Dhammapada Verse 82
Kanamata Vatthu
Yathapi rahado gambhiro
vippasanno anavilo
evam dhammani sutvana
vippasidanti pandita.
Verse 82: Like a lake which is deep, clear and calm, the wise after listening
to the Teaching (Dhamma) become serene.
The Story of Kanamata
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (82) of
this book, with reference to the mother of Kana, Kanamata.
Kanamata was a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha. Her daughter Kana was
married to a man from another village. As Kana had been on a visit to her mother
for some time, her husband sent a message for her to come home. Her mother told
her to wait for one more day as she wanted to send along some sweetmeats with
her for her husband. The next day, Kanamata made some sweetmeats, but when four
bhikkhus stood at her door for alms, she offered some to them. The four bhikkhus
told other bhikkhus about the sweetmeats from Kanamata's house and they also
came to stand at the door of Kanamata, as a devotee of the Buddha and his
disciples, offered her sweetmeats to the bhikkhus as they came in, one after
another. The result was that in the end there was none left for Kana and she did
not go home on that day. The same thing happened on the next two days; her
mother made some sweetmeats, the bhikkhus stood at her door, she offered her
sweetmeats to the bhikkhus, there was nothing left for her daughter to take
home, and her daughter did not go home. On the third day, for the third time,
her husband sent her a message, which was also an ultimatum stating that if she
failed to come home the next day, he would take another wife. But on the next
day also Kana was unable to go home because her mother offered all her
sweetmeats to the bhikkhus. Kana's husband then took another wife and Kana
became very bitter towards the bhikkhus. She used to abuse all bhikkhus so much
so that the bhikkhus kept away from the house of Kanamata.
The Buddha heard about Kana and went to the house of Kanamata;
there Kanamata offered him some rice gruel. After the meal, the Buddha sent for
Kana and asked her, "Did my bhikkhus take what was given them or what
was not given them ?" Kana answered that the bhikkhus had taken only
what was given them, and then added, "They were not in the wrong; only I
was in the wrong." Thus, she owned up her fault and she also paid homage to
the Buddha. The Buddha then gave a discourse. At the end of the discourse, Kana
attained Sotapatti Fruition.
On the way back to the monastery, the Buddha met King Pasenadi
of Kosala. On being told about Kana and her bitter attitude towards the
bhikkhus, King Pasenadi asked the Buddha whether he had been able to teach her
the Dhamma and, make her see the Truth (Dhamma). The Buddha replied, "Yes,
I have taught her the Dhamma, and I have also made her rich in her next
existence." Then the king promised the Buddha that he would make Kana
rich even in this existence. The king then sent his men with a palanquin to
fetch Kana. When she arrived, the king announced to his ministers, "Whoever
can keep my daughter Kana in comfort may take her." One of the ministers
volunteered to adopt Kana as his daughter, gave her all his wealth, and said to
her, "You may give in charity as much as you like." Everyday, Kana
made offerings to the bhikkhus at the four city-gates. When told about Kana
giving generously in charity, the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus, the mind of
Kana which was foggy and muddled was made clear and calm by my words."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 82: Like a lake which is deep, clear and calm,
the wise after listening to the Teaching (Dhamma) become serene.
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