Dhammapada Verse 395
Kisagotami Vatthu
Pamsukuladharam jantum
kisam dhamanisanthatam
ekam vanasmim jhayantam
tamaham brumi brahamanam.
Verse 395: Him I call a brahmana who wears
robes made from rags (picked up from a dust heap), who is lean with veins
standing out, who meditates alone in the forest.
The Story of Kisagotami
While residing at the Gijjhakuta
hill, the Buddha uttered Verse (395) of this book, with reference to Kisagotami.
On one occasion, Sakka, king of
the devas, came with his followers to pay homage to the Buddha. At the same
lime, Theri Kisagotami, by her supernormal power came through the sky to pay
homage to the Buddha. But when she saw Sakka and his entourage paying homage to
the Buddha, she retreated. Sakka seeing her, asked the Buddha who the lady was,
and the Buddha replied, "O Sakka! She is my daughter Kisagotami. Once,
she came to me in sorrow and distress through the loss of her son and I made her
see the impermanent, the unsatisfactory and the non-self nature of all
conditioned things. As a consequence of that she attained Sotapatti Fruition,
joined the Order, and became an arahat. She is one of my eminent female
disciples and is matchless in the ascetic practice of wearing robes made from
rags collected from a dust heap."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
| Verse 395: Him I call
a brahmana who wears robes made from rags (picked up from a dust
heap), who is lean with veins standing out, who meditates alone in the
forest. |