Dhammapada Verse 202
Annatarakuladarika Vatthu
Natthi ragasamo aggi
natthi dosasamo kali
natthi khandhasama dukkha
natthi santiparam sukham.
Verse 202: There is no fire like passion; there is no evil like hatred; there
is no ill like (the burden of) khandhas; there is no bliss that surpasses the
Perfect Peace (i.e., Nibbana).
The Story of a Young Bride
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (202) of
this book at the house of a lay-disciple, with reference to a young bride.
On the day a young woman was to be wedded to a young man, the parents of the
bride invited the Buddha and eighty of his disciples for alms-food. Seeing the
girl as she moved about the house, helping with the offering of alms-food, the
bridegroom was very much excited, and he could hardly attend to the needs of the
Buddha and the other bhikkhus. The Buddha knew exactly how the young bridegroom
was feeling and also that time was ripe for both the bride and the bridegroom to
attain Sotapatti Fruition.
By his supernormal power, the Buddha willed that the bride would not be
visible to the bridegroom. When the young man could no longer see the young
woman, he could pay full attention to the Buddha, and his love and respect for
the Buddha grew stronger in him. Then the Buddha said to the young man, "O
young man, there is no fire like the fire of passion; there is no evil like
anger and hatred; there is no ill like the burden of the five aggregates of
existence (khandhas); there is no bliss like the Perfect Peace of Nibbana."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 202: There is no fire like passion; there is no
evil like hatred; there is no ill like (the burden of) khandhas; there
is no bliss that surpasses the Perfect Peace (i.e., Nibbana).
|
At the end of the discourse both the bride and bridegroom attained Sotapatti
Fruition.