1.13 The Story about Queen Sumanā
Sumanādeviyā Vatthu

“Here she’s happy, after death she’s happy,” {1.151} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Queen Sumanā.

For every day 2,000 bhikkhus take their meal in the house of Anāthapiṇḍika at Sāvatthī, and a like number in the house of the eminent female lay disciple Visākhā. Whoever desires to give alms at Sāvatthī, first seeks the good offices of these two lay disciples. Do you ask the reason for this? Suppose you are asked the question: “Has Anāthapiṇḍika or Visākhā given alms equal in amount to those which you have given?” and you answer: “They have not,” you may dispense 100,000 coins in alms, and in spite of this the bhikkhus will murmur dissatisfaction, saying: “What kind of alms are these?” The explanation is that both of these lay disciples understand thoroughly the tastes of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and [28.243] know exactly what is the proper thing to do; therefore all who desire to give alms take them with them when they go. And thus it happens that they are unable to minister to the bhikkhus in person in their own houses.

Under these circumstances Visākhā, considering within herself: “Who shall stand in my place and minister to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus?” seeing the daughter of her son, appointed her to represent her; and thenceforth Visākhā’s granddaughter ministered to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus in Visākhā’s residence. Anāthapiṇḍika appointed his oldest daughter Mahā Subhaddā; the latter showed the bhikkhus the customary attentions, hearkened to the Dhamma, and as a result obtained Stream-entry; afterwards she married and went to live with her husband’s family. Then he appointed Culla Subhaddā, who followed her older sister’s example, obtaining Stream-entry, and afterwards marrying and going to live with the family of her husband. Finally he appointed his youngest daughter Sumanā. Sumanā obtained the fruition of Once-returning, but remained unmarried. {1.152} Overwhelmed with disappointment at her failure to obtain a husband, she refused to eat, and desiring to see her father, sent for him.

Anāthapiṇḍika was in the refectory when he received his daughter’s message, but immediately went to her and said: “What is it, dear daughter Sumanā?” Sumanā said to him: “What say you, dear youngest brother?” – “You talk incoherently, dear daughter.” – “I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.” – “Are you afraid, dear daughter?” – “I am not afraid, youngest brother.” She said no more, but died immediately.

Although the rich man had obtained Stream-entry, he was unable to bear the grief that arose within him. Accordingly, when he had performed the funeral rites over his daughter’s body, he went weeping to the Teacher. The Teacher said: “Householder, how is it that you come to me sad and sorrowful, with tears in your eyes, weeping?” – “Venerable Sir, my daughter Sumanā is dead.” – “Well, why do you weep? Is not death certain for all?” – “I know that, venerable Sir. But my daughter was so modest and so conscientious. What grieves me so much is the thought that when she died, she was unable to recover her right mind, but died speaking incoherently.”

“But what did your youngest daughter say, rich man?” – “Venerable Sir, I addressed her as ‘dear Sumanā,’ and she replied: ‘What say you, dear youngest brother?’ Then I said to her: ‘You talk [28.244] incoherently, dear daughter.’ – ‘I am not talking incoherently, youngest brother.’ – ‘Are you afraid, dear daughter?’ – ‘I am not afraid, youngest brother.’ She said no more, but died immediately.”

Said the Fortunate One to Anāthapiṇḍika: “Rich man, your daughter did not talk incoherently.” – “But why did she speak thus?” – “Solely because you were her younger brother. {1.153} Householder, your daughter was old in the paths and the fruitions, for while you have attained but Stream-entry, your daughter had attained the fruit of Once-returning. Thus it was, because she was old in the paths and the fruitions, that she spoke thus.” – “Was that the reason, venerable Sir?” – “That was the reason, householder.”

“Where has she now been reborn, venerable Sir?” – “In the world of the Tusita gods, householder.” – “Venerable Sir, while my daughter remained here among her kinsfolk, she went about rejoicing, and when she went hence, she was reborn in a place of joy.” Then the Teacher said to him: “It is even so, householder. They that are heedful, be they lay folk or monastics, rejoice both in this world and in the world beyond.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

18. Idha nandati, pecca nandati,
katapuñño ubhayattha nandati,
“Puññaṁ mĕ katan”-ti nandati,
bhiyyo nandati suggatiṁ gato.

Here she’s happy, after death she’s happy,
the righteous one’s happy in both places,
she’s happy, thinking: “I have done merit,”
gone to a good fate, she’s happy much more.

At the end of the verse many became Stream-enterers and so on, and benefit arose to many people from the Dhamma teaching.

last updated: August 2024