Majjhima Nikaya - Bahitika Sutta

88. Bahitika Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA II
II. 4. 8. Bàhitikasuttaü
(88) The Warm Cloth

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by
Anathapindika in Jeta's grove in Savatthi. Venerable Ananda put on robes in the
morning, taking bowl and robes entered Savatthi for alms. After the alms round,
when the meal was over, approached the palace of Migàra's mother to spend the
day. At that time king Pasenadi of Kosala having ascended the elephant
Ekapundarãka was going through Sàvatthi during the day. King Pasenadi of Kosala
saw venerable ânanda coming in the distance and asked the chief minister
Siriwadda, `Siriwadda, is that venerable Ananda?' `Great king, it is venerable
ânanda,' Then king Pasenadi of Kosala called a certain man, and said. `Good man
approach venerable ânanda, worship him for my sake, with your head at his feet
and tell him. Venerable sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala worships you with his head
at your feet and said. If venerable ânanda has no urgent work to do, would he
wait a moment for king Pasenadi of Kosala, out of compassion,' He agreed,
approached venerable ânanda, worshipped, stood on a side and said, `venerable
sir king Pasenadi of Kosala worships you, with his head at your feet and says.
If venerable ânanda has no urgent work, could he wait a moment for king Pasenadi
of Kosala out of compassion,' Venerable ânanda agreed silently. The king went on
the elephant's back as far as he could go and descending from the elephant,
approached venerable ânanda on foot. He worshipped venerable ânanda and stood on
a side and said. `If venerable ânanda has no urgent work, could he approach the
bank of river Acirawathie, out of compassion. Venerable ânanda accepted it
silently, approached the bank of river Acirawathie and sat on the prepared seat.
The king went on the elephant's back as far as he could go, descending from the
elephant, approached venerable ânanda on foot, worshipped him and stood on a
side. Then he said. `May venerable ânanda, sit on the elephant rug. `'Useless,
great king, I'm seated, you sit on it,' King Pasenadi of Kosala sat on the
prepared seat and said. `Venerable ânanda, does the Blessed One practise bodily
behaviour that is hostile to recluses Brahmins and the wise?' `No, great king
the Blessed One does not practise any bodily behaviour that is hostile to
recluses, brahmins and the wise.
Sir ânanda, does the Blessed One, practise verbal behaviour that is hostile to
recluses, brahmins and the wise? Does the Blessed One practise mental behaviour
that is hostile to recluses, brahmins and the wise?' `No, great king the Blessed
One does not practise any verbal... any mental behaviour that is hostile to
recluses and brahmins and the wise.'
ßWonderful and surprising venerable sir, this question we could not ask and get
anexplained, now venerable ânanda has explained it to me. Venerable sir, fools
who do not think and fathom their words, praise or blame others. I do not
believe those words.
Sir ânanda, what kind of bodily behaviour is hostile to recluses, Brahmins and
the wise?'
ßGreat king bodily behaviour that is demerit.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is demerit?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is faulty"
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is faulty?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is troublesome.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is troublesome?'
ßGreat king those with unpleasant results.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour has unpleasant results?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is hurtful to oneself, hurtful to others and
hurtful to both and on account of which demerit increases and merit decreases.
Such bodily behaviour is hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.
ßSir ânanda, what kind of verbal behaviour, ... re ... mental behaviour is
hostile to recluses Brahmins and the wise?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is demerit.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is demerit?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is faulty"
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is faulty?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is troublesome.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is troublesome?'
ßGreat king those with unpleasant results.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour has unpleasant results?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is hurtful to oneself, hurtful to others and
hurtful to both and on account of which demerit increases and merit decreases.
Such mental behaviour is hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.
Great king, mental behaviour that is hurtful to oneself, hurtful to others and
hurtful to both and on account of which demerit increases and merit decreases
that mental behaviour is hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.'
ßVenerable sir, does the Blessed One approve the dispelling of all demerit?'
ßGreat king the Thus Gone One has dispelled all demerit, is endowed with merit.'
ßSir ânanda, what kind of bodily behaviour is well disposed to recluses,
brahmins and the wise?'
ßGreat king bodily behaviour that is merit.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is merit?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is faultless"
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is faultless?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is not troublesome.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour is not troublesome?'
ßGreat king those with pleasant results.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of bodily behaviour has pleasant results?'
ßGreat king, bodily behaviour that is not hurtful to oneself, to others and to
both and on account of which, demerit decreases and merit increases. Such bodily
behaviour is not hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.
ßSir ânanda, what kind of verbal behaviour, . re... mental behaviour is well
disposed to recluses Brahmins and the wise?'
ßGreat king mental behaviour that is merit.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is merit?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is faultless"
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is faultless?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is not troublesome.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour is not troublesome?'
ßGreat king those with pleasant results.'
ßVenerable sir, what kind of mental behaviour has pleasant results?'
ßGreat king, mental behaviour that is not hurtful, to oneself, to others and to
both and on account of which demerit decreases and merit increases that mental
behaviour is not hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.
Great king, mental behaviour that is not hurtful, to oneself, to others and to
both and on account of which demerit decreases and merit increases, that mental
behaviour is not hurtful to oneself, to others and to both.'
ßVenerable sir, does the Blessed One approve the acquiring of all merit?'
ßGreat king the Thus Gone One has dispelled all demerit, is endowed with merit.'
ßWonderful and surprising, I'm pleased with these words of venerable ânanda. I'm
so pleased, I would offer my jewel of an elephant to venerable ânanda, or my
jewel of a horse, or even a splendid village, we know that they are not
suitable. This warm cloth was sent by kingAjàtasattu, of Magadha. in a case of
reeds, it's sixteen measures by length and eight measures by breadth, it is
suitable, may venerable ânanda accept it, out of compassion.'
ßUseless, great king, my three robes are complete.'
ßVenerable sir, we both see, this river Acirawathie falling in torrents from the
mountains and flowing flooding the banks. In like manner, venerable ânanda will
make his three robes with this warm cloth. Will distribute the earlier three
robes among the co-associates in the holy life, I think. May venerable ânanda
accept this warm cloth.'
Venerable ânanda accepted the warm cloth. Then king Pasenadi of Kosala said to
venerable ânanda. `Venerable sir, we have to go now, there's much work to be
done.'
ßGreat king do, as you think fit,' King PasenadiofKosala got up from his seat,
worshipped and circumambulated venerable ânanda and went away. Soon after the
king had gone, venerable ânanda approached and worshipped the Blessed One, and
sat on a side. Venerable ânanda informed the Blessed One all the conversation
that occurred between the king and himself and offered the warm cloth to the
Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus. `Bhikkhus, it is rare and great
gain for King Pasenadi of Kosala, that he approaches and associates venerable
ânanda,' The bhikkhus were pleased with the words of the Blessed One.