Dhammapada Verses 73 and 74
Cittagahapati Vatthu
Asantam bhavanamiccheyya
purekkharanca bhikkhusu
avasesu ca issariyam
pujam parakulesu1 ca.
Mameva kata mannantu
gihi2 pabbajita ubho
mamevativasa assu
kiccakiccesu kismici
iti balassa sankappo
iccha mano ca vaddhati.
Verse 73: The foolish bhikkhu desires praise for qualities he does not have,
precedence among bhikkhus, authority in the monasteries, and veneration from
those unrelated to him.
Verse 74: "Let both laymen and bhikkhus think that things are done
because of me; let them obey me in all matters, great and small." Such
being the thoughts of the fool, his greed and his pride grow.
1. parakulesu: those outside the family; (para = outside or
others).
2. gihi: short form for gahapati, householder.
The Story of Citta the Householder
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (73) and
(74) of this book, with reference to Thera Sudhamma and Citta the householder.
Citta, a householder, once met Thera Mahanama, one of the group of the first
five bhikkhus (Pancavaggis), going on an alms-round, and invited the
thera to his house. There, he offered alms-food to the thera and after listening
to the discourse given by him, Citta attained Sotapatti Fruition. Later,
Citta built a monastery in his mango grove. There, he looked to the needs of all
bhikkhus who came to the monastery and Bhikkhu Sudhamma was installed as the
resident bhikkhu.
One day, the two Chief Disciples of the Buddha, the Venerable Sariputta and
the Venerable Maha Moggallana, came to the monastery and after listening to the
discourse given by the Venerable Sariputta, Citta attained Anagami Fruition.
Then, he invited the two Chief Disciples to his house for alms-food the next
day. He also invited Thera Sudhamma, but Thera Sudhamma refused in anger and
said, "You invite me only after the other two." Citta repeated his
invitation, but it was turned down. Nevertheless, Thera Sudhamma went to the
house of Citta early on the following day. But when invited to enter the house,
Thera Sudhamma refused and said that he would not sit down as he was going on
his alms-round. But when he saw the things that were to be offered to the two
Chief Disciples, he envied them so much that he could not restrain his anger. He
abused Citta and said, "I don't want to stay in your monastery any
longer," and left the house in anger.
From there, he went to the Buddha and reported everything that had happened.
To him, the Buddha said, "You have insulted a lay-disciple who is
endowed with faith and generously. You'd better go back to him and own up your
mistake." Sudhamma did as he was told by the Buddha, but Citta would
not be appeased; so he returned to the Buddha for the second time. The Buddha,
knowing that the pride of Sudhamma had dwindled by this time, said, "My
son, a good bhikkhu should have no attachment; a good bhikkhu should not be
conceited and say 'This is my monastery, this is my place, these are my
lay-disciples,' etc., for in one with such thoughts, covetousness and pride will
increase."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
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Verse 73: The foolish bhikkhu desires praise for
qualities he does not have, precedence among bhikkhus, authority in
the monasteries, and veneration from those unrelated to him.
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Verse 74: "Let both laymen and bhikkhus think
that things are done because of me; let them obey me in all matters,
great and small." Such being the thoughts of the fool, his greed
and his pride grow.
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At the end of the discourse, Sudhamma went to the house of Citta, and this
time they got reconciled; and within a few days, Sudhamma attained arahatship.