10. Mahādhanavāṇijavatthu

Author： Translation @ JJ

While living in the Jeta Grove, the Teacher taught this Dhamma teaching beginning "this rainy season" with reference to a merchant by the name of Great Wealth.

Apparently, after caused to fill five hundred carts of garments dyed with safflower, he came from Bārāṇasi to Sāvatthī for trading. When he came upon the river bank, thinking, "Tomorrow I will cross the river," he detached the carts right there and stayed.

At night, a great rain-cloud appeared and it rained.

A storm arose at night and it poured down.

The river remained full of water for seven days.

The river stayed full of water for seven days.

The residents of the city too enjoyed themselves in a celebration for seven days.

The work with the safflower-dyed garments was not completed. (The trading of the safflower-dyed garments was not accomplished.)

The merchant thought,

"I have come a long way.

If I were to go (come? variant reading āgamissāmi) again, there will be delay.

Staying right here doing my work throughout the rains, winter and summer (hot season), I shall sell these (safflower-dyed garments).

Wandering for alms in the city, the Teacher understood his thoughts, smiled (manifested a smile) and when questioned on the reason for his smile by the Elder Ānanda, said,

"Ānanda, do you see the merchant Mahādhana? (is the merchant Mahādhana seen by you?)"

"Yes, Venerable Sir."

"Not realising that his own life is in danger, he was thinking of (planning to) staying right here this year to sell his goods.

"But why, Venerable Sir, there will be danger (for him)?"

"But Venerable Sir, will there be danger for him?" [here kiṃ does not agree with antarāyo, it would have been ko, so here kiṃ just means a question. Needs to be careful with kiṃ to decide if it is which, or why or just to indicate a question.]

The Teacher said, "Yes, Ānanda, living for just seven days, he will fall into the face of Death," and uttered these stanzas:

In this very day one must exert oneself in the duties, who would know if one may meet with death tomorrow?

[Bhikkhu Bodhi] Today the effort must be made; Tomorrow Death may come, who knows?

For there is no compromise with that great army of Death.

mahāsena = bahubbīhi.

For we do not have an agreement with that Death with its mighty army.

[Bhikkhu Bodhi] No bargain with Mortality can keep him and his hordes away,

Thus one should abide ardently, striving day and night,

[Bhikkhu Bodhi] But one who dwells thus ardently,

Relentlessly, by day, by night ---

"That is indeed an auspicious night," so declared the Peaceful Sage.

[Bhikkhu Bodhi] It is he, the Peaceful Sage has said,

Who has had a single excellent night.

"Venerable Sir, I will go and inform him."

"Go, Ānanda, be a confidant!"

"Go in confidence, Ānanda"

The Elder went to where the carts were and wandered for alms.

The merchant served the Elder with food.

Then the Elder said,

"For how long will you stay here?"

"Venerable Sir, I have come a long way.

"If I were to go (??come) again, there will be delay. I will go after staying here this year selling my goods."

"Lay devotee, danger/obstacle to life is difficult to know, it is proper to be heedful."

"But why, Venerable Sir, there will be danger (for me)?"

"Yes, lay devotee, your life will carry on for only seven days."

With his mind stirred by a sense of urgency, He invited the Bhikkhu Saṅgha headed by the Buddha, gave great offering for seven days, took the (Buddha's) bowl so that the Buddha may give a teaching for rejoicing of the offering.

Then, while giving the rejoicing of offering, the Teacher said, "Lay devotee, it is not suitable one considered wise to think thus, "I shall stay right here for the rainy season and so on, I shall engage in this and that work," instead, it is proper to think just of the danger to one's own life." And He uttered this stanza,

Here I shall stay for the rainy season, here for the winter and the hot season;

Thus the fool thinks, unaware of the danger.

Herein, "here for the rains" means I shall dwell in this place doing this and that for the four-month rainy season.

Not understanding the benefit for the present life as well as the next life, the fool considers, "I shall stay right here doing this and that for the four months during the cold and hot season too."

Danger means not knowing the danger (end) to one's own life thus, "I will die at such time or in such a country or at such age."

At the conclusion of the teaching, the merchant was established in the Fruit of Stream-Entry and those who were gathered also benefited because of the Dhamma teaching.

... and the Dhamma sermon was of benefit also to those present there.

After following the Teacher and turned back, the merchant felt as if a headache had arisen for him and laid down on the bed. Just as he had laid down that way, he passed away and was reborn in a mansion in the Tusita heaven.

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Dhammapada-aṭṭhakathā

Dhammapada-aṭṭhakathā