Dhammapada Verse 16
Dhammika-upasaka Vatthu
Idha modati pecca modati
katapunno ubhayattha modati
so modati so pamodati
disva kammavisuddhimattano.
Verse 16: Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices; one who performed
meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences. He rejoices and greatly rejoices
when he sees the purity of his own deeds.
The Story of Dhammika Upasaka
While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered
Verse (16) of this book, with reference to Dhammika, a lay disciple.
Once there lived in Savatthi, a lay disciple by the name of Dhammika, who was
virtuous and very fond of giving in charity. He generously offered food and
other requisites to the bhikkhus regularly and also on special occasions. He
was, in fact, the leader of five hundred virtuous lay disciples of the Buddha
who lived in Savatthi. Dhammika had seven sons and seven daughters and all of
them, like their father, were virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was
very ill and was on his death-bed he made a request to the Samgha to come to him
and recite the sacred texts by his bedside. While the bhikkhus were reciting the
Maha satipatthana Sutta, six decorated chariots from six celestial worlds
arrived to invite him to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for
a while for fear of interrupting the recitation of the Sutta. The bhikkhus,
thinking that they were being asked to stop, stopped and left the place.
A little while later, Dhammika told his children about the six decorated
chariots waiting for him. Then and there he decided to choose the chariot from
the Tusita world and asked one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Then
he passed away and was reborn in the Tusita world. Thus, the virtuous man
rejoices in this world as well as in the next.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 16: Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices; one who performed
meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences. He rejoices and greatly
rejoices when he sees the purity of his own deeds. |