Nandamātāsutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.53

Numbered Discourses 7.53

5. Mahāyaññavagga

5. A Great Sacrifice

Nandamātāsutta

Nanda’s Mother

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ cārikaṁ caranti mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ.

At one time the venerables Sāriputta and Mahāmoggallāna were wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.

Tena kho pana samayena veḷukaṇḍakī nandamātā upāsikā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsati.

Now at that time the laywoman Veḷukaṇṭakī, Nanda’s mother, rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of “The Way to the Far Shore”.

Tena kho pana samayena vessavaṇo mahārājā uttarāya disāya dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ gacchati kenacideva karaṇīyena.

And at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business.

Assosi kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsantiyā, sutvā kathāpariyosānaṁ āgamayamāno aṭṭhāsi.

He heard Nanda’s Mother reciting, and stood waiting for her to finish.

Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosi.

Then when her recital was over she fell silent.

Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi:

Then, knowing she had finished, Vessavaṇa applauded, saying,

“sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī”ti.

“Good, sister! Good, sister!”

“Ko paneso, bhadramukhā”ti?

“But who might you be, dearest?”

“Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā”ti.

“Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.”

“Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan”ti.

“Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.”

“Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ.

“Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.

Sveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi.

Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.

Etañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan”ti.

Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.”

Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpesi.

And when the night had passed the lay woman Nanda’s Mother had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in her own home.

Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso yena veḷukaṇḍako tadavasari.

Then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna arrived at Veḷukaṇṭa.

Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi:

Then Nanda’s Mother addressed a man,

“ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocehi:

“Please, my man, go to the monastery and announce the time to the Saṅgha, saying:

‘kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’”ti.

‘Sirs, it’s time. The meal is ready in the home of the lady Nanda’s Mother.’”

“Evaṁ, ayye”ti kho so puriso nandamātāya upāsikāya paṭissutvā ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocesi:

“Yes, ma’am,” that man replied, and he did as she said.

“kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.

Atha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena nandamātāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

And then the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, went to the home of Nanda’s Mother, where they sat on the seats spread out.

Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā sāriputtamoggallānappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.

Then Nanda’s Mother served and satisfied them with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

When Sāriputta had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Nanda’s Mother sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:

Sāriputta said to her,

“ko pana te, nandamāte, bhikkhusaṅghassa abbhāgamanaṁ ārocesī”ti?

“Nanda’s Mother, who told you that the Saṅgha of mendicants was about to arrive?”

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosiṁ.

“Sir, last night I rose at the crack of dawn and recited the verses of ‘The Way to the Far Shore’, and then I fell silent.

Atha kho, bhante, vessavaṇo mahārājā mama kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi:

Then the great king Vessavaṇa, knowing I had finished, applauded me,

‘sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī’ti.

‘Good, sister! Good, sister!’

‘Ko paneso, bhadramukhā’ti?

I asked: ‘But who might you be, dearest?’

‘Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā’ti.

‘Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.’

‘Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan’ti.

‘Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.’

‘Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ.

‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.

Sveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi.

Tomorrow, the mendicant Saṅgha headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna will arrive at Veḷukaṇṭa before breakfast. When you’ve served the Saṅgha, please dedicate the religious donation to me.

Etañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan’ti.

Then that will also be your offering to me as your guest.’

Yadidaṁ, bhante, dāne puññañca puññamahī ca taṁ vessavaṇassa mahārājassa sukhāya hotū”ti.

And so, sir, may the merit and the flourishing of merit of this gift be for the happiness of the great king Vessavaṇa.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing

Yatra hi nāma vessavaṇena mahārājena evaṁmahiddhikena evaṁmahesakkhena devaputtena sammukhā sallapissasī”ti.

that you converse face to face with a mighty and illustrious godling like the great king Vessavaṇa.”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Idha me, bhante, nando nāma ekaputtako piyo manāpo.

I had an only son named Nanda who I loved dearly.

Taṁ rājāno kismiñcideva pakaraṇe okassa pasayha jīvitā voropesuṁ.

The rulers forcibly abducted him on some pretext and had him executed.

Tasmiṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dārake gahite vā gayhamāne vā vadhe vā vajjhamāne vā hate vā haññamāne vā nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattan”ti.

But I can’t recall getting upset when my boy was under arrest or being arrested, imprisoned or being put in prison, killed or being killed.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ nandamāte.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing

Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.

that you purify even the arising of a thought.”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Idha me, bhante, sāmiko kālaṅkato aññataraṁ yakkhayoniṁ upapanno.

When my husband passed away he was reborn in one of the realms of spirits.

So me teneva purimena attabhāvena uddassesi.

He revealed to me his previous incarnation.

Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi tatonidānaṁ cittassa aññathattan”ti.

But I can’t recall getting upset on that account.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing

Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.

that you purify even the arising of a thought.”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Yatohaṁ, bhante, sāmikassa daharasseva daharā ānītā nābhijānāmi sāmikaṁ manasāpi aticaritā, kuto pana kāyenā”ti.

Ever since we were both young, and I was given in marriage to my husband, I can’t recall betraying him even in thought, still less in deed.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing

Yatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.

that you purify even the arising of a thought.”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Yadāhaṁ, bhante, upāsikā paṭidesitā nābhijānāmi kiñci sikkhāpadaṁ sañcicca vītikkamitā”ti.

Ever since I declared myself a lay follower, I can’t recall deliberately breaking any precept.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Idhāhaṁ, bhante, yāvade ākaṅkhāmi vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

Whenever I want, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhikā ca viharāmi satā ca sampajānā sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

And with the fading away of rapture, I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

Sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmī”ti.

With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”

“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;

Atthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.

there is another.

Yānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani appahīnaṁ samanupassāmī”ti.

Of the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.”

“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.

“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.

Then Venerable Sāriputta educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired Nanda’s Mother with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.

Dasamaṁ.

Mahāyaññavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Ṭhiti ca parikkhāraṁ dve,

aggī saññā ca dve parā;

Methunā saṁyogo dānaṁ,

nandamātena te dasāti.

Paṇṇāsako samatto.