Verse 421

Dhammapada Verse 421

The Story of Theri Dhammadinna

Once, there was a lay-disciple of the Buddha named Visakha in Rajagaha. After hearing the Buddha's discourses again and again Visakha attained Anagami Fruition and he said to his wife, "Please accept all my property; from today, I'm not going to take part in any of the affairs of the house." His wife Dhammadinna retorted, "Who would swallow the spittle you have thrown up?" Then she asked permission from him to enter the Order and became a bhikkhuni. After becoming a bhikkhuni she went to a monastery in a small village in the company of other bhikkhunis to practise meditation. Within a short time, she attained arahatship and returned to Rajagaha.

Visakha, hearing that Dhammadinna had returned, went to see her and asked her some questions. When he asked her about the first three maggas she answered him; but when he asked her questions on the arahatta magga and phala she said, "O lay-disciple! This matter is out of your depth; if you want, you may go and ask the Buddha." When Visakha asked the Buddha, the Buddha said, "Dhammadinna has already answered your question. If you ask me I shall have to give the same answer." Saying this the Buddha confirmed the fact that Dhammadinna had attained arahatship.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Yassa pure ca paccha ca

majjhe ca natthi kincanam

akincanam anadnam

tamaham brumi brahmanam.

Verse 421: Him I call a Brahmana, who does not cling to the past, future and present khandha aggregates and who is free from moral defilements and attachment.

Verse 422

Dhammapada Verse 422

The Story of Angulimala

On one occasion, King Pasenadi and Queen Mallika made an alms-offering to the Buddha and his bhikkhus numbering five hundred in all, on a scale which could not be surpassed by anyone else. At that ceremony, each bhikkhu was to have an elephant holding a white umbrella over his head as a sunshade. However, they could get only four hundred and ninety-nine trained elephants and so they had to put in an untrained elephant and it was allotted to hold the umbrella over Thera Angulimala. Every one was afraid that the untrained elephant might give trouble, but when brought near Thera Angulimala it was quite docile.

It was with reference to this incident that the bhikkhus later asked Angulimala whether he did not get frightened or not. To this question Angulimala answered that he was not frightened. The bhikkhus then went to the Buddha and said that Thera Angulimala claimed to have attained Arahatship. To them the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus! It is quite true that Angulimala was not afraid; those who are like him are also not afraid."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Usabham pavaram viram

mahesim vijitavinam

anejam nhatakam buddham

tamaham brumi brahmanam.

tamaham brumi brahmanam.

Verse 422: Him I call a Brahmana, who is fearless like a bull, who is noble and diligent, who is a seeker of high moral virtues and a conqueror (of three Maras), who is free from craving, who has been cleansed of moral defilements and knows the Four Noble Truths.