9. Thus have I heard. At that time the Blessed One, in company with the Brotherhood, was traversing the Malla p. 108 country and he came to Thuna, a Brahman village, in the Malla country.
And the Brahman housholders of Thuna, on hearing that the Samana Gotama–he who had gone forth from a Sakya family–was traversing the Malla country in company with the Brotherhood and had arrived at Thuna, they filled up the well to the brim with grass and straw, so that these shaven monks, as they called them, should not obtain water to drink.
And the Blessed One, leaving the road, went to the foot of a tree and drawing near sat down on the appointed seat and while thus sitting he said to Ananda: “Bring me, I pray, Ananda, some water from that well.”
When these words had been spoken, the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: “That well, Sire, has been filled up to the brim with grass and straw by the Brahman housholders of Thuna, so that we, shaven monks, as they call us, may not obtain water to drink.”
A second time the Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda: “Bring me, I pray thee, Ananda, some water from that well.”
A second time the venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: ‘That well, Sire, has been filled up etc. [as above. Transl.].
A third time the Blessed One said to the venerable Ananda: “Bring me, I pray thee, Ananda, some water from that well.”
“So be it, Sire” said the venerable Ananda in assent to the Blessed One and he went to the well, taking with him a bowl.
And when he arrived at the well he found that all the grass and straw had been removed and that it was full p. 109 to the brim, even to overflowing, of pure, clear, translucent water.
And the thought occurred to the venerable Ananda: “How astonishing, how marvellous is the mighty power and great strength of the Perfect One, that on my arrival all the grass and straw were removed and the well was full to the brim, even to overflowing, of clear, pure, translucent water.”
And taking some water in the bowl, he went to where the Blessed One was and said to the Blessed One: “How astonishing, how marvellous, is the mighty power and great strength of the Perfect One, by which the grass and straw was removed etc. [as above. Transl.].
Drink, Exalted One, of the water: Drink, Happy One, of the water.”
And the Blessed One, in this connection, on that occasion, breathed forth this solemn utterance:–
| “When there is water everywhere, what need of a well? When desire has been uprooted, In search of what should a man wander?” |