8.14 The Story about the Elder Bahuputtikā
Bahuputtikattherīvatthu

“One might live for a hundred years,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Bahuputtikā. {2.276}

In a certain household at Sāvatthī, we are told, were seven sons and seven daughters. All of them married as soon as they were old enough, and were happy, as was indeed their nature. After a time their father died. But the mother, an eminent female lay disciple, even after the death of her husband, did not for some time relinquish control [29.261] of his property. One day her sons said to her: “Mother, now that our father is dead, what is the use of your retaining his property? Can we not support you?” She listened to their words, but said nothing. After they had spoken to her several times about the matter, she thought to herself: “My sons will look after me; why need I keep the property separate for myself?” So she divided the estate in the middle and distributed it among the children.

After a few days had passed, the wife of her oldest son said to her: “Apparently this is the only house our excellent mother visits; she acts as though she had given both parts of her estate to her oldest son.” In like manner did the wives of her other sons address her. So likewise did her daughters address her whenever she entered their houses, from the oldest to the youngest. With such disrespect was she treated that finally she said to herself: “Why should I live with them any longer? I will go forth and live the life of a bhikkhunī.” So she went to the bhikkhunīs’ nunnery {2.277} and asked to go forth. They let her go forth, and when she had taken higher ordination she went by the name of the Elder Bahuputtikā.

“Since I have gone forth in old age,” thought she, as she performed the major and minor duties assigned to bhikkhunīs, “it is necessary for me to be heedful; I will therefore spend the whole night in meditation.” On the lower terrace, putting her hand on a pillar, she guided her steps thereby and meditated. Even as she walked along, fearful that in the dark places she might strike her head against a tree or against some other object, she put her hand on a tree and guided her steps thereby, and meditated. Resolved to observe only the Dhamma taught by the Teacher, she considered the Dhamma and pondered the Dhamma and meditated.

The Teacher, seated in the Perfumed Chamber, sent forth a radiant image of himself, and sitting as it were face to face with her, talked with her, saying: “Bahuputtikā, though one should live a hundred years, did he not behold the Dhamma I have taught and meditate thereon, it were better that he live but a moment and behold the Dhamma I have taught.” And joining the connection and teaching the Dhamma, he pronounced the following verse:

115. Yo ca vassasataṁ jīve apassaṁ dhammam-uttamaṁ,
ekāhaṁ jīvitaṁ seyyo passato dhammam-uttamaṁ.

One might live for a hundred years
without seeing the supreme state,
but a life of one day is better
for one seeing the supreme state. {2.278}

At the end of the verse, Bahuputtikā was established in Arahatship, together with the analytic knowledges.

last updated: August 2024