18.12 The Story about the Wanderer Subhadda

Dhp 254

Burlingame: Is There a Path through the Air?

Compare: DN 16 BG: This story is derived from DN 2.148-153. Here, as elsewhere, the redactor makes such alterations in the story as serve his purpose.

Because of past deeds the wanderer Subhadda did not go to meet the Buddha until the latter was on his death-bed; Elder Ānanda wanted to stop him, but the Buddha allowed him to approach, and he asked three questions, the verses here being the reply; Subhadda was the last person ordained while the Buddha yet lived and he soon became an Arahat.

Keywords: Offerings, Past Lives

“There is no footprint in the sky,” [30.139] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher with reference to the Wanderer Subhadda. It was while the Teacher was lying on the Parinibbāna bed in the Sāla-forest of the Mallas at Upavattana in the city of Kusinārā.

It seems that in times long past, when Subhadda’s younger brother gave alms nine times of the first-fruits of a certain crop, Subhadda himself had no desire to give alms and refused, but in the end he did give alms. As the result of this, he failed to see the Teacher both in the first period after Awakening and in the second. In the last period of Awakening, however, when the Teacher was come to the time of the Parinibbāna, he thought to himself: “I have entertained doubts on three points and have asked the old wanderers to resolve my doubts for me. But because I have looked upon the ascetic Gotama as a youngster, I never asked him. {3.378} Now, however, the time of his Parinibbāna is come, and if I do not ask him now, I may be sorry hereafter.” Accordingly he approached the Teacher.

Elder Ānanda sought to prevent him. But the Teacher gave him leave to approach, saying to the elder: “Ānanda, do not keep Subhadda away; let him ask me his question.” Therefore Subhadda entered within the curtain, seated himself at the foot of the bed, and asked the Teacher the following questions: “Good ascetic, is there such a thing as a path through the air? Can one be called an ascetic who is an outsider? Are the conditions constant?” Thereupon the Teacher informed him that these things have no real existence, expounding the Dhamma in the following verses:

254. Ākāse va padaṁ natthi, samaṇo natthi bāhire,
papañcābhiratā pajā, nippapañcā Tathāgatā.

There is no footprint in the sky,
no ascetic on the outside,
folk delight in impediments,
the Realised are free of them.

255. Ākāse va padaṁ natthi, samaṇo natthi bāhire,
saṅkhārā sassatā natthi, natthi Buddhānam-iñjitaṁ.

There is no footprint in the sky,
no ascetic on the outside,
there are no constant conditions,
no disturbance for the Buddhas.

At the end of the teaching Subaddha was established in the fruition of Non-returning, and the assembly had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.