{"id":"an7.53","title":"Nanda’s Mother","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"an7.53","title":"Nanda’s Mother","units":[{"id":"an7.53:0","sourceIds":["an7.53:0.1","an7.53:0.2","an7.53:0.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.53\n5. Mahāyaññavagga\nNandamātāsutta","en":"Numbered Discourses 7.53\n5. A Great Sacrifice\nNanda’s Mother"}},{"id":"an7.53:1","sourceIds":["an7.53:1.1","an7.53:1.2","an7.53:1.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evaṁ me sutaṁ—\nekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca sāriputto āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno dakkhiṇāgirismiṁ cārikaṁ caranti mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ.\nTena kho pana samayena veḷukaṇḍakī nandamātā upāsikā rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsati.","en":"So I have heard.\nAt one time the venerables Sāriputta and Mahāmoggallāna were wandering in the Southern Hills together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.\nNow 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”."}},{"id":"an7.53:2","sourceIds":["an7.53:2.1","an7.53:2.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tena kho pana samayena vessavaṇo mahārājā uttarāya disāya dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ gacchati kenacideva karaṇīyena.\nAssosi kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsantiyā, sutvā kathāpariyosānaṁ āgamayamāno aṭṭhāsi.","en":"And at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business.\nHe heard Nanda’s Mother reciting, and stood waiting for her to finish."}},{"id":"an7.53:3","sourceIds":["an7.53:3.1","an7.53:3.2","an7.53:3.3","an7.53:3.4","an7.53:3.5","an7.53:3.6","an7.53:3.7","an7.53:3.8","an7.53:3.9"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosi.\nAtha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā nandamātāya upāsikāya kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi:\n“sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī”ti.\n“Ko paneso, bhadramukhā”ti?\n“Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā”ti.\n“Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan”ti.\n“Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ.\nSveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi.\nEtañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan”ti.","en":"Then when her recital was over she fell silent.\nThen, knowing she had finished, Vessavaṇa applauded, saying,\n“Good, sister! Good, sister!”\n“But who might you be, dearest?”\n“Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.”\n“Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.”\n“Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.\nTomorrow, 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.\nThen that will also be your offering to me as your guest.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:4","sourceIds":["an7.53:4.1","an7.53:4.2","an7.53:4.3","an7.53:4.4","an7.53:4.5","an7.53:4.6","an7.53:4.7","an7.53:4.8","an7.53:4.9"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpesi.\nAtha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso yena veḷukaṇḍako tadavasari.\nAtha kho nandamātā upāsikā aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi:\n“ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocehi:\n‘kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’”ti.\n“Evaṁ, ayye”ti kho so puriso nandamātāya upāsikāya paṭissutvā ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhusaṅghassa kālaṁ ārocesi:\n“kālo, bhante, ayyāya nandamātuyā nivesane niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.\nAtha kho sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena nandamātāya upāsikāya nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.\nAtha kho nandamātā upāsikā sāriputtamoggallānappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.","en":"And when the night had passed the lay woman Nanda’s Mother had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in her own home.\nThen the Saṅgha of mendicants headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna arrived at Veḷukaṇṭa.\nThen Nanda’s Mother addressed a man,\n“Please, my man, go to the monastery and announce the time to the Saṅgha, saying:\n‘Sirs, it’s time. The meal is ready in the home of the lady Nanda’s Mother.’”\n“Yes, ma’am,” that man replied, and he did as she said.\nAnd 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.\nThen Nanda’s Mother served and satisfied them with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods."}},{"id":"an7.53:5","sourceIds":["an7.53:5.1","an7.53:5.2","an7.53:5.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho nandamātā upāsikā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi.\nEkamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:\n“ko pana te, nandamāte, bhikkhusaṅghassa abbhāgamanaṁ ārocesī”ti?","en":"When Sāriputta had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Nanda’s Mother sat down to one side.\nSāriputta said to her,\n“Nanda’s Mother, who told you that the Saṅgha of mendicants was about to arrive?”"}},{"id":"an7.53:6","sourceIds":["an7.53:6.1","an7.53:6.2","an7.53:6.3","an7.53:6.4","an7.53:6.5","an7.53:6.6","an7.53:6.7","an7.53:6.8","an7.53:6.9","an7.53:6.10"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, rattiyā paccūsasamayaṁ paccuṭṭhāya pārāyanaṁ sarena bhāsitvā tuṇhī ahosiṁ.\nAtha kho, bhante, vessavaṇo mahārājā mama kathāpariyosānaṁ viditvā abbhānumodi:\n‘sādhu, bhagini, sādhu, bhaginī’ti.\n‘Ko paneso, bhadramukhā’ti?\n‘Ahaṁ te, bhagini, bhātā vessavaṇo, mahārājā’ti.\n‘Sādhu, bhadramukha, tena hi yo me ayaṁ dhammapariyāyo bhaṇito idaṁ te hotu ātitheyyan’ti.\n‘Sādhu, bhagini, etañceva me hotu ātitheyyaṁ.\nSveva sāriputtamoggallānappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho akatapātarāso veḷukaṇḍakaṁ āgamissati, tañca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisitvā mama dakkhiṇaṁ ādiseyyāsi.\nEtañceva me bhavissati ātitheyyan’ti.\nYadidaṁ, bhante, dāne puññañca puññamahī ca taṁ vessavaṇassa mahārājassa sukhāya hotū”ti.","en":"“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.\nThen the great king Vessavaṇa, knowing I had finished, applauded me,\n‘Good, sister! Good, sister!’\nI asked: ‘But who might you be, dearest?’\n‘Sister, I am your brother Vessavaṇa, the great king.’\n‘Good, dearest! Then may my recital of the teaching be my offering to you as my guest.’\n‘Good, sister! And let this also be your offering to me as your guest.\nTomorrow, 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.\nThen that will also be your offering to me as your guest.’\nAnd so, sir, may the merit and the flourishing of merit of this gift be for the happiness of the great king Vessavaṇa.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:7","sourceIds":["an7.53:7.1","an7.53:7.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.\nYatra hi nāma vessavaṇena mahārājena evaṁmahiddhikena evaṁmahesakkhena devaputtena sammukhā sallapissasī”ti.","en":"“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing\nthat you converse face to face with a mighty and illustrious godling like the great king Vessavaṇa.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:8","sourceIds":["an7.53:8.1","an7.53:8.2","an7.53:8.3","an7.53:8.4","an7.53:8.5","an7.53:8.6","an7.53:8.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nIdha me, bhante, nando nāma ekaputtako piyo manāpo.\nTaṁ rājāno kismiñcideva pakaraṇe okassa pasayha jīvitā voropesuṁ.\nTasmiṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dārake gahite vā gayhamāne vā vadhe vā vajjhamāne vā hate vā haññamāne vā nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattan”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ nandamāte.\nYatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nI had an only son named Nanda who I loved dearly.\nThe rulers forcibly abducted him on some pretext and had him executed.\nBut 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.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing\nthat you purify even the arising of a thought.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:9","sourceIds":["an7.53:9.1","an7.53:9.2","an7.53:9.3","an7.53:9.4","an7.53:9.5","an7.53:9.6","an7.53:9.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nIdha me, bhante, sāmiko kālaṅkato aññataraṁ yakkhayoniṁ upapanno.\nSo me teneva purimena attabhāvena uddassesi.\nNa kho panāhaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi tatonidānaṁ cittassa aññathattan”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.\nYatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nWhen my husband passed away he was reborn in one of the realms of spirits.\nHe revealed to me his previous incarnation.\nBut I can’t recall getting upset on that account.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing\nthat you purify even the arising of a thought.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:10","sourceIds":["an7.53:10.1","an7.53:10.2","an7.53:10.3","an7.53:10.4","an7.53:10.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nYatohaṁ, bhante, sāmikassa daharasseva daharā ānītā nābhijānāmi sāmikaṁ manasāpi aticaritā, kuto pana kāyenā”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte.\nYatra hi nāma cittuppādampi parisodhessasī”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nEver 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.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing\nthat you purify even the arising of a thought.”"}},{"id":"an7.53:11","sourceIds":["an7.53:11.1","an7.53:11.2","an7.53:11.3","an7.53:11.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nYadāhaṁ, bhante, upāsikā paṭidesitā nābhijānāmi kiñci sikkhāpadaṁ sañcicca vītikkamitā”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nEver since I declared myself a lay follower, I can’t recall deliberately breaking any precept.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”"}},{"id":"an7.53:12","sourceIds":["an7.53:12.1","an7.53:12.2","an7.53:12.3","an7.53:12.4","an7.53:12.5","an7.53:12.6","an7.53:12.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nIdhāhaṁ, bhante, yāvade ākaṅkhāmi vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.\nVitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.\nPītiyā ca virāgā upekkhikā ca viharāmi satā ca sampajānā sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.\nSukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmī”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nWhenever 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.\nAs 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.\nAnd 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.’\nWith 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.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”"}},{"id":"an7.53:13","sourceIds":["an7.53:13.1","an7.53:13.2","an7.53:13.3","an7.53:13.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Na kho me, bhante, eseva acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nAtthi me aññopi acchariyo abbhuto dhammo.\nYānimāni, bhante, bhagavatā desitāni pañcorambhāgiyāni saṁyojanāni nāhaṁ tesaṁ kiñci attani appahīnaṁ samanupassāmī”ti.\n“Acchariyaṁ, nandamāte, abbhutaṁ, nandamāte”ti.","en":"“Sir, this is not my only incredible and amazing quality;\nthere is another.\nOf the five lower fetters taught by the Buddha, I don’t see any that I haven’t given up.”\n“It’s incredible, Nanda’s Mother, it’s amazing!”"}},{"id":"an7.53:14","sourceIds":["an7.53:14.1","an7.53:14.2","an7.53:14.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto nandamātaraṁ upāsikaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.\nDasamaṁ.\nMahāyaññavaggo pañcamo.","en":"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."}},{"id":"an7.53:15","sourceIds":["an7.53:15.0","an7.53:15.1","an7.53:15.2","an7.53:15.3","an7.53:15.4","an7.53:15.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tassuddānaṁ\nṬhiti ca parikkhāraṁ dve,\naggī saññā ca dve parā;\nMethunā saṁyogo dānaṁ,\nnandamātena te dasāti.\nPaṇṇāsako samatto."}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/an7.53/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}