21.8 The Story about Cullā Subhaddā
Cullasubhaddāvatthu

“The good are visible from far,” [30.184] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Cullā Subhaddā, daughter of Anāthapiṇḍika.

It seems that from the time Anāthapiṇḍika was a mere boy, he had as his most intimate friend, a rich man’s son named Ugga, who lived in the city of Ugga. They acquired the arts in the house of the same teacher, and while studying together, made the following agreement: “When we grow up and get married and sons and daughters are born to us, in case one of us chooses the daughter of the other to be the wife of his son, the other shall give him his daughter.” When the two youths reached manhood, they assumed the post of Rich Man, each in his own city.

Now on a certain occasion the Rich Man Ugga set out for Sāvatthī with five hundred carts on a trading expedition. Thereupon Anāthapiṇḍika addressed his daughter Cullā Subhaddā, enjoining upon her the following command: “Dear daughter, your father the Rich Man Ugga has come to visit us; it rests upon you to do for him everything that etiquette requires.” – “Very well,” replied Cullā Subhaddā, promising to obey her father’s command. So from the day of Ugga’s arrival Cullā Subhaddā with her own hand prepared for him sauces and curries and other things to eat, and procured garlands and perfumes and ointments and other things for his comfort. {3.466} When it was meal-time, she had water prepared for his bath and after the bath performed for him faithfully all of the various duties.

When the Rich Man Ugga observed how excellent was her conduct, his heart was filled with joy. One day as he sat chatting pleasantly with Anāthapiṇḍika, he reminded the latter of the agreement which the two had made when they were youths and then and there chose Cullā Subhaddā to be the wife of his son. Now Ugga, as the result of his bringing up, was a holder of wrong views, and therefore Anāthapiṇḍika told the One of Ten Strengths about the matter. The Teacher, seeing that the rich man Ugga possessed the supporting conditions, gave his consent. So the Rich Man Anāthapiṇḍika, after talking the matter over with his wife, accepted the offer of the rich man Ugga and set the day for the marriage of his daughter. [30.185]

As did the Rich Man Dhanañjaya, AJ: see Dhp-a 4.8. when he gave his daughter Visākhā in marriage and sent her away, so also did the Rich Man Anāthapiṇḍika give splendid gifts. And addressing his daughter Subhaddā, he gave her ten admonitions, just as the rich man Dhanañjaya gave his daughter AJ: I have filled out the advice here, only the first is given in the commentary, followed by “… and so on.” Visākhā ten admonitions, BG: see Dhp-a 4.8. AJ: the text here gives only the first of the admonitions, I include the rest from the earlier story. saying: “Dear daughter, so long as you live in the house of your father-in-law, the indoor fire is not to be carried outside; the outdoor fire is not to be carried inside; give only to him that gives; give not to him that gives not; give both to him that gives and to him that gives not; sit happily; eat happily; sleep happily; tend the fire; honor the household divinities.”

Likewise he provided his daughter with eight laymen as sponsors, saying to them: “If, in the place to which my daughter is going, any fault is charged against my daughter, you are to sort it out.” And on the day when he sent her away, he gave splendid gifts to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus presided over by the Buddha, and as if to show and publish to the world the abundant fruit of the good deeds which his daughter had done in previous states of existence, sent his daughter away in splendid state.

In due course she arrived at the city of Ugga, whereupon the household of her father-in-law, together with a great multitude besides, {3.467} came forth to meet her. Like Visākhā, she entered the city standing in her chariot, showing herself to all the city, that all might behold the splendor and magnificence of her state. Accepting the presents which the citizens sent to her, she sent presents to them, having due regard to the condition and tastes of each, and made the whole city resound with praises of her virtues and her charm.

Now it was the practice of her father-in-law to entertain the naked ascetics on holidays and festivals, and on such occasions he would send word to her saying: “Let her come and do reverence to our bhikkhus.” But by reason of her modesty Subhaddā could not bear to look upon the naked ascetics and therefore refused to come.

Again and again her father-in-law sent word to her to come, and again and again she refused to do so. Finally he became exceedingly angry and issued the command: “Put her out of the house.” But she replied: “No one may convict me of guilt without just cause.” And forthwith summoning her sponsors, she laid the facts before them. They found her free from blame and apprised the rich man. Her father-in-law told his wife about the matter, saying: “This woman refuses to do reverence to my ascetics, because she says they lack modesty.” Thereupon his wife said: “What manner of men are these ascetics of hers, that she praises them so highly?” And summoning Subhaddā, she said to her: AJ: the first two verses are found in the commentary to AN 4.24.

Of what kind are your ascetics
that you praise them excessively?
What are their practices, what their
conduct, explain to me when asked. [30.186]

In reply to the question of her mother-in-law, Subhaddā proclaimed the merits and virtues of the Buddha and of the disciples of the Buddha, as follows:

At peace their senses, at peace their minds,
at peace their going and standing,
with eyes cast down, speaking moderately
such are my ascetics.

Their deeds by the body are good,
the deeds by the voice are serene,
their deeds by mind are very pure,
such are my ascetics. {3.468}

Without stain, like shining conches,
they are faultless within, without,
complete with things that are faultless,
such are my ascetics.

The world is elated by gain,
and is depressed through loss,
indifferent to gain and loss,
such are my ascetics.

The world is elated by fame,
and is depressed through ill-repute,
indifferent to fame and ill-repute,
such are my ascetics.

The world is elated by praise,
and is depressed through blame,
balanced regarding praise and blame,
such are my ascetics.

The world is elated by ease,
and is depressed through suffering,
unmoved by ease and suffering,
such are my ascetics.

With these words and much else to the same effect, did Subhaddā satisfy her mother-in-law. Thereupon her mother-in-law asked her: “Would it be possible to let us also see your bhikkhus?” – “That would be entirely possible,” replied Subhaddā. “Well then,” replied her mother-in-law, “arrange matters so that we may see them.” – “Very well,” said Subhaddā.

Thereupon Subhaddā prepared rich offerings for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus presided over by the Buddha, took her stand on the topmost floor of the palace, faced in the direction of Jetavana, did reverence with the five limbs, called to mind the merits of the Buddha, honored the Buddha with scents and perfumes and flowers and incense, and threw into the air eight handfuls of jasmine flowers, saying as she did so: “Venerable Sir, I invite the Saṅgha of bhikkhus presided over by the Buddha for tomorrow; let the Teacher understand by this token that he has been invited.” {3.469} The flowers proceeded through the air of their own accord, and forming a flower-canopy, stood over the Teacher as he taught the Dhamma in the midst of the fourfold assembly.

At that moment Anāthapiṇḍika, who had been listening to the Teacher’s sermon, invited the Teacher to be his guest on the morrow. The Teacher replied: “Householder, I have accepted an invitation for the morrow.” – “But, venerable Sir,” replied Anāthapiṇḍika, “no one [30.186] came here before me; whose invitation did you accept?” The Teacher said: “Cullā Subhaddā invited me, householder.” – “But, venerable Sir, does not Cullā Subhaddā live a long way off, a matter of 120 leagues from here?” – “Yes,” he said, “but the good, even though they dwell afar off, manifest themselves as if they stood face to face.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

304. Dūre santo pakāsenti, himavanto va pabbato,
asantettha na dissanti, rattiṁ khittā yathā sarā.

The good are visible from far,
like a mountain covered in snow,
but the wicked are not seen here,
just like arrows shot in the night. {3.470}

At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.

Sakka, the Lord of the Devas, aware that the Teacher had accepted Cullā Subhaddā’s invitation, gave the following order to the god Vissakamma: “Create five hundred gabled halls, and on the morrow conduct the Saṅgha of bhikkhus presided over by the Buddha to the city of Ugga.” So on the following day the god Vissakamma created five hundred gabled halls and took his stand at the gate of Jetavana.

The Teacher selected five hundred pure ones, who had destroyed the pollutants, and together with his retinue seated in gabled halls, proceeded through the air to the city of Ugga. The rich man Ugga too, with his retinue, as Subhaddā directed, stood looking down the road by which the Realised One was to come. When he saw the Teacher approach in all his splendor and majesty, {3.471} his heart was filled with joy. He rendered him high honor with garlands and other offerings, welcomed him to his house, saluted him, gave him abundant gifts, invited him again and again to be his guest, and for seven days gave him rich offerings. And the Teacher, minded to do him good, taught the Dhamma to him. Beginning with the rich man Ugga, 84,000 living beings had comprehension of the Dhamma. By way of showing favor to Subhaddā, the Teacher directed Elder Anuruddha to remain behind, saying to him: “You remain right here.” So saying, he returned to Sāvatthī. From that time on, that town was endowed with faith.

last updated: August 2024