”
Evaṁ vutte, so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca:
The wanderer said,
“kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti?
“But where, my dear, can I get oil?”
Dutiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:
For a second time, she said,
“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.
“Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.”
Dutiyampi kho so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca:
For a second time, the wanderer said,
“kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti?
“But where, my dear, can I get oil?”
Tatiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:
For a third time, she said,
“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.
“Go, brahmin, bring oil for my delivery.”
Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ.
Now at that time ghee and oil were being given away to any ascetic or brahmin at the storehouse of King Pasenadi of Kosala. But it was only to drink there, not to take away.
Atha kho tassa paribbājakassa etadahosi:
Knowing this, the wanderer thought,
“rañño kho pana pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ.
Yannūnāhaṁ rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā ucchadditvāna dadeyyaṁ, yaṁ imissā vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.
“Why don’t I go to the king’s storehouse, drink as much oil as I can, then come home and throw it up so it can be used for the delivery?”
Atha kho so paribbājako rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā neva sakkoti uddhaṁ kātuṁ, na pana adho.
Then he did just that. But when he got home he was unable to either bring it up or pass it out.
So dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭho āvaṭṭati parivaṭṭati.
He rolled to and fro, suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.
Addasā kho bhagavā taṁ paribbājakaṁ dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhaṁ āvaṭṭamānaṁ parivaṭṭamānaṁ.
He saw the wanderer in agony.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“Sukhino vata ye akiñcanā,
“Oh! How happy are those with nothing!
Vedaguno hi janā akiñcanā;
Hence knowledge masters are people with nothing.
Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ,
See how troubled are those with attachments,
Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandhacitto”ti.
a person bound tight to people.”
Chaṭṭhaṁ.