26.17 The Story about the Elder Sāriputta

Dhp 40

Burlingame: Sāriputta is Reviled by His Mother

When Elder Sāriputta was in his village he went to his own home and was offered almsfood by his mother, who roundly abused him for being a beggar; however, the elder did not get angry or say a word, after this was reported to the Buddha, he spoke a verse.

Keywords: Great Disciples, Offerings, Reviling

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“Whoever is controlled of mind,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana with reference to Elder Sāriputta. {4.164}

At that time, so it seems, the elder, accompanied by five hundred bhikkhus, while making his rounds for alms in the village of Nālaka, came to the door of his mother’s house. His mother provided him with a seat, and as she served him with food, abused him roundly, saying: “Ho, eater of leavings! Failing to get leavings of sour rice-gruel, you therefore go from house to house among strangers, licking off the back of a ladle such sour rice-gruel as clings to it! And for this you renounced 800 million of wealth and went forth! You have ruined me! Eat now!” {4.165} Likewise when she gave food to the bhikkhus, she said: “So you are the men who have made my son your own page-boy! Eat now!” The elder took the food and returned to the monastery. [30.290]

Venerable Rāhula invited the Teacher to eat. The Teacher said: “Rāhula, where did you go?” – “To the village where my grandmother lives, venerable Sir.” – “And what did your grandmother say to your preceptor?” – “Venerable Sir, my grandmother abused my preceptor roundly.” – “What did she say?” – “This and that, venerable Sir.” – “And what reply did your preceptor make?” – “He made no reply, venerable Sir.”

When the bhikkhus heard this, they began to talk about it in the Dhamma Hall. They said: “Friends, how wonderful are the qualities of the Elder Sāriputta! Even when his mother abused him in this fashion, he never got a bit angry.” The Teacher drew near and asked the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, what is the subject that engages your attention now as you sit here all gathered together?” – “Such and such.”

Then said the Teacher: “Bhikkhus, they that have rid themselves of the pollutants are free from anger.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

400. Akkodhanaṁ vatavantaṁ, sīlavantaṁ anussutaṁ,
dantaṁ antimasārīraṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

Whoever is controlled of mind,
dutiful, virtuous, taint-free,
well-trained and in his last body,
that one I say is a Brahmin.