ud.2.8 Udana

The Discourse about Suppavāsā

Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Kuṇḍiya, at Kuṇḍadhāna Wood. Then at that time the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb and couldn’t be delivered. While she was affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consented to three thoughts: “For sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.”

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā addressed her husband, saying: “Come, Master, you must go to the Gracious One, and after going, in my name you should worship the Gracious One’s feet with your head, and ask if he is free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably, and say: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One’s feet with her head, and asks if you are free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably?’ And please say this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb. While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consents to three thoughts: “For sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.” ’ ”

“That is the best thing” said the Koliyan gentleman, and after replying to Suppavāsā the Koliyan lady, he went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side that Koliyan gentleman said this to the Gracious One:

“The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One’s feet with her head, and asks if you are free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably? And she says this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb. While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consents to three thoughts: “For sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.” ’ ”

“Happy may the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā be, and healthy, and may she give birth to a healthy son.” And with this word of the Gracious One, the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā became happy and healthy, and gave birth to a healthy son.

“Yes, reverend Sir” said the Koliyan gentleman, and after greatly rejoicing and gladly receiving this word of the Gracious One, rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Gracious One, he returned to his own home.

The Koliyan gentleman saw that the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was happy and healthy, and had given birth to a healthy son. Having seen that, it occured to him:

“Surely it is wonderful, surely it is marvellous, the Realised One’s great power and great majesty, in as much as this Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, with this word of the Gracious One, became happy and healthy, and to a healthy son gave birth”, and he was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā addressed her husband, saying: “Come, Master, you must go to the Gracious One, and after going, in my name you should worship the Gracious One’s feet with your head, and say: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One’s feet with her head.’ And please say this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. May the Gracious One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā together with the Community of monks.’ ”

“That is the best thing”, said the Koliyan gentleman, and after replying to Suppavāsā the Koliyan lady, he went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side the Koliyan gentleman said this to the Gracious One:

“The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One’s feet with her head. And she says this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. May the Gracious One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā together with the Community of monks.’ ”

Then at that time a certain lay follower had invited the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head to a meal on the morrow. Now that lay follower was venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter. Then the Gracious One addressed venerable Mahāmoggallāna, saying: “Come, Moggallāna, you must go to that lay follower, and after going, please say this to that lay follower: ‘Friend, the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal, please let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals.’ Afterwards he can make his—he is your supporter.”

“Yes, reverend Sir,” said venerable Mahāmoggallāna, and after replying to the Gracious One, he went to that lay follower, and after going, he said this to that lay follower:

“Friend, the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. Let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals, and afterwards you can make yours.”

“If, reverend Sir, master Mahāmoggallāna is my surety for three things—for wealth, for life, and for faith—the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā may make her seven meals, and afterwards I will make mine.”

“For two things, friend, I am your surety—for wealth and for life—but for faith you are the surety.”

“If, reverend Sir, master Mahāmoggallāna is my surety for two things—for wealth and for life—the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā may make her seven meals, and afterwards I will make mine.”

Then venerable Mahāmoggallāna, after conciliating that lay follower, went to the Gracious One, and after going, he said this to the Gracious One: “That lay follower has been conciliated by me, reverend Sir, let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals, and afterwards he can make his.”

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā for seven days with her own hand served and satisfied the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head with excellent comestibles and edibles. Then she made the little boy worship the Buddha, and the whole Community of monks.

Then venerable Sāriputta said this to that little boy: “Can you bear up, little boy? Can you carry on? Do you have any pain?”

“How, reverend Sāriputta, can I bear up? How can I carry on? For seven years I have been living in a bloodbath.”

Then it occured to the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā: “My son is consulting with the general of the Dhamma,” and she became elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Then the Gracious One after seeing that the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy, said this to the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā: “Suppavāsā, do you long for another such son?”

“Gracious One, I long for another seven such sons.” Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“The disagreeable in an agreeable form, the unlovely in a lovely form,
The painful in the form of pleasure, overcome the heedless one.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

Suppavāsā

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Kuṇḍiyā in the Kuṇḍadhāna Grove.
Now at that time Suppavāsā the Koliyan had been pregnant for seven years, and in difficult labor for seven days.
While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts helped her endure:
“Oh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this.
Oh! The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this.
Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.”
Then Suppavāsā addressed her husband,
“Please, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.
And then say:
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan has been pregnant for seven years, and in difficult labor for seven days.
While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts help her endure:
“Oh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this.
Oh! The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this.
Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.”’”
“Excellent idea,” he replied. He went to the Buddha and told him of his wife’s struggles. The Buddha said:
“May Suppavāsā the Koliyan be happy and healthy! May she give birth to a healthy child!”
As soon as he spoke, Suppavāsā, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child.
Saying “Yes, sir,” the Koliyan gentleman approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he returned to his own house.
He saw that his wife, happy and healthy, had given birth to a healthy child,
and thought,
“It’s incredible, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For as soon as he spoke, Suppavāsā, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child.”
He became uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness.
Then Suppavāsā addressed her husband,
“Please, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.
And then say,
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in difficult labor for seven days,
is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child.
She invites the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days.
Sir, may the Buddha please accept seven meals from Suppavāsā.’”
“Excellent idea,” he replied. He went to the Buddha, told him the good news, and conveyed his wife’s invitation.
Now at that time a certain lay follower had already invited the Sangha of monks headed by the Buddha for the meal on the following day.
That lay follower was Venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter.
Then the Buddha addressed Venerable Mahāmoggallāna,
“Please, Moggallāna, go to the that lay follower and say to him,
‘Suppavāsā the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in difficult labor for seven days,
is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child.
She invites the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days.
Let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards you can make yours.’
He is your supporter.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Mahāmoggallāna. He went to that lay follower and conveyed the Buddha’s request.
“If, sir, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna can guarantee me three things—
wealth, life, and faith—
then let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.”
“I can guarantee you two things—
wealth and life.
But as for faith, you alone are the guarantor.”
“If, sir Venerable Mahāmoggallāna can guarantee me two things—
wealth and life—
then let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.”
Having persuaded that lay follower, Mahāmoggallāna went to the Buddha and said,
“I’ve persuaded the lay follower.
Let Suppavāsā make seven meals, afterwards he shall make his.”
For seven days Suppavāsā served and satisfied the Buddha with her own hands with a variety of delicious foods.
And she made her little boy bow to the Buddha and the mendicant Sangha.
Then Sāriputta said to the boy,
“I hope you’re keeping well, little boy; I hope you’re alright. I hope that you are not in pain.”
“How could I be keeping well? How could I be alright?
For seven years I lived in a pot of blood.”
Then Suppavāsā, thinking,
“My child is conversing with the General of the Dhamma!” was uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness.
Knowing this, the Buddha said to her,
“Would you like to have another child like this?”
“Sir, I would like to have seven more children like this!”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“Pain in the guise of pleasure,
the disliked in the guise of the liked,
suffering in the guise of happiness,
overpower the negligent.”