The Discourse about the Cowherd

Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was walking on walking tour amongst the Kosalans, The cognate accusative here is simultaneous with the action; lit.: walked a walk. Wijesekera, Syntax §35, following Brugman, calls this the Object of Contents. together with a great Community of monks.

Then the Fortunate One, having gone down from the road, went to the root of a certain tree, and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Then a certain cowherd went to the Fortunate One, and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side. While sitting on one side the Fortunate One instructed, roused, enthused, and cheered that cowherd with a Dhamma talk. Then that cowherd, having been instructed, roused, enthused, and cheered by the Fortunate One with a Dhamma talk, said to the Fortunate One: “May the Fortunate One consent, reverend Sir, to me (offering him) a meal on the morrow, together with the Community of monks.”

Then that cowherd, having understood the Fortunate One’s consent, after rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Fortunate One, went away.

Then with the passing of that night, that cowherd, in his own residence, having had an abundance of rich milk-rice and fresh ghee made ready, Appodakapāyāsa, lit.: milk-rice with but little water. announced the time to the Fortunate One, (saying): “It is time, reverend Sir, the meal is ready.”

Then the Fortunate One, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, together with the Community of monks, went to that cowherd’s residence, and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then that cowherd with his own hand, served and satisfied the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head with rich milk-rice and fresh ghee.

Then that cowherd, when the Fortunate One had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, having taken a low seat, sat down on one side. While sat on one side the Fortunate One, after instructing, rousing, enthusing, and cheering that cowherd with a Dhamma talk, having risen from the seat, went away.

Then not long after the Fortunate One had gone, while between the boundaries (of the villages), a certain man deprived that cowherd of life.

Then many monks went to the Fortunate One, and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, they sat down on one side. While sat on one side those monks said this to the Fortunate One: “Today, reverend Sir, the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head, was served and satisfied by a cowherd with rich milk-rice and fresh ghee, now it seems that cowherd, reverend Sir, while between the boundaries (of the villages), was deprived of life by a certain man.

Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: