Dhammapada Verse 414
Sivalitthera Vatthu
Yo'mam palipatham duggam
samsaram mohamaccaga
tinno parangato jhayi
anejo akathamkathi
anupadaya nibbuto
tamaham brumi brahmanam.
Verse 414: Him I call a brahmana, who, having
traversed this dangerous swamp (of passion), this difficult road (of moral
defilements), the ocean of life (samsara) and the darkness of ignorance (moha),
and having crossed the fourfold Flood, has reached the other shore (Nibbana);
who practises Tranquility and Insight Meditation, who is free from craving and
from doubt, who clings to nothing and remains in perfect peace.
The Story of Thera Sivali
While residing in the Kundadhana
forest near the city of Kundakoliya, the Buddha uttered Verse (414) of this
book, with reference to Thera Sivali.
Princess Suppavasa of Kundakoliya
was in pregnancy for seven years and then for seven days she was in labour
pains. She kept contemplating the unique qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and
the Samgha and in the end she sent her husband to the Buddha to pay obeisance to
him on her behalf and to inform him of her condition. When informed of the
condition of the princess, the Buddha said, "May Suppavasa be free from
danger and from sorrow; may she give birth to a healthy noble son in
safety." As these words were being spoken, Suppavasa gave birth to her
son at her house. On that very day, soon after the birth of the child, the
Buddha and some bhikkhus were invited to the house. Alms-food was offered there
and the newly born child offered filtered water to the Buddha and the bhikkhus.
To celebrate the birth of the child, the parents invited the Buddha and the
bhikkhus to their house to offer food for seven days.
When the child grew up he was
admitted to the Order and as a bhikkhu he was known as Sivali. He attained
arahatship as soon as his head was shaved off. Later, he became famous as the
bhikkhu who received the largest amount of offerings. As a recipient of
offerings he was unsurpassed.
On one occasion, the bhikkhus
asked the Buddha why Sivali, with the qualifications to become an arahat, was
confined in his mother's womb for seven years. To them the Buddha replied,
"Bhikkhus! In a previous existence, Sivali was the son of a king who lost
his kingdom to another king. In trying to regain their kingdom he had besieged
the city on the advice of his mother. As a result, the people in the city were
without food or water for seven days. It was for this evil deed that Sivali was
imprisoned in his mother's womb for seven years. But now, Sivali has come to the
end of all dukkha; he has realized Nibbana."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
| Verse 414: Him I call
a brahmana, who, having traversed this dangerous swamp (of passion),
this difficult road (of moral defilements), the ocean of life (samsara)
and the darkness of ignorance (moha), and having crossed the fourfold
Flood, has reached the other shore (Nibbana); who practises Tranquility
and Insight Meditation, who is free from craving and from doubt, who
clings to nothing and remains in perfect peace. |