26.31 The Story about the Elder Sīvali
Sīvalittheravatthu
Dhp 414
Burlingame: Seven Years in the Womb
Compare: Ud 2.8; Ja 100; Thag-a 60; AN-a 1.14.2.9; Dhp-a 7.9c BG: Parallels: Ud 2.8; Ja 100; Thag-a, 60; AN-a 1.14.2.9 about Suppavāsā. The Udāna version is more detailed than the Jātaka version, and the Jātaka version more detailed than the Dhp-a version. Dhp-a 4.19215-19305 is almost word for word the same as Ud 158-15, agreeing with the Udāna rather than with the Jātaka. According to the Udāna and the Jātaka, a lay supporter of Moggallāna postpones his entertainment of the Buddha at the latter’s request, to enable him to accept Suppāvāsa’s invitation. Dhp-a omits this. On the other hand, the Udāna has nothing to say about Sīvali’s retirement from the world, which the Jātaka gives at length, and Dhp-a very briefly. The author of Dhp-a has evidently used both the Udāna and the Jātaka as his authorities. With the account of the Buddha’s easing of Suppāvāsa’s birth-pains by a benediction, cf. the account in Dhp-a 13.6 (MN 86) of Aṅgulimāla’s easing of a woman’s birth-pains by an act of truth. For Suppāvāsa’s entertainment of the Buddha, see AN 2.62-63. For the story of Sīvali as recipient of offerings, see Dhp-a 7.9b; Thag-a 60; AN-a 1.14.2.9. For the story of Sīvali’s past deeds, see Dhp-a 7.9c; Ja 100; AN-a 1.14.2.9. The account in Thag-a 60 of Sīvali’s birth, retirement from the world, and reception of offerings, is evidently derived from at least three different sources; namely, Jātaka Commentary, Dhammapada Commentary and the Aṅguttara Commentary.
Suppavāsā carried her child Sīvali for seven years in her womb and took seven days to deliver him; later he ordained and became an Arahat; one day the bhikkhus discussed how much suffering he had been through, and the Buddha confirmed he was now free of suffering and spoke a verse.
Keywords: Foremost Disciples, Birth
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“He who has crossed the difficult path,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Kuṇḍadhāna Grove near Kuṇḍakoḷi with reference to the Elder Sīvali.
For once upon a time Suppavāsā, a daughter of the Koliya clan, carried a child in her womb for seven years. And for seven days, since the child lay awry, she was stricken with distressing, acute, and bitter pains, and said to herself: “The Sambuddha, truly, is that Fortunate One who teaches a Dhamma for the putting away of suffering such as this.
The moment the Teacher uttered these words, Suppavāsā brought forth a healthy son in health and happiness. Forthwith she invited the Saṅgha of bhikkhus presided over by the Buddha to be her guests and for seven days gave bountiful offerings. From the day of his birth her son took a waterpot provided with a strainer and strained water for the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. After a time he went forth and attained Arahatship.
One day the bhikkhus began a discussion in the Dhamma Hall: “Only think, friends! So illustrious a bhikkhu as this, possessing the faculties requsite for the attainment of Arahatship, endured suffering all that time in the womb of his mother! How great indeed was the suffering this bhikkhu passed through!”
The Teacher drew near and asked: “Bhikkhus, what is the subject that engages your conversation now, as you sit here all gathered together?” When they told him, he said: “Bhikkhus, it is even so. My son has obtained release from all this suffering, and now, having realized Nibbāna, abides in the bliss thereof.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:
414. Yo imaṁ palipathaṁ duggaṁ saṁsāraṁ moham-accagā,
tiṇṇo pāragato jhāyī, anejo akathaṅkathī,
anupādāya nibbuto, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.
He who has crossed the difficult
path through births, deaths and delusion,
the meditator, crossed over
to the further shore, free of lust
and doubt, unattached and cooled down,
that one I say is a Brahmin.
At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.