Commentary on the Mahaaraahulovaadasutta

Part I : Section D

Relevant sutta passage: addasaa kho aayasmaa saariputto aayasmanta.m raahula.m aññatarasmi.m rukkhamuule nisinna.m palla"nka.m aabhujitvaa uju.m kaaya.m pa.nidhaaya parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaa.

The venerable Sariputta saw the venerable Rahula seated at the foot of that tree, cross-legged and body upright with mindfulness established before him.

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12. Words:

• vasati: to live, dwell.
• vatta (n): duty, service.
• kira: emphatic: truly, or presumptive or narrative: people say, I have heard...
• aggasaavaka : chief disciple.
• ekaakii: someone who is solitary, lives alone.
• yadaa: whenever.
• sammajjati: to sweep, (samma.t.tha p.p.).
• pa.tijaggati: look after, tend to (subst: pa.tijaggana.m).
• samaapatti (f): attainment concentration, jhaana.
• appeti: to apply, fix on.
• ruccati: delight in, like.
• ruci (f): liking, inclination.
• sannisiidati: to settle, subside, become quiet (p.p. : sannisinna).
• aacaara (m): conduct, practice.
• parivaara (m): retinue, followers.
• paasaadika: pleasing, lovely.
• kacavara (m): rubbish.
• cha.d.deti: throw away, abandon.
• paaniya (nt) drinking water.
• kuu.ta (m, n): top, ridge.
• paaniyagha.ta (m): pot for drinking water.
• gilaana: sick.
• icchati: wish, desire.

Commentary:
addasaa kho aayasmaa saariputtoti bhagavati gate pacchaa gacchanto addasa.
As to the words, the venerable Saariputta saw him, the meaning is that after the Blessed One had gone, the venerable Saariputta who came afterwards saw him.

etassa kiraayasmato ekakassa viharato añña.m vatta.m, bhagavataa saddhi.m viharato añña.m.
It is said that when the Venerable One was dwelling alone, his task was different from when he was together with the Blessed One

yadaa hi dve aggasaavakaa ekaakino vasanti,
When the two chief disciples stayed by themselves,

tadaa paatova senaasana.m sammajjitvaa sariirapa.tijaggana.m katvaa
they would in the early morning sweep their dwelling, tend to their bodily needs,

samaapatti.m appetvaa sannisinnaa attano cittaruciyaa bhikkhaacaara.m gacchanti.
sit in quiet while applying themselves to attainment concentration, and then they would, as they were inclined to, go on their alms round.

bhagavataa saddhi.m viharantaa pana theraa eva.m na karonti.
However, when they were together with the Blessed One they would not act in that way.

tadaa hi bhagavaa bhikkhusa"nghaparivaaro pa.thama.m bhikkhaacaara.m gacchati.
Then the Blessed One, surrounded by the monks, would go on almsround first.

tasmi.m gate thero attano senaasanaa nikkhamitvaa --
When the Buddha had gone, the venerable Sariputta would leave his lodging and consider:

"bahuuna.m vasana.t.thaane naama sabbeva paasaadika.m kaatu.m sakkonti vaa, na vaa sakkontii''ti
"When there are many monks in a dwelling place, not all of them may be able to make it agreeable."

tattha tattha gantvaa asamma.t.tha.m .thaana.m sammajjati.
He would go around and sweep the places that had not been swept.

sace kacavaro acha.d.dito hoti, ta.m cha.d.deti.
When there was rubbish that was not thrown away, he threw it away.

paaniiya.t.thapetabba.t.thaanamhi paaniiyakuu.te asati paaniiyagha.ta.m .thapeti.
When there was no drinking water in the place where it should be set out, he placed a pot with drinking water.

gilaanaana.m santika.m gantvaa,
 He went to visit the sick and asked:

"aavuso, tumhaaka.m ki.m aaharaami, ki.m vo icchitabba''nti? pucchati.
"Friend, what shall I bring you, what do you wish?"

English:
As to the words, the venerable Saariputta saw him, the meaning is that after the Blessed One had gone, the venerable Saariputta who came afterwards saw him. It is said that when the Venerable One was dwelling alone, his task was different from when he was together with the Blessed One. When the two chief disciples stayed by themselves, they would in the early morning sweep their dwelling, tend to their bodily needs, sit in quiet while applying themselves to attainment concentration, and then they would, as they were inclined to, go on their alms round. However, when they were together with the Blessed One they would not act in that way. Then the Blessed One, surrounded by the monks, would go on almsround first. When the Buddha had gone, the venerable Sariputta would leave his lodging and consider: "When there are many monks in a dwelling place, not all of them may be able to make it agreeable." He would go around and sweep the places that had not been swept. When there was rubbish that was not thrown away, he threw it away. When there was no drinking water in the place where it should be set out, he placed a pot with drinking water.

He went to visit the sick and asked: "Friend, what shall I bring you, what do you wish?"

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13. Words:

• avassika: newly ordained.
• abhiramati: enjoy.
• ukka.n.thati: to be dissatisfied, discontented.
• anucchavika: suitable.
• saara (m): essence, value.
• parivaara (m): retinue.
• parivaareti: to surround, follow.
• senaa (f): army.
• pari.naayakaratana (n): the jewel of the chief of army, of a universal monarch.
• sa.mvidahati: arrange (gerund: sa.mvidhaaya).

Commentary:
avassikadaharaana.m santika.m gantvaa --
He visited the young monks who were newly ordained and exhorted them, saying,

"abhiramatha, aavuso, maa ukka.n.thittha pa.tipattisaaraka.m buddhasaasana''nti ovadati.
"Rejoice, friends, be not discontented with the Teachings which contain a practice that is essential and most excellent in substance."

eva.m katvaa sabbapacchaa bhikkhaacaara.m gacchati.
When he had acted in that way he went on his almsround after all the other monks.

yathaa hi cakkavatti kuhiñci gantukaamo senaaya parivaarito pa.thama.m nikkhamati,
Just as the wheelturning monarch, wherever he wants to go, departs first, followed by his army,

pari.naayakaratana.m sena"ngaani sa.mvidhaaya pacchaa nikkhamati,
and his chief of army arranges the divisions of the army and departs afterwards,

eva.m saddhammacakkavatti bhagavaa bhikkhusa"nghaparivaaro pa.thama.m nikkhamati,
even so departs the Blessed One first, followed by the community of monks,

tassa bhagavato pari.naayakaratanabhuuto dhammasenaapati ima.m kicca.m katvaa sabbapacchaa nikkhamati.
and the General of the Dhamma who is the adviser of the Blessed One performs his duty and departs after all the other monks.

so eva.m nikkhanto tasmi.m divase aññatarasmi.m rukkhamuule nisinna.m raahulabhadda.m addasa.
When he went out on that day he saw "Lucky Rahula", seated at the foot of a certain tree.

tena vutta.m ``pacchaa gacchanto addasaa''ti.
Therefore it was said, "He saw him when he came afterwards".

English:
He visited the young monks who were newly ordained and exhorted them, saying, "Rejoice, friends, be not discontented with the Teachings which contain a practice that is most excellent in substance." When he had acted in that way he went on his almsround after all the other monks. Just as the wheelturning monarch, wherever he wants to go, departs first, followed by his army, and his chief of army arranges the divisions of the army and departs afterwards, even so departs the Blessed One first, followed by the community of monks, and the General of the Dhamma who is the adviser of the Blessed One performs his duty and departs after all the other monks. When he went out on that day he saw "Lucky Rahula", seated at the foot of a certain tree. Therefore it was said, "He saw him when he came afterwards".