Dhaniya Sutta

Category: Uraga Vagga

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Dhaniya the cattleman:

"The rice is cooked, my milking done. I live with my people along the banks of the Mahi; my hut is roofed, my fire lit: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The Buddha:

"Free from anger, my stubbornness gone, I live for one night along the banks of the Mahi; my hut's roof is open, my fire out: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

Dhaniya:

"No mosquitoes or gadflies are to be found. The cows range in the marshy meadow where the grasses flourish. They could stand the rain if it came: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead & rain."

The Buddha:

"A raft, well-made, has been lashed together. Having crossed over, gone to the far shore, I've subdued the flood. No need for a raft is to be found: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

Dhaniya:

"My wife is compliant, not careless, is charming, has lived with me long. I hear no evil about her at all: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The Buddha:

"My mind is compliant, released, has long been nurtured, well tamed. No evil is to be found in me: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

Dhaniya:

"I support myself on my earnings. My sons live in harmony, free from disease. I hear no evil about them at all: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The Buddha:

"I'm in no one's employ, I wander the whole world on the reward [of my Awakening]. No need for earnings is to be found: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

Dhaniya:

"There are cows, young bulls, cows in calf, and breeding cows, and a great bull, the leader of the herd: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The Buddha:

"There are no cows, no young bulls, no cows in calf or breeding cows, no great bull, the leader of the herd: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

Dhaniya:

"The stakes are dug-in, immovable. The new muñja-grass halters, well-woven, not even young bulls could break: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The Buddha:

"Having broken my bonds like a great bull, like a great elephant tearing a rotting vine, I never again will lie in the womb: so if you want, rain-god, go ahead and rain."

The great cloud rained down straightaway, filling the lowlands and high. Hearing the rain-god pour down,

Dhaniya:

"How great our gain that we've gazed on the Blessed One! We go to him, the One with vision, for refuge. May you be our teacher, Great Sage. My wife & I are compliant. Let's follow the holy life under the One Well-gone. Gone to the far shore of aging and death, let's put an end to suffering and stress."

Mara:

"Those with children delight because of their children. Those with cattle delight because of their cows. A person's delight comes from acquisitions, since a person with no acquisitions doesn't delight."

The Buddha:

"Those with children grieve because of their children. Those with cattle grieve because of their cows. A person's grief comes from acquisitions, since a person with no acquisitions doesn't grieve."