Dhammapada Verse 122
Bilalapadakasetthi Vatthu
Mavamannetha punnassa
na mandam agamissati
udabindunipatena
udakumbhopi purati
dhiro purati punnassa
thokam thokampi acinam.
Verse 122: One should not think lightly of doing good, imagining 'A little
will not affect me'; just as a water-jar is filled up by falling drops of rain,
so also, the wise one is filled up with merit, by accumulating it little by
little.
The Story of Bilalapadaka
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (122) of
this book, with reference to Bilalapadaka, a rich man.
Once, a man from Savatthi, having heard a discourse given by the Buddha, was
very much impressed, and decided to practise what was taught by the Buddha. The
exhortation was to give in charity not only by oneself but also to get others to
do so and that by so doing one would gain much merit and have a large number of
followers in the next existence. So, that man invited the Buddha and all the
resident bhikkhus in the Jetavana monastery for alms-food the next day. Then he
went round to each one of the houses and informed the residents that alms-food
would he offered the next day to the Buddha and other bhikkhus and so to
contribute according to their wishes. The rich man Bilalapadaka seeing the man
goings round from house to house disapproved of his behaviour and felt a strong
dislike for him and murmured to himself, "O this wretched man! Why did he
not invite as many bhikkhus as he could himself offer alms, instead of going
round coaxing people?" So he asked the man to bring his bowl and into this
bowl, he put only a little rice, only a little butter, only a little molass.
These were taken away separately and not mixed with what others had given. The
rich men could not understand why his things were kept separately, and he
thought perhaps that man wanted others to know that a rich man like him had
contributed very little and so put him to shame. Therefore, he sent a servant to
find out.
The promoter of charity put a little of everything that was given by the rich
man into various pots of rice and curry and sweetmeats so that the rich man may
gain much merit. His servant reported what he had seen; but Bilalapadaka did not
get the meaning and was not sure of the intention of the promoter of charity.
However, the next day he went to the place where alms-food was being offered. At
the same time, he took a knife with him, intending to kill the chief promoter of
charity, if he were to reveal in public just how little a rich man like him had
contributed.
But this promoter of charity said to the Buddha, "Venerable Sir, this
charity is a joint offering of all; whether one has given much or little is of
no account; each one of us has given in faith and generosity; so may all of us
gain equal merit." When he heard those words, Bilalpadaka realized that he
had wronged the man and pondered that if he were not to own up his mistake and
ask the promoter of charity to pardon him, he would he reborn in one of the four
lower worlds (apayas). So he said, "My friend, I have done you a great
wrong by thinking ill of you; please forgive me." The Buddha heard the rich
man asking for pardon, and on enquiry found out the reason. So, the Buddha said,
"My disciple, you should not think lightly of a good deed, however small
it may be, for small deeds will become big if you do them habitually."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 122: One should not think lightly of doing good,
imagining 'A little will not affect me'; just as a water-jar is filled
up by falling drops of rain, so also, the wise one is filled up with
merit, by accumulating it little by little.
|
At the end of the discourse, Bilalapadaka the rich man attained Sotapatti
Fruition.