Pv 21The Merchant Aṅkura

– PETAVATTHU

– THE UBBARĪ CHAPTER

2.9

BJT 258"It is for the purpose of that (trade) that we carry goods to Kamboja. This Yakkha is able to grant wishes; therefore let us take this Yakkha along with us.

BJT 259Let us take hold of this Yakkha, whether by fair means or by force, then have him put upon the cart, and let us swiftly go to Dvāravatī."

BJT 260"One who sits or lies in the shade of a tree's trunk should not break its branches, for to betray a friend is evil."

BJT 261"One who sits or lies in the shade of a tree's trunk may even fell the entire trunk if the need is such."

BJT 262"One who sits or lies in the shade of a tree's trunk should not break its leaves, for to betray a friend is evil."

BJT 263"One who sits or lies in the shade of a tree's trunk may even uproot it entirely if the need is such."

BJT 264"One who dwells in another's home for even a single night and receives food and drink there should not think an evil thought toward that (host), even in mind; the state of gratitude is praised by the noble ones.

BJT 265One who dwells in another's home for even a single night and is served food and drink should not think an evil thought toward that (host), even in mind; the hand of one who does not betray destroys the one who betrays a friend.

BJT 266Whoever has had a good deed done for them in the past and afterward harms the benefactor wickedly — one who takes the life of a benefactor — such a one does not encounter good fortune."

BJT 267"Whoever reviles one who is pure, unspoiled, and without blemish — the evil returns to that very fool, like fine dust thrown against the wind."

BJT 268"I am not easily overcome by a heavenly being, or by a human, or by force of authority. I am a Yakkha who has attained the highest spiritual power, who travels far, who has attained beauty and strength."

BJT 269"Your hand is entirely of gold, the five fingers are a fount of sweet honey, with much nectar flowing forth; I think that you are (Lord) Purindada, the one who gave gifts of old."

BJT 270"I am not a heavenly being, not a celestial musician, nor am I Sakka, the one who gave gifts of old. Know me, Aṅkura, as a peta who has come here from Bheruva."

BJT 271"What virtue did you formerly have at Bheruva, what practice did you follow? By what noble conduct of yours was merit accomplished in the hand?"

BJT 272"Formerly I was a tailor. At that time I lived at Bheruva in great hardship, in poverty; I had nothing to give as a gift.

BJT 273My place of work was in the vicinity of Asayha, a faithful donor who did meritorious deeds and who had a sense of moral shame.

BJT 274There, beggars and poor people of various groups came. And they asked me about the dwelling of Asayha.

BJT 275'Where shall we go? May you fare well. Where is a gift being distributed?' Being asked by them, I would tell them the dwelling of Asayha.

BJT 276Stretching out my right arm, (I would say): 'Go there. May you fare well. There a gift is being distributed, at the dwelling of Asayha.'

BJT 277By that deed the hand possesses the granting of wishes, by that deed the hand possesses a fount of sweet honey, by that noble conduct of mine was merit accomplished in the hand."

BJT 278"It is said that you yourself did not personally hand out a gift to anyone, yet rejoicing in another's giving, you stretched out your hand and showed the way.

BJT 279By that deed the hand possesses the granting of wishes, by that deed the hand possesses a fount of sweet honey, by that noble conduct of yours was merit accomplished in the hand.

BJT 280Sir, the one who with faith personally handed out gifts himself — after departing from the human body, to what realm did he go?"

BJT 281"I do not know the going or the coming of Aṅgīrasa, the one who endured what cannot be endured, but I have heard in the presence of (the Deva-King) Vessavaṇa that Asayha has gone to dwell with (Lord) Sakka."

BJT 282"It is more than enough to do good deeds, to distribute gifts according to one's ability. Having seen the hand that grants wishes, who would not perform meritorious deeds?

BJT 283Surely, I myself, after departing from this place and returning to Dvāravatī, will undertake the giving of gifts, which will bring happiness to me.

BJT 284I will give food and drink, cloth and shelter, water-giving stations, wells, and crossing places at difficult passages."

BJT 285"Why do you have crooked fingers, a face that has been twisted, and eyes that water? What evil deed was done by you?"

BJT 286"While the faithful householder Aṅgīrasa was at home, I was the one in charge of distributing gifts at his place of food distribution.

BJT 287There, having seen beggars in need of food approaching, I turned aside and made a twisted face.

BJT 288By that deed I have crooked fingers, a face that has been twisted, and eyes that water — that evil deed was done by me."

BJT 289"You wretched one, it is in accordance with the Dhamma that you have crooked fingers, a face that has been twisted, and eyes that water, for you made a twisted face at another's giving."

BJT 290"Why, while distributing gifts of food, drink, solid food, cloth, and shelter, would one have need to rely on another?"

BJT 291"Surely, I myself, after departing from this place and returning to Dvāravatī, will undertake the giving of gifts, which will bring happiness to me.

BJT 292I will give food and drink, cloth and shelter, water-giving stations, wells, and crossing places at difficult passages."

BJT 293Returning from that place and having reached Dvāravatī, that Aṅkura undertook the giving of gifts, which brought happiness to himself.

BJT 294Aṅkura gave food and drink, cloth and shelter, water-giving stations, and wells with a pure mind.

BJT 295'Who is hungry? And who is thirsty? Who will wear cloth? Whose draught animals are weary — let them choose animals here to yoke to their cart.

BJT 296Who wants a parasol and perfume? Who wants garlands? Who wants sandals?' Barbers, cooks, and perfume-sellers thus proclaimed constantly, by night and by day, at that place, at the dwelling of Aṅkura.

BJT 297"'Aṅkura sleeps happily,' the people know me thus. O Sindhaka, I sleep miserably because I do not see the beggars.

BJT 298'Aṅkura sleeps happily,' the people know me thus. O Sindhaka, I sleep miserably when those in poverty are few."

BJT 299"If Sakka, Lord of the Thirty-Three and of the entire world, were to grant you a wish, what wish would you wish for in your wishing?"

BJT 300"If Sakka, Lord of the Thirty-Three, were to grant me a wish, then: at the moment when I am rising — which is the rising of the sun — may heavenly foods appear and may the beggars be those of virtue.

BJT 301When I am giving, may (the gift) not be exhausted; after giving, may I not feel regret; while giving, may the mind be filled with faith — such is the wish I would wish for from Sakka."

BJT 302"One should not give all one's wealth to others; one should distribute gifts and should also protect one's property; for this reason wealth is evidently superior to giving, for with excessive giving, families cease to endure.

BJT 303The wise do not praise either non-giving or excessive giving; thus wealth is clearly better than giving; a person of wise nature should act in the middle way."

BJT 304"Oh, is that truly so, sir? I shall continue to give, because good people, true persons, will associate with me, just as rain fills up the low-lying lands; I should satisfy all those who are in need.

BJT 305Whoever, upon seeing beggars, shows a cheerful face, and upon giving has a mind of gladness — that is the happiness of one living the household life.

BJT 306Whoever, upon seeing beggars, shows a cheerful face, and upon giving has a mind of gladness — that is the success of an offering.

BJT 307Before giving, having a mind of gladness; while giving, making the mind serene and faithful; and after having given, having a mind of gladness — that is the success of an offering."

BJT 308"The regular meals given to all people at the dwelling of Aṅkura, the man who longed for making offerings, numbered sixty thousand carriage-loads.

BJT 309Three thousand head cooks, adorned with earrings of polished maṇi gems, lived in dependence upon Aṅkura, occupied with the offering in giving.

BJT 310Sixty thousand men, young men, adorned with earrings of polished maṇi gems, chopped wood at the great sacrifice of Aṅkura.

BJT 311Sixteen thousand women, ladies adorned with every kind of ornament, kneaded and mixed the ingredients at the great sacrifice of Aṅkura.

BJT 312Sixteen thousand women adorned with every kind of ornament, holding ladles, served at the great sacrifice of Aṅkura.

BJT 313The Kṣatriya gave much to many, gave with his own hand for a long time, in earnest, having shown respect, time and again.

BJT 314Aṅkura conducted the great sacrifice over a long period of time, through many months, many fortnights, many seasons, and many years.

BJT 315Aṅkura gave and made offerings thus for a long time; having relinquished his human body, he went to the Realm of the Thirty-Three."

BJT 316"Indaka offered a single spoonful of food to the Venerable Anuruddha; having relinquished his human body, he went to the Realm of the Thirty-Three.

BJT 317Indaka shines surpassing Aṅkura in ten respects: in form, in sound, in taste, in scent, in pleasing contact, …

BJT 318… in lifespan, and also in renown, in beauty, in happiness, and in power; Indaka shines surpassing Aṅkura."

BJT 319"O Aṅkura, the great sacrifice was given by you for a long time. You sit too far away; draw near to Me."

BJT 320In the Realm of the Thirty-Three, at that time the Buddha, the Supreme Person, dwelt at the foot of the coral tree, upon the Paṇḍukambala rock.

BJT 321The devas of ten thousand worlds assembled to attend upon the Fully Enlightened One dwelling at the summit of the mountain.

BJT 322No deva shone surpassing the Fully Enlightened One in complexion; having surpassed all the devas, the Fully Enlightened One alone shone forth.

BJT 323At that time Aṅkura was twelve yojanas distant, while Indaka shone resplendently not far from the Buddha.

BJT 324Having observed Aṅkura as well as Indaka, the Fully Enlightened One, while emphasizing the subject of a worthy recipient of offerings, spoke these words:

BJT 325'O Aṅkura, the great sacrifice was given by you for a long time. You sit too far away; draw near to Me.'

BJT 326Encouraged by the one whose own person had been fully cultivated, Aṅkura replied with these words: 'What do I gain from that giving, given the absence of a worthy recipient of offerings?

BJT 327This very yaksha Indaka, having offered a small gift, shines surpassing us, like the moon among a gathering of stars.'

BJT 328'Just as seeds, though many, sown in a barren field, yield a result that is not abundant and does not gladden the farmer.

BJT 329In exactly the same way, many gifts bestowed upon those of poor virtue yield a result that is not abundant and do not gladden the donor.

BJT 330Just as seeds, though few, sown in a fertile field, when granted regular rain, yield a result that gladdens the farmer.

BJT 331In exactly the same way, an act though small, done toward those of such virtue and good conduct, yields merit with a great result.'

BJT 332Having reflected on where a gift should be given so that what has been given yields a great result, donors, having reflected, offer gifts and go to the heavenly realm.

BJT 333A gift given with reflection is praised by the Sublime One. Those who are worthy recipients of offerings in this world of living beings — gifts given to them yield great results, just as seeds sown in a good field."

The Ghost Story of Aṅkura is the ninth.