Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Evaṃ me sutaṃ– ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.

Thus have I heard. At one time the Bhagavā was staying amongst the Bhaggā, in Crocodile Haunt, in the Deer Park of the Bhesakaḷā Grove.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena nakulapituno gahapatissa nivesanaṃ tenupasaṅkami;

upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

Then, in the forenoon, the Bhagavā, having dressed himself took his bowl and robe and departed for the dwelling of householder Nakulapitā.

Having reached there, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Atha kho nakulapitā ca gahapati nakulamātā ca gahapatānī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṃsu;

upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdiṃsu.

Then the householder Nakulapitā and the housewife Nakulamātā approached the Bhagavā;

and after having payed their respect to the Bhagavā sat down at one side.

Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho nakulapitā gahapati bhagavantaṃ etadavoca –

“Yato me, bhante, nakulamātā gahapatānī daharasseva daharā ānītā,

nābhijānāmi nakulamātaraṃ gahapatāniṃ manasāpi aticaritā, kuto pana kāyena!

Sitting at one side, the householder Nakulapitā said this to the Bhagavā:

“Bhante! Ever since the young housewife Nakulamātā was given to me in marriage when I was likewise still young,

I am not aware of having wronged her even in thoughts, much less in action.

Iccheyyāma mayaṃ, bhante, diṭṭhe ceva dhamme aññamaññaṃ passituṃ abhisamparāyañca aññamaññaṃ passitun”ti.

Bhante! We wish to meet each other not only in this life but also in the lives to come.”

Nakulamātāpi kho gahapatānī bhagavantaṃ etadavoca–

“yatohaṃ, bhante, nakulapituno gahapatissa daharasseva daharā ānītā,

nābhijānāmi nakulapitaraṃ gahapatiṃ manasāpi aticaritā, kuto pana kāyena! Iccheyyāma mayaṃ, bhante, diṭṭhe ceva dhamme aññamaññaṃ passituṃ abhisamparāyañca aññamaññaṃ passitun”ti.

Then Nakulamātā, the housewife, also said this to the Bhagavā:

“Bhante! Ever since I was brought to the home of my young husband Nakulapita, while being a young girl myself,

I am not aware of having wronged the householder Nakulapita even in thoughts, much less in action.

Bhante! We wish to see each other not only in this very life but also in the lives to come.”

“Ākaṅkheyyuṃ ce, gahapatayo, ubho jānipatayo diṭṭhe ceva dhamme aññamaññaṃ passituṃ

abhisamparāyañca aññamaññaṃ passituṃ ubhova assu samasaddhā samasīlā samacāgā samapaññā,

te diṭṭhe ceva dhamme aññamaññaṃ passanti abhisamparāyañca aññamaññaṃ passantī”ti

“If householders, both wife and husband, long to meet each other in this life and in the lives to come,

they should have matching faith, matching virtue, matching generosity and matching wisdom.

Then they will be in one other’s sight so long as this life lasts and in the future lives as well.”