Aspiration

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[1] Thus have I heard:

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said this:

"Monks, the believing monk,
if he would aspire^[1] perfectly,
should thus aspire:

May I be like unto Sāriputta and Moggallāna!

Monks, these are a sort of scale and standard
(whereby to estimate) my disciples who are monks,
namely Sāriputta and Moggallāna.

Monks, the believing nun,
if she would aspire perfectly,
should thus aspire:

May I be like unto Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā!

Monks, these are a sort of scale and standard
(whereby to estimate) my disciples who are nuns,
namely Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā.'

■

Monks, the believing housefather,
if he would aspire perfectly,
should thus aspire:

May I be like unto the housefathers Citta and Hatthaka of Āḷavī

Monks, these are a sort of scale and standard
(whereby to estimate) my disciples who are housefathers,
namely Citta and Hatthaka of Āḷavī.'

■

Monks, the believing woman lay-disciple,
if she would aspire perfectly,
should thus aspire:

May I be like unto the women lay-disciples Khujjuttarā and Nanda's mother Veḷukantakiyā.

Monks, these are a sort of scale and standard
(whereby to estimate) my disciples who are nuns,
namely Khujjuttarā and Nanda's mother Veḷukantakiyā.'

^[1] As at A. i, 88; G.S. i, 79. At K.S. ii, 159 āyācamāno, translated 'admonishing,' should he 'praying, asking for a son, etc.'