16.7 The Story about Five Hundred Youths

Dhp 217

Burlingame: Kassapa Wins a Basket of Cakes

Fifty youths were going out of Rājagaha carrying baskets of cakes, but did not think to offer any to the Buddha and the bhikkhus, until they saw Elder Mahā Kassapa, and then they offered him the cakes; the Buddha spoke a verse about Elder Mahā Kassapa.

Keywords: Offerings, Foremost Disciples

“Endowed with virtue and insight,” [30.90] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana, as he walked along the path, with reference to five hundred youths.

For one day, on the occasion of a certain festival, as the Teacher, accompanied by the eighty great elders and a retinue of five hundred bhikkhus, was entering Rājagaha for alms, he saw five hundred youths with baskets of cakes on their shoulders come out of the city on their way to a pleasure garden. When they saw the Teacher, they saluted him and continued on their way without so much as saying to a single bhikkhu: “Have a cake.”

When they had gone, the Teacher said to the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, should you not like to eat some cakes?” – “Venerable Sir, where are any cakes?” – “Do you not see those youths passing by with baskets of cakes on their shoulders?” – “Venerable Sir, such youths never give cakes to anybody.” – “Bhikkhus, although these youths have not invited you or me to share their cakes, yet a bhikkhu, the owner of the cakes, follows in the rear. You must eat some cakes before you go on.” {3.287} Now the Buddhas cherish no sentiments of ill-will or hatred towards any man; therefore the Teacher spoke thus. And having thus spoken, he went with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, and sat down at the foot of a certain tree in the shade.

When the youths saw Elder Mahā Kassapa following in the rear, they immediately took a liking to him. In fact their bodies were pervaded with a thrill of pleasure at seeing him. Forthwith they set down their baskets, worshipped the elder with the five limbs, held up the cakes, baskets and all, and saluting the elder, said to him: “Have some cakes, venerable Sir.”

In reply the elder said to them: “Here is the Teacher with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, sitting at the foot of a tree. Take your offerings and go and divide them with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.” – “Very well, venerable Sir,” replied the youths. So turning around, they went back with the elder, gave the elder cakes, stood on one side watching him, and at the end of the repast, gave him water.

The bhikkhus were offended and said: “These youths have shown favoritism in giving alms; they never asked either the Perfect Sambuddha or the chief elders [30.91] to accept alms, but when they saw the Elder Mahā Kassapa, they took their baskets and went and offered him cakes.”

The Teacher, hearing their words, said: “Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu like my son Mahā Kassapa is dear to Devas and humans alike; such a man they delight to honor with the four requisites.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

217. Sīladassanasampannaṁ, dhammaṭṭhaṁ saccavedinaṁ,
attano kamma’ kubbānaṁ, taṁ jano kurute piyaṁ.

Endowed with virtue and insight,
principled and knowing the truths,
doing the deeds that are his own,
that one the people truly love. {3.288}

At the end of the teaching all those youths were established in the fruition of Stream-entry.