Dhammapada Verse 410
Sariputtatthera Vatthu
Asa yassa na vijjanti
asmim loke paramhi ca
nirasasam visamyuttam
tamaham brumi brahmanam.
Verse 410: Him I call a brahmana, who has no
desire either for this world or for the next, who is free from craving and from
moral defilements.
The Story of Thera Sariputta
While residing at the Jetavana
monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (410) of this book, with reference to Thera
Sariputta.
On one occasion, Thera Sariputta
accompanied by five hundred bhikkhus went to a monastery near a small village to
spend the vassa. At the end of the vassa, Thera Sariputta wanted robes for young
bhikkhus and samaneras. So he said to the bhikkhus, "If people come to
offer robes, send them to me or inform me"; and then he left for the
Jetavana monastery to pay homage to the Buddha. Other bhikkhus misunderstood
Thera Sariputta's instructions, and said to the Buddha, "Venerable Sir!
Thera Sariputta is still attached to material things like robes and other
requisites of a bhikkhu." To them the Buddha replied, "Bhikkhus! My
son Sariputta has no more craving in him. He told you to bring the robes to him,
so that the chances to perform meritorious deeds may not decrease for
lay-disciples, and the chances to accept whatever they may properly receive may
not be reduced for young bhikkhus and samaneras."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
Verse 410: Him I call
a brahmana, who has no desire either for this world or for the next,
who is free from craving and from moral defilements. |