7.1 The Story about Jīvaka’s Question

Dhp 90

Burlingame: The Realised One Suffers Not

Compare: Vin Mv 8.1

Devadatta hurled a rock down on the Buddha, which cut his foot; the Buddha’s physician Jīvaka applied medicine which needs to be applied for only a short time, but immediately thereafter he had to leave and was unable to return; the Buddha knew his thoughts though and asked Elder Ānanda to remove the medicine; the next day Jīvaka asked if the Buddha suffered pain because of his oversight, and the Buddha gave his reply in a verse.

Cast: Jīvaka, Elder Ānanda, Devadatta, Prince Ajātasattu

Keywords: Doctors, Medicine

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“For the one who has reached his goal,” [29.197] {2.164} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jīvaka’s Mango Grove with reference to a question asked by Jīvaka. The Story of Jīvaka is related in detail in the Khandhaka. BG: Vin Mv 8.1-8.

Now on a certain occasion Devadatta joined forces with Ajātasattu, climbed Vulture’s Peak, and out of the wickedness of his heart, saying to himself: “I will kill the Teacher,” hurled down a rock. Two mountain crags caught the rock and splintered it; but one of the flying pieces struck the foot of the Fortunate One and caused blood to flow. The Teacher suffered intense pains and was removed by the bhikkhus to Maddakucchi. Desiring to go on to Jīvaka’s Mango Grove, the Teacher said to the bhikkhus: “Carry me there.” So the bhikkhus took the Teacher and carried him to Jīvaka’s Mango Grove.

When Jīvaka heard the news, he immediately went to the Teacher and to heal the wound {2.165} applied an astringent. Then he bound up the wound and said to the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, I have a patient in the city. As soon as I have visited him, I will return. Let this dressing remain exactly as it is until I return.” So saying, Jīvaka went and treated his patient. But the gate was closed when he returned, and he was therefore unable to enter. Thereupon the following thought occurred to him: “I have committed a grievous fault. I applied an astringent to the foot of the Realised One and bound up his wound, just as I should have bound up the wound of any other man. It is now time to remove the bandage. For if the bandage remains unbound all night long, the Fortunate One will suffer intense pain.”

At that moment the Teacher addressed the Elder Ānanda: “Ānanda, Jīvaka returned late in the evening and was unable to enter the gate. This was the thought in his mind: ‘Now it is time to remove [29.198] the bandage.’ Therefore remove the bandage.”

The elder removed the bandage, whereupon the scar disappeared like bark from a tree. At early dawn Jīvaka hastened to the Teacher’s side and asked: “Venerable Sir, did you suffer intense pain?” The Teacher said: “Jīvaka, all suffering is extinguished for the Realised One, even as when he sat on the Throne of Awakening.” And joining the connection and teaching the Dhamma, he pronounced the following verse:

90. Gataddhino visokassa vippamuttassa sabbadhi,
sabbaganthappahīnassa, pariḷāho na vijjati.

For the one who has reached his goal,
who grieves not, released on all sides,
who has abandoned all the knots,
no consuming fever is found.