The Chamberlains

Thapatisutta

The Chamberlains

Thapatisutta

EN
At Sāvatthī. At that time several mendicants were making a robe for the Buddha, thinking that when his robe was finished and the three months of the rains residence had passed the Buddha would set out wandering. Now at that time the chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa were residing in Sādhuka on some business.
PL
Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: “niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti. Tena kho pana samayena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo sādhuke paṭivasanti kenacideva karaṇīyena.
EN
They heard about this. So they posted someone on the road, saying:
PL
Assosuṁ kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo: “sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: ‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti. Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo magge purisaṁ ṭhapesuṁ:
EN
“My man, let us know when you see the Blessed One coming, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.” And that person stood there for two or three days before they saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. When they saw him, they went to the chamberlains and said:
PL
“yadā tvaṁ, ambho purisa, passeyyāsi bhagavantaṁ āgacchantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ, atha amhākaṁ āroceyyāsī”ti. Dvīhatīhaṁ ṭhito kho so puriso addasa bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna yena isidattapurāṇā thapatayo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā isidattapurāṇe thapatayo etadavoca:
EN
“Sirs, the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha is coming. Please come at your convenience.” Then the chamberlains went up to the Buddha, bowed, and followed behind him. And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a certain tree, and sat down on the seat spread out.
PL
“ayaṁ so, bhante, bhagavā āgacchati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Yassadāni kālaṁ maññathā”ti. Atha kho isidattapurāṇā thapatayo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhiṁsu. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma yena aññataraṁ rukkhamūlaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
EN
The chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha: “Sir, when we hear that you will be setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that
PL
Isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “Yadā mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ:
EN
you will be far from us. And when we hear that you are setting out from Sāvatthī to wander in the Kosalan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.
PL
‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘sāvatthiyā kosalesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
EN
And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you will be far from us. And when we hear that
PL
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma:
EN
you are setting out from the Kosalan lands to wander in the Mallian lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us. And when we hear that you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …
PL
‘kosalehi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ:
PL
‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
EN
you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Kāsian lands …
PL
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma:
EN
you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands …
PL
‘vajjīhi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti domanassaṁ:
EN
you are setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Magadhan lands, we’re sad and upset, thinking that you are far from us.
PL
‘dūre no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi māgadhe cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye anattamanatā hoti anappakaṁ domanassaṁ: ‘dūre no bhagavā’ti.
EN
But when we hear that you will be setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us. And when we hear that
PL
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma:
EN
you are setting out from the Magadhan lands to wander in the Kāsian lands … you will be setting out from the Kāsian lands to wander in the Vajjian lands …
PL
‘māgadhehi kāsīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ:
PL
‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kāsīhi vajjīsu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
EN
you will be setting out from the Vajjian lands to wander in the Mallian lands …
PL
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma:
EN
you will be setting out from the Mallian lands to wander in the Kosalan lands …
PL
‘vajjīhi mallesu cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ:
PL
‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘mallehi kosale cārikaṁ pakkanto’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’ti.
EN
you will be setting out in the Kosalan lands to wander to Sāvatthī, we’re happy and joyful, thinking that you will be near to us. And when we hear that
PL
Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma: ‘kosalehi sāvatthiṁ cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti, hoti no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā bhavissatī’ti. Yadā pana mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ suṇāma:
EN
you are staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery we have no little happiness and joy, thinking that you are near to us.” “Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence.”
PL
‘sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme’ti, hoti anappakā no tasmiṁ samaye attamanatā hoti anappakaṁ somanassaṁ: ‘āsanne no bhagavā’”ti. “Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāyā”ti.
EN
“Sir, for us there is something that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.” “What is that?” “Sir, it’s when King Pasenadi of Kosala wants to go and visit a park. We have to harness and prepare his royal elephants. Then we have to seat his dear and beloved wives on the elephants, one in front of us, and one behind.
PL
“Atthi kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti. “Katamo pana vo, thapatayo, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti? “Idha mayaṁ, bhante, yadā rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyānabhūmiṁ niyyātukāmo hoti, ye te rañño pasenadissa kosalassa nāgā opavayhā te kappetvā, yā tā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa pajāpatiyo piyā manāpā tā ekaṁ purato ekaṁ pacchato nisīdāpema.
EN
Those sisters smell like a freshly opened perfume box; that’s how the royal ladies smell with makeup on. The touch of those sisters is like a tuft of cotton-wool or kapok; that’s how pampered the royal ladies are.
PL
Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo gandho hoti, seyyathāpi nāma gandhakaraṇḍakassa tāvadeva vivariyamānassa, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ gandhena vibhūsitānaṁ. Tāsaṁ kho pana, bhante, bhaginīnaṁ evarūpo kāyasamphasso hoti, seyyathāpi nāma tūlapicuno vā kappāsapicuno vā, yathā taṁ rājakaññānaṁ sukhedhitānaṁ.
EN
Now at that time we must look after the elephants, the sisters, and ourselves. But we don’t recall having a bad thought regarding those sisters. This is that thing that’s even more cramped than that, and is considered as such.”
PL
Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhante, samaye nāgopi rakkhitabbo hoti, tāpi bhaginiyo rakkhitabbā honti, attāpi rakkhitabbo hoti. Na kho pana mayaṁ, bhante, abhijānāma tāsu bhaginīsu pāpakaṁ cittaṁ uppādetā. Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, etamhā sambādhā añño sambādho sambādhataro ceva sambādhasaṅkhātataro cā”ti.
EN
“Well then, chamberlains, life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. Just this much is enough for diligence. A noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. What four?
PL
“Tasmātiha, thapatayo, sambādho gharāvāso rajāpatho, abbhokāso pabbajjā. Alañca pana vo, thapatayo, appamādāya. Catūhi kho, thapatayo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Katamehi catūhi?
EN
It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha … the teaching … the Saṅgha …
PL
Idha, thapatayo, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti— itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe…
EN
They live at home with heart rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share. A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening. And you have experiential confidence in the Buddha …
PL
vigatamalamaccherena cetasā ajjhāgāraṁ vasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Imehi kho, thapatayo, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo. Tumhe kho, thapatayo, buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā—
EN
the teaching … the Saṅgha … And whatever there is in your family that’s available to give, you share it all with those who are ethical, of good character.
PL
itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Dhamme …pe… saṅghe …pe… yaṁ kho pana kiñci kule deyyadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ appaṭivibhattaṁ sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi.
EN
What do you think, chamberlains? How many people among the Kosalans are your equal when it comes to giving and sharing?” “We’re fortunate, sir, so very fortunate,
PL
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, thapatayo, katividhā te kosalesu manussā ye tumhākaṁ samasamā, yadidaṁ— dānasaṁvibhāge”ti? “Lābhā no, bhante, suladdhaṁ no, bhante.
EN
in that the Buddha understands us like this.”
PL
Yesaṁ no bhagavā evaṁ pajānātī”ti. Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Pāli root text and English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato from SuttaCentral (https://suttacentral.net), CC0.

Source