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Translators: sujato

Heartfelt Sayings 2.8

Suppavāsāsutta

Suppavāsā

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kuṇḍikāyaṁ viharati kuṇḍadhānavane.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Kuṇḍiyā in the Kuṇḍadhāna Grove.

Tena kho pana samayena suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.
Now at that time Suppavāsā the Koliyan had been pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days.

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti:
While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts helped her endure:

“sammāsambuddho vata so bhagavā yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;
“Oh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this.

suppaṭipanno vata tassa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;
Oh! The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this.

susukhaṁ vata taṁ nibbānaṁ yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī”ti.
Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.”

Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā sāmikaṁ āmantesi:
Then Suppavāsā addressed her husband,

“ehi tvaṁ, ayyaputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi; appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha:
“Please, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati; appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti.

Evañca vadehi:
And then say:

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan has been pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days.

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti—
While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts help her endure:

sammāsambuddho vata so bhagavā yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;
“Oh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this.

suppaṭipanno vata tassa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;
Oh! The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this.

susukhaṁ vata taṁ nibbānaṁ yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī’”ti.
Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.”’”

“Paraman”ti kho so koliyaputto suppavāsāya koliyadhītāya paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
“Excellent idea,” he replied. He went to the Buddha and told him of his wife’s struggles. The Buddha said:

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho koliyaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati;

evañca vadeti:

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti—

sammāsambuddho vata so bhagavā yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;

suppaṭipanno vata tassa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;

susukhaṁ vata nibbānaṁ yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī’”ti.

“Sukhinī hotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā; arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyatū”ti.
“May Suppavāsā the Koliyan be happy and healthy! May she give birth to a healthy child!”

Saha vacanā ca pana bhagavato suppavāsā koliyadhītā sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyi.
As soon as he spoke, Suppavāsā, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so koliyaputto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena sakaṁ gharaṁ tena paccāyāsi.
Saying “Yes, sir,” the Koliyan gentleman approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he returned to his own house.

Addasā kho so koliyaputto suppavāsaṁ koliyadhītaraṁ sukhiniṁ arogaṁ arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātaṁ.
He saw that his wife, happy and healthy, had given birth to a healthy child,

Disvānassa etadahosi:
and thought,

“acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, tathāgatassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā, yatra hi nāmāyaṁ suppavāsā koliyadhītā saha vacanā ca pana bhagavato sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyissatī”ti.
“Oh, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For as soon as he spoke, Suppavāsā, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child.”

Attamano pamudito pītisomanassajāto ahosi.
He became uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness.

Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā sāmikaṁ āmantesi:
Then Suppavāsā addressed her husband,

“ehi tvaṁ, ayyaputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi:
“Please, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet.

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti;

evañca vadehi:
And then say,

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days,

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā etarahi sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.
She invites the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days.

Adhivāsetu kira, bhante, bhagavā suppavāsāya koliyadhītāya satta bhattāni saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’”ti.
Sir, might the Buddha please accept seven meals from Suppavāsā.’”

“Paraman”ti kho so koliyaputto suppavāsāya koliyadhītāya paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
“Excellent idea,” he replied. He went to the Buddha, told him the good news, and conveyed his wife’s invitation.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so koliyaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati;

evañca vadeti:

‘suppavāsā, bhante, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā etarahi sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.

Adhivāsetu kira, bhante, bhagavā suppavāsāya koliyadhītāya satta bhattāni saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’”ti.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarena upāsakena buddhappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho svātanāya bhattena nimantito hoti.
Now at that time a certain lay follower had already invited the Sangha of monks headed by the Buddha for the meal on the following day.

So ca upāsako āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa upaṭṭhāko hoti.
That lay follower was Venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter.

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Buddha addressed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna,

“ehi tvaṁ, moggallāna, yena so upāsako tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ upāsakaṁ evaṁ vadehi:
“Please, Moggallāna, go to that lay follower and say to him,

‘suppavāsā, āvuso, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāresi.
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days,

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā etarahi sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.
She invites the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days.

Karotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta bhattāni, pacchā tvaṁ karissasī’ti.
Let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards you can make yours.’

Tuyheso upaṭṭhāko”ti.
He is your supporter.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavato paṭissutvā yena so upāsako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ upāsakaṁ etadavoca:
“Yes, sir,” replied Mahāmoggallāna. He went to that lay follower and conveyed the Buddha’s request.

“suppavāsā, āvuso, koliyadhītā satta vassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti.

Sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā sā etarahi sukhinī arogā arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.

Karotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta bhattāni, pacchā tvaṁ karissasī”ti.

“Sace me, bhante, ayyo mahāmoggallāno tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo—
“If, sir, Master Mahāmoggallāna can guarantee me three things—

bhogānañca jīvitassa ca saddhāya ca,
wealth, life, and faith—

karotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta bhattāni, pacchāhaṁ karissāmī”ti.
then let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.”

“Dvinnaṁ kho te ahaṁ, āvuso, dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo—
“I can guarantee you two things—

bhogānañca jīvitassa ca.
wealth and life.

Saddhāya pana tvaṁyeva pāṭibhogo”ti.
But as for faith, you alone are the guarantor.”

“Sace me, bhante, ayyo mahāmoggallāno dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo—
“If, sir Master Mahāmoggallāna can guarantee me two things—

bhogānañca jīvitassa ca,
wealth and life—

karotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta bhattāni, pacchāhaṁ karissāmī”ti.
then let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.”

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ upāsakaṁ saññāpetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Having persuaded that lay follower, Mahāmoggallāna went to the Buddha and said,

“saññatto, bhante, so upāsako mayā;
“I’ve persuaded the lay follower.

karotu suppavāsā koliyadhītā satta bhattāni, pacchā so karissatī”ti.
Let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards he shall make his.”

Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā sattāhaṁ buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi,
For seven days Suppavāsā served and satisfied the Buddha with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

tañca dārakaṁ bhagavantaṁ vandāpesi sabbañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ.
And she made her little boy bow to the Buddha and the mendicant Sangha.

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto taṁ dārakaṁ etadavoca:
Then Sāriputta said to the boy,

“kacci te, dāraka, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kacci na kiñci dukkhan”ti?
“I hope you’re keeping well, little boy; I hope you’re all right. I hope that you are not in pain.”

“Kuto me, bhante sāriputta, khamanīyaṁ, kuto yāpanīyaṁ.
“How could I be keeping well? How could I be getting by?

Satta me vassāni lohitakumbhiyaṁ vutthānī”ti.
For seven years I lived in a pot of blood.”

Atha kho suppavāsā koliyadhītā:
Then Suppavāsā, thinking,

“putto me dhammasenāpatinā saddhiṁ mantetī”ti attamanā pamuditā pītisomanassajātā ahosi.
“My child is conversing with the General of the Dhamma!” was uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness.

Atha kho bhagavā suppavāsaṁ koliyadhītaraṁ attamanaṁ pamuditaṁ pītisomanassajātaṁ viditvā suppavāsaṁ koliyadhītaraṁ etadavoca:
Knowing this, the Buddha said to her,

“iccheyyāsi tvaṁ, suppavāse, aññampi evarūpaṁ puttan”ti?
“Would you like to have another child like this?”

“Iccheyyāmahaṁ, bhagavā, aññānipi evarūpāni satta puttānī”ti.
“Sir, I would like to have seven more children like this!”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Asātaṁ sātarūpena,
“Pain in the guise of pleasure,

piyarūpena appiyaṁ;
the disliked in the guise of the liked,

Dukkhaṁ sukhassa rūpena,
suffering in the guise of happiness,

pamattamativattatī”ti.
overpower the negligent.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.