7.5 The Story about the Elder Mahā Kaccāyana

Dhp 94

Burlingame: Sakka Honors a Monk

Elder Mahā Kaccāyana, even though he lived far away, would regularly come to hear the Buddha teach; one day Sakka saw the elder was absent and wished he would come, and suddenly he appeared; Sakka paid homage to him and the Buddha recited a verse.

Keywords: Great Disciples, Respect, Offerings

“For the one whose senses are stilled,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Pubbārāma with reference to Elder Mahā Kaccāyana. {2.176}

For once upon a time, on the occasion of the Invitation (Pavāraṇā), the Fortunate One sat on the ground floor of Migāramātā’s mansion, surrounded by a company of eminent lay disciples. At this time Elder Mahā Kaccāyana resided in the Avanti country. Now this venerable elder, although obliged to come from a great distance, regularly attended the teaching of the Dhamma. Therefore, when the chief elders sat down, they always left a seat for Elder Mahā Kaccāyana.

Sakka, the Lord of the Devas, drew near with his celestial retinue from the two worlds of Devas, and honored the Teacher with celestial perfumes and garlands. Not seeing Elder Mahā Kaccāyana, he thought to himself: “Why is my noble elder nowhere to be seen? It would be well if he were to draw near.” At that very moment the elder drew near, [29.203] and showed himself sitting in his proper seat. When Sakka saw the elder, he grasped him firmly by the ankles and said: “It is indeed well that my noble elder has come; that my noble elder should come, was the very thing I wished for.” So saying, he rubbed the elder’s feet with both hands, honored him with perfumes and garlands, and having worshipped him, stood respectfully on one side.

The bhikkhus were offended and said: {2.177} “Sakka shows respect of persons in rendering honor. Such honor as this, he has not rendered to the rest of the Chief Disciples. The moment he saw Mahā Kaccāyana, he grasped him by the ankles and said: ‘It is indeed well that my noble elder has come; that my noble elder should come, was the very thing I wished for.’ So saying, he rubbed the elder’s feet with both hands, honored him with perfumes and garlands, and having worshipped him, stood respectfully on one side.”

The Teacher, hearing their talk, said: “Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who, like my son Mahā Kaccāyana, keep the doors of their senses guarded, are beloved both of Devas and humans.” So saying, he joined the connection, and teaching the Dhamma, pronounced the following verse:

94. Yassindriyāni samathaṁ gatāni,
assā yathā sārathinā sudantā,
pahīnamānassa anāsavassa –
devā pi tassa pihayanti tādino.

For the one whose senses are stilled,
like horses well-trained by their groom,
who has abandoned all conceit,
who is without all pollutants:
even the gods envy such a one.