buddha daily wisdom image

ud.7.5 Udana

The Discourse about Bhaddiya the Dwarf

Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then at that time venerable Bhaddiya the Dwarf close behind many monks went to the Gracious One.

The Gracious One saw venerable Bhaddiya the Dwarf coming while still far away close behind many monks, ugly, unsightly, and deformed, whom almost all of the monks ignored. Having seen that, he addressed the monks, saying: “Do you see, monks, that monk coming while still far away close behind many monks, ugly, unsightly, and deformed, whom almost all of the monks ignore?”

“Yes, reverend Sir.”

“That monk, monks, is one of great power and great majesty. There is no well-gained attainment which has not been already attained by that monk, including that good for which sons of good family rightly go forth from the home to the homeless life, that unsurpassed conclusion to the spiritual life, and he dwells having known, directly experienced, and attained it himself in this very life.”

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“With faultless wheel, with a white covering, the one-spoked chariot rolls on,
See the untroubled one coming, who has cut off the stream, who is unbound.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato


Another Discourse with Bhaddiya the Dwarf

See it come, untroubled,
So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then Venerable Bhaddiya the Dwarf, closely following several mendicants, approached the Buddha.
The Buddha saw Venerable Bhaddiya coming off in the distance—ugly, unsightly, deformed, and despised by most of the mendicants.
The Buddha addressed the mendicants:
“Mendicants, do you see this monk coming—ugly, unsightly, deformed, and despised by most of the mendicants?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That mendicant is very mighty and powerful. It’s not easy to find an attainment that he has not already attained.
And he has realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“With flawless wheel and white canopy,
the one-spoke chariot rolls on.
with stream cut, unbound.”