Dhammapada Verse 18
Sumanadevi Vatthu
Idha nandati pecca nandati
katapunno ubhayattha nandati
punnam me katanti nandati
bhiyyo nandati suggatim1 gato.
Verse 18: Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy; one who performs
meritorious deeds is happy in both existences. Happily he exclaims: I have done
meritorious deeds." He is happier still when he is reborn in a higher world
(suggati).
1. sugattim/suggati: happy existence.
The Story of Sumanadevi
[ Read longer version of
story here ]
While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered
Verse (18) of this book, with reference to Sumanadevi, the youngest daughter of
Anathapindika.
In Savatthi, at the house of Anathapindika and the house of Visakha, two
thousand bhikkhus were served with food daily. At the house of Visakha, the
offering of alms-food was supervised by her granddaughter. At the house of
Anathapindika, the supervision was done, first by the eldest daughter, next by
the second daughter and finally by Sumanadevi, the youngest daughter. The two
elder sisters attained Sotapatti Fruition by listening to the Dhamma, while
serving food to the bhikkhus. Sumanadevi did even better and she attained
Sakadagami Fruition.
Later, Sumanadevi fell ill and on her death-bed she asked for her father. Her
father came, and she addressed her father as "younger brother" (Kanittha
bhatika) and passed away soon after. Her form of address kept her father
wondering and made him uneasy and depressed, thinking that his daughter was
delirious and not in her right senses at the time of her death. So, he
approached the Buddha and reported to him about his daughter, Sumanadevi. Then
the Buddha told the noble rich man that his daughter was in her right senses and
fully self-possessed at the time of her passing away. The Buddha also explained
that Sumanadevi had addressed her father as "younger brother" because
her attainment of Magga and Phala was higher than that of her father's. She was
a Sakadagam whereas her father was only a Sotapanna. Anathapindika was also told
that Sumanadevi was reborn in the Tusita deva world.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 18: Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy; one who performs
meritorious deeds is happy in both existences. Happily he exclaims: I
have done meritorious deeds." He is happier still when he is
reborn in a higher world (suggati). |