Dhammapada Verse 405
Annatarabhikkhu Vatthu
Nidhaya dandati bhutesu1
tasesu thavaresu2 ca
yo na hanti na ghateti
tamaham brumi brahmanam.
Verse 405: Him I call a brahmana, who has laid
aside the use of force towards all beings, the perturbed as well as the
unperturbed (i.e., arahats), and who does not kill or cause others to kill.
1. Nidhaya dandati bhutesu: has laid aside the
use of the stick towards all beings.
2. tasesu thavaresu: the perturbed and the
unperturbed. The perturbed are those who still have craving and are therefore
easily shaken. The unperturbed are those who have given up craving and are
therefore firm and tranquil; they are the arahats.
The Story of a Certain Bhikkhu
While residing at the Jetavana
monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (405) of this book, with reference to a
certain bhikkhu.
Once, a bhikkhu after taking a
subject of meditation from the Buddha went to a forest to practise meditation.
After he had attained arahatship he came back to the Buddha to offer his deep
and profound gratitude to the Buddha. On his way, he passed through a village.
Just as he was going through the village, a woman having quarreled with her
husband came out of her house and followed the bhikkhu. The husband coming after
his wife, seeing her behind the bhikkhu, thought that the bhikkhu was taking his
wife away. So he shouted at the bhikkhu and threatened to beat him. His wife
entreated him not to beat the bhikkhu, but that made him more furious. As a
result, the thera was beaten black and blue by the husband. After beating the
bhikkhu to his heart's content, he took away his wife along with him and the
bhikkhu continued on his way.
On arrival at the Jetavana
monastery, other bhikkhus saw the bruises over the whole body of the bhikkhu and
they attended to his bruises. When they asked him if he did not get angry with
the man who had beaten him so sorely, he answered in the negative. So the other
bhikkhus went to the Buddha and reported that the bhikkhu had falsely claimed to
have attained arahatship. To them the Buddha replied, "Bhikkhus! Arahats
have laid aside the stick and the sword. They do not get angry even if they are
beaten." Thus, the Buddha confirmed that the bhikkhu had, indeed,
become an arahat.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
Verse 405: Him I call
a brahmana, who has laid aside the use of force towards all beings,
the perturbed as well as the unperturbed (i.e., arahats), and who does
not kill or cause others to kill. |