mn.81 Majjhima Nikāya (Middle Discourses)

Discourse on Ghaṭīkāra

Thus have I heard: At one time the Lord was walking on tour among the Kosalans together with a large Order of monks. Then the Lord, turning aside from the road, smiled (when he came to a) certain place. Then it occurred to the venerable Ānanda: “What is the cause, what the reason that the Lord is smiling? Not without motive do Tathāgatas smile.” Then the venerable Ānanda, having arranged his robe over one shoulder, having saluted the Lord with joined palms, spoke thus to the Lord: “Now, revered sir, what is the cause, what the reason that the Lord is smiling? Not without motive do Tathāgatas smile.”

“Once upon a time, Ānanda, in this district there was a village township called Vebhaḷiṅga, prosperous and wealthy and crowded with people. And, Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, lived depending on the village township of Vebhaḷiṅga. At that time, Ānanda, the monastery of the Lord Kassapa … was here. At that time, Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa … instructed an Order of monks while he was seated here.”

Then the venerable Ānanda, having laid down an outer cloak folded into four, spoke thus to the Lord: “Well then, revered sir, let the Lord sit down. This self-same piece of ground will (then) have been made use of by two perfected ones, fully Self-Awakened Ones.” Then the Lord sat down on an appointed seat. As he was seated the Lord spoke thus to the venerable Ānanda:

“Once upon a time, Ānanda, in this district (as above) … the Lord Kassapa … instructed an Order of monks while he was seated here. And, Ānanda, in the village township of Vebhaḷiṅga the potter name Ghaṭīkāra was a supporter—the chief supporter—of the Lord Kassapa … And, Ānanda, a brahman youth named Jotipāla was a friend—a dear friend—of the potter Ghaṭīkāra. Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra addressed the brahman youth Jotipāla, saying: ‘Let us go, dear Jotipāla, we will approach the Lord Kassapa … so as to see him. A sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’ When this had been said, Ānanda, the brahman youth Jotipāla spoke thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘Yes, dear Ghaṭīkāra, but of what use is it to see this little shaveling recluse?’

And a second time … And a third time, Ānanda, did Ghaṭīkāra the potter speak thus to the brahman youth Jotipāla: ‘Let us go, dear Jotipāla, we will approach the Lord Kassapa …’ … ‘Yes, dear Ghaṭīkāra, but of what use is it to see this little shaveling recluse?’

‘Well then, dear Jotipāla, taking a back-scratcher and bath-powder, we will go to the river to bathe.’ Ānanda, the brahman youth Jotipāla answered the potter Ghaṭīkāra in assent, saying: ‘Yes, dear.’

Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra and the brahman youth Jotipāla, taking a back-scratcher and bath-powder, went to the river to bathe. Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra spoke thus to the brahman youth Jotipāla: ‘This, dear Jotipāla, is near the monastery of the Lord Kassapa … Let us go, dear Jotipāla, we will approach the Lord Kassapa … so as to see him. A sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’ When this had been said, Ānanda, the brahman youth Jotipāla spoke thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘Yes, dear Ghaṭīkāra, but of what use is it to see this little shaveling recluse?’

And a second time … And a third time, Ānanda, did Ghaṭīkāra the potter spoke thus to the brahman youth Jotipāla: ‘This, dear Jotipāla, is near the monastery of the Lord Kassapa … A sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’ And a third time, Ānanda, did the brahman youth Jotipāla speak thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘Yes, dear Ghaṭīkāra, but of what use is it to see this little shaveling recluse?’

Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra, having laid hold of the brahman youth Jotipāla by the waist-band, spoke thus: ‘This, dear Jotipāla, is near the monastery of the Lord Kassapa … Let us go, dear Jotipāla, we will approach the Lord Kassapa so as to see him. A sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’ Then, Ānanda, the brahman youth Jotipāla, having disengaged his waist-band, spoke thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘Yes, dear Ghaṭīkāra, but of what use is it to see this little shaveling recluse?’ Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra, having laid hold of the brahman youth Jotipāla by the hair—he had just performed an ablution of his head—spoke thus: ‘This, dear Jotipāla, is near the monastery of the Lord Kassapa … Let us go … A sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’

Then, Ānanda, it occurred to the brahman youth Jotipāla: ‘Indeed it is wonderful, indeed it is marvellous, that this potter Ghaṭīkāra, being of lowly birth, should lay hold of my hair although I have performed an ablution of my head,’ and should think: ‘Indeed this surely cannot be insignificant.’ He spoke thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘Is it really necessary, dear Ghaṭīkāra?’ ‘It is really necessary, dear Jotipāla, most surely a sight of this Lord, perfected one, fully Self-Awakened One, would be greatly prized by me.’

‘Well then, dear Ghaṭīkāra, let go (of my hair); we will get along.’

Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra and the brahman youth Jotipāla approached the Lord Kassapa … When they had approached, Ghaṭīkāra the potter greeted the Lord Kassapa … and sat down at a respectful distance. But the brahman youth Jotipāla exchanged greetings with the Lord Kassapa … and having conversed in a friendly and courteous way, he sat down at a respectful distance. And Ānanda, as the potter Ghaṭīkāra was sitting down at a respectful distance, he spoke thus to the Lord Kassapa … : ‘Revered sir, this brahman youth Jotipāla is my friend—my dear friend. Let the Lord teach him dhamma.’ Then, Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa … gladdened, roused, incited, delighted the potter Ghaṭīkāra and the brahman youth Jotipāla, with talk on dhamma. Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra and the brahman youth Jotipāla, gladdened, roused, incited, delighted by the Lord Kassapa’s … talk on dhamma, having rejoiced in what the Lord Kassapa … had said, having given thanks and risen from their seats, greeting the Lord Kassapa … they departed keeping their right sides towards him.

Then, Ānanda, the brahman youth Jotipāla spoke thus to the potter Ghaṭīkāra: ‘How is it that you, dear Ghaṭīkāra, on hearing this dhamma, do not go forth from home into homelessness?’”

‘But, dear Jotipāla, do you not know that I look after my blind and ageing parents?’

‘Well then, dear Ghaṭīkāra, I will go forth from home into homelessness.’

Then, Ānanda, the potter Ghaṭīkāra and the brahman youth Jotipāla approached the Lord Kassapa …; having approached and having greeted the Lord Kassapa … they sat down at a respectful distance. And, Ānanda, as Ghaṭīkāra the potter was sitting down at a respectful distance, he spoke thus to the Lord Kassapa …: ‘Revered sir, this brahman youth Jotipāla is my friend—my dear friend. May the Lord let him go forth.’ Ānanda, Jotipāla the brahman youth received the going forth in the presence of the Lord Kassapa …, he received the ordination. Then, Ānanda, not long after the brahman youth Jotipāla had received ordination—half a month after his ordination—the Lord Kassapa …, having stayed at Vebhaḷiṅga for as long as he found suitable, set out on tour for Benares; walking on tour, in due course he arrived at Benares.

While he was there, Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa … stayed near Benares at Isipatana in the deer-park. Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, heard that the Lord Kassapa … had arrived at Benares and was staying near Benares at Isipatana in the deer-park. Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, having had many lovely vehicles harnessed, having mounted a lovely vehicle, set off for Benares with the many lovely vehicles and with great royal pomp so as to see the Lord Kassapa … For as long as the ground was possible for a vehicle he went in the vehicle, then having dismounted from it, he approached the Lord Kassapa … on foot; having approached and having greeted the Lord Kassapa … he sat down at a respectful distance. Ānanda, as Kikī, the king of Kāsi, was sitting down at a respectful distance, the Lord Kassapa … roused, incited, gladdened and delighted him with talk on dhamma. Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, roused … delighted by the Lord Kassapa … with talk on dhamma, spoke thus to the Lord Kassapa …:

‘Revered sir, may the Lord consent to a meal with me on the morrow together with the Order of monks.’ Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa consented by becoming silent. Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, having understood the Lord Kassapa’s consent, rising from his seat and greeting the Lord Kassapa, departed keeping his right side towards him. Then, Ānanda, towards the end of that night when Kikī, the king of Kāsi, had had sumptuous foods, solid and soft, prepared in his own dwelling: dry yellow rices, various curries, the black grains removed, and various condiments, he had the time announced to the Lord Kassapa, saying: ‘It is time, revered sir, the meal is ready.’

Then, Ānanda, the Lord Kassapa, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of Kikī, the king of Kāsi, having approached, he sat down on the appointed seat together with the Order of monks. Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, with his own hand served and satisfied with sumptuous foods, solid and soft, the Order of monks with the Awakened One at its head. Then, Ānanda, when the Lord Kassapa had eaten and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, taking a low seat, sat down at a respectful distance. As he was sitting down at a respectful distance, Kikī, the king of Kāsi spoke thus to the Lord Kassapa: ‘Revered sir, may the Lord consent to (accept) my rains-residence in Benares; there will be suitable support for the Order.’

‘No, sire, I have (already) consented to (accept) a rains-residence.’ And a second time … And a third time, Ānanda, did Kikī, the king of Kāsi, speak thus to the Lord Kassapa …: ‘Revered sir, may the Lord consent to (accept) my rains-residence in Benares; there will be suitable support for the Order.’

‘No, sire, I have (already) consented to (accept) a rains-residence.’

Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi thought: ‘The Lord Kassapa … does not consent to (accept) my rains-residence in Benares,’ and he was depressed and grieved. Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, spoke thus to the Lord Kassapa …: ‘Then, have you, revered sir, some other supporter than me?’

‘There is, sire, a village township called Vebhaḷiṅga. There is a potter there called Ghaṭīkāra; he is my supporter—the chief supporter. But you, sire, think: The Lord Kassapa … does not consent to (accept) my rains-residence in Benares, and you are depressed and grieved. This is not so with the potter Ghaṭīkāra and nor can it be so. For, sire, the potter Ghaṭīkāra has gone to the Awakened One for refuge, he has gone to dhamma for refuge, he has gone to the Order for refuge. Ghaṭīkāra, the potter, sire, is restrained from onslaught on creatures, restrained from taking what has not been given, restrained from wrong enjoyment of sense-pleasures, restrained from lying speech, restrained from occasions of sloth engendered by strong drink and spirits. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, is possessed of unwavering confidence in the Awakened One … in dhamma … the Order, he is possessed of moral habits that are dear to the ariyans. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, doubts not about anguish … the uprising of anguish … the stopping of anguish, he doubts not about the course leading to the stopping of anguish. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, is a one-meal-man, a Brahma-farer, virtuous, lovely in character. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, is one who has laid aside jewels and wrought gold, who is without gold and silver. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, does not dig the earth either with a spade or with his own hand; willingly he makes a vessel from the soil of a bank that is crumbling or scratched out by rats and dogs, and he speaks thus: “He that likes, if he lays down fragments of husked rice here, fragments of kidney-beans, fragments of chick-peas, may take whatever he likes.” Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, looks after his blind ageing parents. Ghaṭīkāra the potter, sire, by the destruction of the five fetters binding to this lower (shore), is of spontaneous uprising, he attains final nibbāna there, he is not liable to return from that world.

At one time I, sire, was staying in a village township of Vebhaḷiṅga. Then I, sire, having dressed in the morning, taking my bowl and robe, approached the parents of the potter Ghaṭīkāra; having approached, I spoke thus to the parents of the potter Ghaṭīkāra: “Now, where has this potter gone?” “Revered sir, your supporter has gone out, saying: Now, having taken conjey from the pot, having taken curry from the cauldron, enjoy them.” Then I, sire, having taken conjey from the pot, having taken curry from the cauldron, enjoyed them, and rising up from my seat I departed. Then, sire, Ghaṭīkāra the potter approached his parents; having approached, he spoke thus to his parents: “Who is it that, having taken conjey from the pot, having taken curry from the cauldron and having enjoyed them, is going away?” “It is the Lord Kassapa …, dear, that, having taken conjey … is going away.” Then, sire, it occurred to Ghaṭīkāra the potter: “Indeed it is a gain for me, indeed it is well gotten by me that the Lord Kassapa … has such trust in me.” Then, sire, joy and happiness did not leave Ghaṭīkāra the potter for half a month or his parents for seven days.

At one time I, sire, was staying in this very village township of Vebhaḷiṅga. Then I, sire, having dressed in the morning … (as above) … spoke thus to the parents of the potter Ghaṭīkāra: “Now, where has this potter gone?” “Revered sir, your supporter has gone out, saying: Now, having taken boiled rice from the pan, having taken curry from the cauldron, enjoy them.” Then I, sire, having taken boiled rice from the pan, having taken curry from the cauldron, enjoyed them, and rising up from my seat I departed. Then, sire, the potter Ghaṭīkāra approached his parents … (as above, reading; having taken boiled rice from the pan, having taken curry from the cauldron) … Then, sire, joy and happiness did not leave the potter Ghaṭīkāra for half a month or his parents for seven days.

At one time I, sire, was staying in this very village township of Vebhaḷiṅga. At that time the hut leaked. So I, sire, addressed the monks, saying: “Go, monks, and find out if there is grass in the dwelling of Ghaṭīkāra the potter.” When this had been said, sire, the monks spoke thus to me: “There is no grass, revered sir, in the dwelling of Ghaṭīkāra the potter, but his house has a grass roof.” “Go, monks, and strip the grass from the house of Ghaṭīkāra the potter.” Then, sire, these monks stripped the grass from the house of Ghaṭīkāra the potter. Then, sire, the parents of Ghaṭīkāra the potter spoke thus to the monks: “Who are they that are stripping the grass from the house?” “Sister,” the monks said, “the Lord Kassapa,’s hut is leaking.” “Take it, revered sirs, take it, my honourable friends.” Then, sire, Ghaṭīkāra the potter approached his parents; having approached, he spoke thus to his parents: “Who are they that have stripped the grass from the house?” “Monks, dear; the hut of the Lord Kassapa … is leaking.” Then, sire, it occurred to Ghaṭīkāra the potter: “Indeed it is a gain for me, indeed it is well gotten by me that the Lord Kassapa … has such trust in me.” Then, sire, joy and happiness did not leave the potter Ghaṭīkāra for half a month or his parents for seven days. Then, sire, for a whole three months that house stood with its roof open to the sky, but it did not rain into it. Such a one, sire, is Ghaṭīkāra the potter.’

‘It is a gain, revered sir, it is well gotten, revered sir, by Ghaṭīkāra the potter in whom the Lord has such trust.’

Then, Ānanda, Kikī, the king of Kāsi, sent as many as five hundred cartloads of husked rice to Ghaṭīkāra the potter, dry yellow rices and suitable curries. Then, Ānanda, these kings’ men, having approached Ghaṭīkāra the potter, spoke thus: ‘These five hundred cartloads of husked rice, revered sir, have been sent to you by Kikī, the king of Kāsi, with dry yellow rices and suitable curries. Accept them, revered sir.’ ‘The king is very busy, there is much to be done. I am quite satisfied since this is for me from the king.’

It may be, Ānanda, that this will occur to you: ‘Now, at that time the brahman youth Jotipāla was someone else.’ But this, Ānanda, should not be thought of in this way. I, at that time, was Jotipāla the brahman youth.”

Thus spoke the Lord. Delighted, the venerable Ānanda rejoiced in what the Lord had said.

Discourse on Ghaṭīkāra: The First

- Translator: I.B. Horner

- Editor: Waiyin Chow

With Ghaṭīkāra

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.
Then the Buddha left the road, and at a certain spot he smiled.
Then Venerable Ānanda thought,
“What is the cause, what is the reason why the Buddha smiled?
Realized Ones do not smile for no reason.”
So Ānanda arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said,
“What is the cause, what is the reason why the Buddha smiled?
Realized Ones do not smile for no reason.”
“Once upon a time, Ānanda, there was a market town in this spot named Vebhaliṅga. It was successful and prosperous and full of people.
And Kassapa, a blessed one, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, lived supported by Vebhaliṅga.
It was here, in fact, that he had his monastery,
where he sat and advised the mendicant Saṅgha.”
Then Ānanda spread out his outer robe folded in four and said to the Buddha,
“Well then, sir, may the Blessed One sit here!
Then this piece of land will have been occupied by two perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas.”
The Buddha sat on the seat spread out.
When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:
“Once upon a time, Ānanda, there was a market town in this spot named Vebhaliṅga. It was successful and prosperous and full of people.
And Kassapa, a blessed one, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, lived supported by Vebhaliṅga.
It was here, in fact, that he had his monastery,
where he sat and advised the mendicant Saṅgha.
The Buddha Kassapa had as chief supporter in Vebhaliṅga a potter named Ghaṭīkāra.
Ghaṭīkāra had a dear friend named Jotipāla, a brahmin student.
Then Ghaṭīkāra addressed Jotipāla,
‘Come, dear Jotipāla, let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
When he said this, Jotipāla said to him,
‘Enough, dear Ghaṭīkāra.
What’s the use of seeing that shaveling, that fake ascetic?’
For a second time …
and a third time, Ghaṭīkāra addressed Jotipāla,
‘Come, dear Jotipāla, let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
For a third time, Jotipāla said to him,
‘Enough, dear Ghaṭīkāra.
What’s the use of seeing that shaveling, that fake ascetic?’
‘Well then, dear Jotipāla, let’s take some bathing paste of powdered shell and go to the river to bathe.’
‘Yes, dear,’ replied Jotipāla.
So that’s what they did.
Then Ghaṭīkāra addressed Jotipāla,
‘Dear Jotipāla, the Buddha Kassapa’s monastery is not far away.
Let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
When he said this, Jotipāla said to him,
‘Enough, dear Ghaṭīkāra.
What’s the use of seeing that shaveling, that fake ascetic?’
For a second time …
and a third time, Ghaṭīkāra addressed Jotipāla,
‘Dear Jotipāla, the Buddha Kassapa’s monastery is not far away.
Let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
For a third time, Jotipāla said to him,
‘Enough, dear Ghaṭīkāra.
What’s the use of seeing that shaveling, that fake ascetic?’
Then Ghaṭīkāra grabbed Jotipāla by the belt and said,
‘Dear Jotipāla, the Buddha Kassapa’s monastery is not far away.
Let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
So Jotipāla undid his belt and said to Ghaṭīkāra,
‘Enough, dear Ghaṭīkāra.
What’s the use of seeing that shaveling, that fake ascetic?’
Then Ghaṭīkāra grabbed Jotipāla by the hair of his freshly-washed head and said,
‘Dear Jotipāla, the Buddha Kassapa’s monastery is not far away.
Let’s go to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.
For I regard it as holy to see that Blessed One.’
Then Jotipāla thought,
‘It’s incredible, it’s amazing,
how this potter Ghaṭīkāra, though born in a lower caste, should presume to grab me by the hair of my freshly-washed head!
This must be no ordinary matter.’
He said to Ghaṭīkāra,
‘You’d even milk it to this extent, dear Ghaṭīkāra?’
‘I even milk it to this extent, dear Jotipāla.
For that is how holy I regard it to see that Blessed One.’
‘Well then, dear Ghaṭīkāra, release me, we shall go.’
Then Ghaṭīkāra the potter and Jotipāla the brahmin student went to the Buddha Kassapa. Ghaṭīkāra bowed and sat down to one side, but Jotipāla exchanged greetings with the Buddha and sat down to one side.
Ghaṭīkāra said to the Buddha Kassapa,
‘Sir, this is my dear friend Jotipāla, a brahmin student.
Please teach him the Dhamma.’
Then the Buddha Kassapa educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Ghaṭīkāra and Jotipāla with a Dhamma talk.
Then they got up from their seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha Kassapa, keeping him on their right, before leaving.
Then Jotipāla said to Ghatīkāra,
‘Dear Ghaṭīkāra, you have heard this teaching, so why don’t you go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’
‘Don’t you know, dear Jotipāla, that I look after my blind old parents?’
‘Well then, dear Ghaṭīkāra, I shall go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’
Then Ghaṭīkāra and Jotipāla went to the Buddha Kassapa, bowed and sat down to one side. Ghaṭīkāra said to the Buddha Kassapa,
‘Sir, this is my dear friend Jotipāla, a brahmin student.
Please give him the going forth.’
And Jotipāla the brahmin student received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.
Not long after Jotipāla’s ordination, a fortnight later, the Buddha Kassapa—having stayed in Vebhaliṅga as long as he wished—set out for Benares.
Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Benares,
where he stayed near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana.
King Kikī of Kāsi heard that he had arrived.
He had the finest carriages harnessed. He then mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out in full royal pomp from Benares to see the Buddha Kassapa.
He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha Kassapa on foot. He bowed and sat down to one side.
The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk.
Then King Kikī said to the Buddha,
‘Sir, would the Buddha together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?’
The Buddha Kassapa consented in silence.
Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, King Kikī got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
And when the night had passed, King Kikī had a variety of delicious foods prepared in his own home—soft saffron rice with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying,
‘Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.’
Then Kassapa Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of King Kikī, where he sat on the seat spread out, together with the Saṅgha of mendicants.
Then King Kikī served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with a variety of delicious foods.
When the Buddha Kassapa had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, King Kikī took a low seat and sat to one side.
There he said to the Buddha Kassapa,
‘Sir, may the Buddha please accept my invitation to reside in Benares for the rainy season.
The Saṅgha will be looked after in the same style.’
‘Enough, great king.
I have already accepted an invitation for the rains residence.’
For a second time …
and a third time King Kikī said to the Buddha Kassapa,
‘Sir, may the Buddha please accept my invitation to reside in Benares for the rainy season.
The Saṅgha will be looked after in the same style.’
‘Enough, Great King.
I have already accepted an invitation for the rains residence.’
Then King Kikī, thinking, ‘The Buddha does not accept my invitation to reside for the rains in Benares,’ became sad and upset.
Then King Kikī said to the Buddha Kassapa,
‘Sir, do you have another supporter better than me?’
‘Great king, there is a market town named Vebhaliṅga,
where there’s a potter named Ghaṭīkāra.
He is my chief supporter.
Now, great king, you thought, “The Buddha does not accept my invitation to reside for the rains in Benares,” and you became sad and upset.
But Ghaṭīkāra doesn’t get upset, nor will he.
Ghaṭīkāra has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.
He doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or take alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.
He has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and has the ethics loved by the noble ones.
He is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.
He eats in one part of the day; he’s celibate, ethical, and of good character.
He has set aside gems and gold, and rejected gold and money.
He’s put down the shovel and doesn’t dig the earth with his own hands.
He takes what has crumbled off by a riverbank or been dug up by mice, and brings it back in a carrier. When he has made a pot, he says,
“Anyone may leave bagged sesame, mung beans, or chickpeas here and take what they wish.”
He looks after his blind old parents.
And since he has ended the five lower fetters, Ghaṭīkāra will be reborn spontaneously and will become extinguished there, not liable to return from that world.
This one time, great king, I was staying near the market town of Vebhaliṅga.
Then I robed up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, went to the home of Ghaṭīkāra’s parents, where I said to them,
“Excuse me, where has Bhaggava gone?”
“Your supporter has gone out, sir. But take rice from the pot and sauce from the pan and eat.”
So that’s what I did. And after eating I got up from my seat and left.
Then Ghaṭīkāra went up to his parents and said,
“Who took rice from the pot and sauce from the pan, ate it, and left?”
“It was the Buddha Kassapa, my dear.”
Then Ghaṭīkāra thought,
“I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,
in that the Buddha Kassapa trusts me so much!”
Then joy and happiness did not leave him for a fortnight, or his parents for a week.
Another time, great king, I was staying near that same market town of Vebhaliṅga.
Then I robed up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, went to the home of Ghaṭīkāra’s parents, where I said to them,
“Excuse me, where has Bhaggava gone?”
“Your supporter has gone out, sir. But take porridge from the pot and sauce from the pan and eat.”
So that’s what I did. And after eating I got up from my seat and left.
Then Ghaṭīkāra went up to his parents and said,
“Who took porridge from the pot and sauce from the pan, ate it, and left?”
“It was the Buddha Kassapa, my dear.”
Then Ghaṭīkāra thought,
“I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,
to be trusted so much by the Buddha Kassapa!”
Then joy and happiness did not leave him for a fortnight, or his parents for a week.
Another time, great king, I was staying near that same market town of Vebhaliṅga.
Now at that time my hut leaked.
So I addressed the mendicants,
“Mendicants, go to Ghaṭīkāra’s home and find some grass.”
When I said this, those mendicants said to me,
“Sir, there’s no grass there, but his workshop has a grass roof.”
“Then go to the workshop and strip the grass.”
So that’s what they did.
Then Ghaṭīkāra’s parents said to those mendicants,
“Who’s stripping the grass from the workshop?”
“It’s the mendicants, sister. The Buddha’s hut is leaking.”
“Take it, sirs! Take it, my dears!”
Then Ghaṭīkāra went up to his parents and said,
“Who stripped the grass from the workshop?”
“It was the mendicants, dear. It seems the Buddha’s hut is leaking.”
Then Ghaṭīkāra thought,
“I’m so fortunate, so very fortunate,
to be trusted so much by the Buddha Kassapa!”
Then joy and happiness did not leave him for a fortnight, or his parents for a week.
Then the workshop remained with the sky for a roof for the whole three months, but no rain fell on it.
And that, great king, is what Ghaṭīkāra the potter is like.’
‘Ghaṭīkāra the potter is fortunate, very fortunate,
to be so trusted by the Buddha Kassapa.’
Then King Kikī sent around five hundred cartloads of rice, soft saffron rice, and suitable sauce to Ghaṭīkāra.
Then one of the king’s men approached Ghaṭīkāra and said,
‘Sir, these five hundred cartloads of rice, soft saffron rice, and suitable sauce have been sent to you by King Kikī of Kāsī.
Please accept them.’
‘The king has many duties, and much to do.
I have enough.
Let this be for the king himself.’
Ānanda, you might think:
‘Surely the brahmin student Jotipāla must have been someone else at that time?’
But you should not see it like this.
I myself was the student Jotipāla at that time.”
That is what the Buddha said.
Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda was happy with what the Buddha said.