The Discourse about Suppavasa

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Kuṇḍiyāyaṁ viharati Kuṇḍadhānavane.
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Kuṇḍiya, at Kuṇḍadhāna Wood.

Tena kho pana samayena Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā -dhītā (lit.: daughter) is pleonastic here and has to be interpreted metaphorically or left untranslated. A similar situation arises even more frequently with -putta (lit.: son) cf. Ayyaputta below, and, PED, s.v putta.
Then at that time the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā. Literally: [the child] was lost in the womb.
was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb (and couldn't be delivered).

Sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā,
While she was affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings,

tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti: “Sammāsambuddho vata so Bhagavā,
she consented to three thoughts: “For sure the Fortunate One is a Perfect Sambuddha,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;
who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this;

supaṭipanno vata tassa Bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho,
for sure the Fortunate One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;
who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this;

susukhaṁ vata taṁ Nibbānaṁ,
it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy,

yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī” ti
where suffering such as this is not found.”

Atha kho Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sāmikaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā addressed her husband, (saying):

“Ehi tvaṁ Ayyaputta yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkama,
“Come, Master, you must go to the Fortunate One,

upasaṅkamitvā, mama vacanena mama vacanena is an idiom, literally meaning: with my word, and is translated as such elsewhere; but in these situations the corresponding idiom in English is: in my name. Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi,
and after going, in my name you should worship the Fortunate One’s feet with your head,

appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha:
and ask (if he is) free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably, (and say):

‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati,
‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Fortunate One’s feet with her head,

appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ,
^o and asks (if you are) free from affliction, free from sickness,

lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī?’ ti.
in good health, strong, and living comfortably?’

Evañ-ca vadehi: ‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā,
And please say this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir,

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā.
has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb.

Sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā,
While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings,

tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti: “Sammāsambuddho vata so Bhagavā,
she consents to three thoughts: “For sure the Fortunate One is a Perfect Sambuddha,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;
who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this;

supaṭipanno vata tassa Bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho,
for sure the Fortunate One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;
who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this;

susukhaṁ vata taṁ Nibbānaṁ,
it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy,

yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī” ' ” ti.
where suffering such as this is not found.” ' ”

“Paraman”-ti kho so Koliyaputto,
“(That is) the best thing” said the Koliyan gentleman,

Suppavāsāya Koliyadhītāya paṭissuṇitvā,
and after replying to Suppavāsā the Koliyan lady,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so Koliyaputto Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
While sat on one side that Koliyan gentleman said this to the Fortunate One:

“Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati,
“The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Fortunate One’s feet with her head,

appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ,
^o and asks (if you are) free from affliction, free from sickness,

lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī? ti.
in good health, strong, and living comfortably?

Evañ-ca vadeti: ‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā,
And she says this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir,

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāreti, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā.
has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb.

Sā dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhā,
While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings,

tīhi vitakkehi adhivāseti: “Sammāsambuddho vata so Bhagavā,
she consents to three thoughts: “For sure the Fortunate One is a Perfect Sambuddha,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya dhammaṁ deseti;
who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this;

supaṭipanno vata tassa Bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho,
for sure the Fortunate One’s Community of disciples are good in their practice,

yo imassa evarūpassa dukkhassa pahānāya paṭipanno;
who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this;

Susukhaṁ vata taṁ Nibbānaṁ,
it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy,

yatthidaṁ evarūpaṁ dukkhaṁ na saṁvijjatī” ' ” ti.
where suffering such as this is not found.” ' ”

“Sukhinī hotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā arogā,
“Happy may the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā be, and healthy,

arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyatū” ti.
and may she give birth to a healthy son.”

Saha vacanā ca pana Bhagavato Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā
And with this word of the Fortunate One, the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā

sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyi.
became happy and healthy, and gave birth to a healthy son.

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho so Koliyaputto,
“Yes, reverend Sir” said the Koliyan gentleman,

Bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā,
and after greatly rejoicing and gladly receiving this word of the Fortunate One,

uṭṭhāyāsanā, Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā,
rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Fortunate One,

sakaṁ gharaṁ paccāyāsi. This sentence provides a good example of how absolutives (pubbakiriya) are piled up one on top of the other, before the appearance of the finite verb. There are first 5 absolutives: abhinanditvā anumoditvā, uṭṭhāy’, abhivādetvā, & katvā before the finite aorist: paccāyāsi.
he returned to his own home.

Addasā kho Koliyaputto Suppavāsaṁ Koliyadhītaraṁ sukhiniṁ arogaṁ,
The Koliyan gentleman saw that the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā was happy and healthy,

arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātaṁ. Disvānassa etad-ahosi:
and had given birth to a healthy son. Having seen (that), it occured to him:

“Acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhūtaṁ vata bho,
“Surely it is wonderful, surely it is marvellous,

Tathāgatassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā,
the Realised One’s great power and great majesty,

yatra hi nāmāyaṁ Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā,
in as much as this Koliyan lady Suppavāsā,

sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijāyissatī” ti, This is an example of a future tense used with past meaning; on this construction see Buddhadatta, New Pali Course III, pg. 58.
became happy and healthy, and to a healthy son gave birth”,

attamano pamudito pītisomanassajāto ahosi.
and he was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Atha kho Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sāmikaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā addressed her husband, (saying):

“Ehi tvaṁ Ayyaputta yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkama,
“Come, Master, you must go to the Fortunate One,

upasaṅkamitvā, mama vacanena Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi:
and after going, in my name you should worship the Fortunate One’s feet with your head, (and say):

‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ ti.
‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Fortunate One’s feet with her head.’

Evañ-ca vadehi: ‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā,
And please say this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir,

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāresi, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā,
was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb,

sā etarahi sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son.

Sā sattāhaṁ Buddhapamukhaṁ Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.
For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal.

Adhivāsetu kira bhante Bhagavā Suppavāsāya Koliyadhītāya
^o May the Fortunate One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā

sattabhattāni saddhiṁ Bhikkhusaṅghenā' ” ti.
together with the Community of monks.’ ”

“Paraman”-ti kho so Koliyaputto Suppavāsāya Koliyadhītāya paṭissuṇitvā,
“(That is) the best thing”, said the Koliyan gentleman, and after replying to Suppavāsā the Koliyan lady,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so Koliyaputto Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
While sat on one side the Koliyan gentleman said this to the Fortunate One:

“Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā Bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati.
“The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir, worships the Fortunate One’s feet with her head.

Evañ-ca vadeti: ‘Suppavāsā bhante Koliyadhītā,
And she says this: ‘The Koliyan lady Suppavāsā, reverend Sir,

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāresi, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā,
was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb,

sā etarahi sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhapamukhaṁ Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.
For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal.

Adhivāsetu kira bhante Bhagavā Suppavāsāya Koliyadhītāya
^o May the Fortunate One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā

sattabhattāni saddhiṁ Bhikkhusaṅghenā' ” ti.
together with the Community of monks.’ ”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarena upāsakena
Then at that time a certain lay follower

Buddhapamukho Bhikkhusaṅgho svātanāya bhattena nimantito hoti.
had invited the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head to a meal on the morrow.

So ca upāsako āyasmato Mahāmoggallānassa upaṭṭhāko Upaṭṭhāka is normally used for an attendant in Pāḷi (e.g. venerable Ānanda was the Fortunate One’s main attendant), but it can also mean a supporter. It is necessary to examine the context to determine which usage is being employed. hoti.
Now that lay follower was venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter.

Atha kho Bhagavā āyasmantaṁ Mahāmoggallānaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Fortunate One addressed venerable Mahāmoggallāna, (saying):

“Ehi tvaṁ Moggallāna yena so upāsako tenupasaṅkameyyāsi,
“ Come, Moggallāna, you must go to that lay follower,

upasaṅkamitvā, taṁ upāsakaṁ evaṁ vadehi:
and after going, please say this to that lay follower:

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāresi, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā,
was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb,

sā etarahi sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son.

Sā sattāhaṁ buddhapamukhaṁ Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti,
For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal,

karotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sattabhattāni.’
please let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals.’

Pacchā so karissati - tuyheso upaṭṭhāko” ti.
Afterwards he can make (his) - he is your supporter.”

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho āyasmā Mahāmoggallāno, Bhagavato paṭissuṇitvā,
“Yes, reverend Sir,” said venerable Mahāmoggallāna, and after replying to the Fortunate One,

upasaṅkamitvā, taṁ upāsakaṁ etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to that lay follower:

sattavassāni gabbhaṁ dhāresi, sattāhaṁ mūḷhagabbhā,
was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb,

sā etarahi sukhinī arogā, arogaṁ puttaṁ vijātā.
but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son.

Sattāhaṁ buddhapamukhaṁ Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ bhattena nimanteti.
For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal.

Karotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sattabhattāni, pacchā tvaṁ karissasī” ti.
Let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals, and afterwards you can make (yours).”

“Sace me bhante ayyo Mahāmoggallāno
“If, reverend Sir, master Mahāmoggallāna

tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo - bhogānañ-ca jīvitassa ca saddhāya ca -
is my surety for three things - for wealth, for life, and for faith -

karotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sattabhattāni,
the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā may make her seven meals,

“Dvinnaṁ kho te ahaṁ āvuso dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo -
“For two things, friend, I am your surety -

bhogānañ-ca jīvitassa ca - saddhāya pana tvaṁ yeva pāṭibhogo” ti.
for wealth and for life - but for faith you are the surety.”

“Sace me bhante ayyo Mahāmoggallāno
“If, reverend Sir, master Mahāmoggallāna

dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ pāṭibhogo - bhogānañ-ca jīvitassa ca -
is my surety for two things - for wealth and for life -

karotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sattabhattāni,
the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā may make her seven meals,

Atha kho āyasmā Mahāmoggallāno, taṁ upāsakaṁ saññāpetvā,
Then venerable Mahāmoggallāna, after conciliating that lay follower,

upasaṅkamitvā, Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to the Fortunate One:

“Saññatto bhante so upāsako mayā,
“That lay follower has been conciliated by me, reverend Sir,

karotu Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā sattabhattāni, pacchā so karissatī” ti.
let the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā make her seven meals, and afterwards he can make (his).”

sattāhaṁ Buddhapamukhaṁ Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ
^o for seven days with her own hand served and satisfied the Community of monks

paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi, sampavāresi.
with the Buddha at its head with excellent comestibles and edibles.

Tañ-ca dārakaṁ Bhagavantaṁ vandāpesi, sabbañ-ca Bhikkhusaṅghaṁ.
Then she made the little boy worship the Buddha, and the whole Community of monks.

Atha kho āyasmā Sāriputto taṁ dārakaṁ etad-avoca:
Then venerable Sāriputta said this to that little boy:

“Kacci te dāraka khamanīyaṁ? Kacci yāpanīyaṁ?
“Can you bear up, little boy? Can you carry on?

“Kuto me bhante Sāriputta khamanīyaṁ? Kuto yāpanīyaṁ?
“How, reverend Sāriputta, can I bear up? How can I carry on?

Sattavassāni me lohitakumbhiyaṁ vutthānī” ti.
For seven years I have been living in a bloodbath.”

Atha kho Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā:
Then (it occured) to the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā:

“Putto me Dhammasenāpatinā saddhiṁ mantetī” ti,
“My son is consulting with the general of the Dhamma,”

attamanā pamuditā pītisomanassajātā ahosi.
and she became elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Atha kho Bhagavā Suppavāsaṁ Koliyadhītaraṁ
^o Then the Fortunate One after seeing that the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā

attamanaṁ pamuditaṁ pītisomanassajātaṁ disvā,
was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy,

Suppavāsaṁ Koliyadhītaraṁ etad-avoca:
said this to the Koliyan lady Suppavāsā:

“Iccheyyāsi tvaṁ Suppavāse, aññam-pi evarūpaṁ puttan?”-ti
“Suppavāsā, do you long for another such son?”

“Iccheyyāmahaṁ Bhagavā aññāni pi evarūpāni satta puttānī” ti.
“Fortunate One, I long for another seven such sons.”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“Asātaṁ sātarūpena, ~ piyarūpena appiyaṁ,
“The disagreeable in an agreeable form, ~ the unlovely in a lovely form,

Dukkhaṁ sukhassa rūpena, ~ pamattam-ativattatī” ti.
The painful in the form of pleasure, ~ overcome the heedless one.”