ud3.7:0.1Heartfelt Sayings 3.7
ud3.7:0.2Sakka’s Heartfelt Saying
ud3.7:1.1So I have heard.
ud3.7:1.2At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
ud3.7:1.3Now at that time Venerable Mahākassapa was staying in the Pipphali cave. Having entered a certain state of immersion, he sat cross-legged for seven days without moving.
ud3.7:1.4When seven days had passed, Mahākassapa emerged from that state of immersion.
ud3.7:1.5It occurred to him,
ud3.7:1.6“Why not enter Rājagaha for almsfood?”
ud3.7:2.1Now at that time five hundred deities were ready and eager for the chance to offer alms to Mahākassapa.
ud3.7:2.2But Mahākasspa turned down those deities. In the morning, he robed up, took his bowl and robe, and entered Rājagaha for alms.
ud3.7:2.3Now at that time Sakka, lord of gods, wished to give alms to Mahākassapa.
ud3.7:3.2Having manifested in the appearance of an embroiderer, he wove the thread. The titan maiden Sujā spun it onto the spindle.
ud3.7:3.3Then, as Mahākassapa wandered indiscriminately for almsfood in Rājagaha, he approached Sakka’s house.
ud3.7:3.4Seeing Mahākassapa coming off in the distance,
ud3.7:3.5Sakka came out of his house, greeted him, and took the bowl from his hand. He re-entered the house and filled the bowl with rice from the pot.
ud3.7:3.6That almsfood had many tasty soups and sauces.
ud3.7:3.7Then it occurred to Mahākassapa,
ud3.7:3.8“Now, what being is this who has such psychic power?”
ud3.7:3.9It occurred to him,
ud3.7:3.10“This is Sakka, lord of gods.”
ud3.7:3.11Knowing this, he said to Sakka,
ud3.7:3.12“This is your doing, Kosiya;
ud3.7:3.13don’t do such a thing again.”
ud3.7:3.14“But Honorable Kassapa, we too need merit!
ud3.7:3.15We too ought to make merit.”
ud3.7:4.1Then Sakka bowed and respectfully circled Mahākassapa, keeping him on his right. Then he rose into the air and, sitting cross-legged in midair, expressed this heartfelt sentiment three times:
ud3.7:4.2“Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!
ud3.7:4.3Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!
ud3.7:4.4Oh the gift, the best gift is well established in Kassapa!”
ud3.7:4.5With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha heard Sakka express this heartfelt sentiment while sitting in the sky.
ud3.7:5.1Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
ud3.7:6.1“A mendicant who relies on alms,
ud3.7:6.2self-supported, providing for no other;
ud3.7:6.3the unaffected one is envied by even the gods,
ud3.7:6.4calm and ever mindful.”