Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka-Nipāta
II: Sārāṇīya-Vagga
Sutta 16
Nakula-Pitu Suttaṃ
Nakula's Parents
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts] Once the Blessed One was staying among the Bhaggas in the Deer Park at Bhesakaḷā Forest, near Crocodile Haunt.
At that time, Nakula's father [Nakulapitar], the householder,
was diseased, in pain, severely ill.
Then Nakula's mother [Nakulamatar] said to him:
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will not be able to support the children
or maintain the household
after I'm gone,'
but you shouldn't see things in that way.
I am skilled at spinning cotton,
at carding matted wool.
I can support the children
and maintain the household
after you are gone.
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will take another husband
after I'm gone,'
but you shouldn't see things in that way.
You know as well as I
how my fidelity [literally: householder-celibacy] has been constant for the past sixteen years.
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will have no desire
to go see the Blessed One,
to go see the Saṇgha of monks,
after I'm gone,'
but you shouldn't see things in that way.
I will have an even greater desire
to go see the Blessed One,
to go see the community of monks,
after you are gone.
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will not act fully in accordance with the precepts
after I'm gone,'
but you shouldn't see things in that way.
To the extent that the Blessed One has white-clad householder female disciples
who act fully in accordance with the precepts,
I am one of them.
If anyone doubts or denies this,
let him go ask the Blessed One,
— worthy and rightly self-awakened —
who is staying among the Bhaggas
in the Deer Park at Bhesakaḷā Forest,
near Crocodile Haunt.
"So don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will not attain inner tranquillity of awareness after I'm gone,'
but you shouldn't see things in that way.
To the extent that the Blessed One has white-clad householder female disciples
who attain inner tranquillity of awareness,
I am one of them.
If anyone doubts or denies this,
let him go ask the Blessed One,
— worthy and rightly self-awakened —
who is staying among the Bhaggas
in the Deer Park at Bhesakaḷā Forest,
near Crocodile Haunt
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
■
"Now it may be
that you are thinking,
'Nakula's mother will not reach firm ground
in this Dhamma and Vinaya,
will not attain a firm foothold,
will not attain consolation,
overcome her doubts,
dispel her perplexity,
reach fearlessness
or gain independence from others
with regard to the Teacher's message [a standard description of a stream-winner],' but you shouldn't see things in that way.
To the extent that the Blessed One has white-clad householder female disciples
who reach firm ground in this Dhamma and Vinaya,
attain a firm foothold,
attain consolation,
overcome their doubts,
dispel their perplexity,
reach fearlessness,
and gain independence from others
with regard to the Teacher's message,
I am one of them.
If anyone doubts or denies this,
let him go ask the Blessed One,
— worthy and rightly self-awakened —
who is staying among the Bhaggas
in the Deer Park at Bhesakaḷā Forest,
near Crocodile Haunt.
"Don't be worried as you die, householder.
Death is painful for one who is worried.
The Blessed One has criticized
being worried at the time of death.
§
While Nakula's father the householder
was being exhorted by Nakula's mother
with this exhortation,
his disease was immediately allayed.
And he recovered from his disease.
That was how Nakula's father's disease
was abandoned.
§
Then, soon after Nakula's father the householder
had recovered from being sick,
not long after his recovery
from his illness,
he went leaning on a stick to the Blessed One.
On arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One,
he sat to one side.
As he was sitting there,
the Blessed One said to him,
"It is your gain,
your great gain, householder,
that you have Nakula's mother
— sympathetic and wishing for your welfare —
as your counselor and instructor.
To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples
who act fully in accordance with the precepts,
she is one of them.
To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples
who attain inner tranquillity of awareness,
she is one of them.
To the extent that I have white-clad householder female disciples
who reach firm ground in this Dhamma and Vinaya,
attain a firm foothold,
attain consolation,
overcome their doubts,
dispel their perplexity,
reach fearlessness,
and gain independence from others
with regard to the Teacher's message,
she is one of them.
It is your gain,
your great gain, householder,
that you have Nakula's mother
— sympathetic and wishing for your welfare —
as your counselor and instructor."
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