2-Mucalindavaggo-08

Thus I heard:
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Kuõóiya, at Kuõóadhàna Wood.

Then at that time the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb (and couldn't be delivered). While she was affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consented to three thoughts: ßFor sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One's Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.û

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà addressed her husband, (saying): ßCome, Master, you must go to the Gracious One, and after going, in my name you should worship the Gracious One's feet with your head, and ask (if he is) free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably, (and say): `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One's feet with her head, and asks (if you are) free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably?'

And please say this: `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb. While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consents to three thoughts: ßFor sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One's Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.û ' û

ß(That is) the best thingû said the Koliyan gentleman, and after replying to Suppavàsà the Koliyan lady, he went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

While sat on one side that Koliyan gentleman said this to the Gracious One: ßThe Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One's feet with her head, and asks (if you are) free from affliction, free from sickness, in good health, strong, and living comfortably? And she says this: `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, has been with child for seven years, and for seven days it has been lost in the womb. While she is affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, she consents to three thoughts: ßFor sure the Gracious One is a Perfect Sambuddha, who teaches the Dhamma for the giving up of suffering such as this; for sure the Gracious One's Community of disciples are good in their practice, who practice for the giving up of suffering such as this; it is sure that Emancipation is truly happy, where suffering such as this is not found.û ' û

ßHappy may the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà be, and healthy, and may she give birth to a healthy son.û

And with this word of the Gracious One, the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà became happy and healthy, and gave birth to a healthy son.

ßYes, reverend Sirû said the Koliyan gentleman, and after greatly rejoicing and gladly receiving this word of the Gracious One, rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Gracious One, he returned to his own home.

The Koliyan gentleman saw that the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà was happy and healthy, and had given birth to a healthy son. Having seen (that), it occured to him: ßSurely it is wonderful, friend, surely it is marvellous, friend, the Realised One's great power and great majesty, in as much as this Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, with this word of the Gracious One, became happy and healthy, and to a healthy son gave birthû, and he was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà addressed her husband, (saying): ßCome, Master, you must go to the Gracious One, and after going, in my name you should worship the Gracious One's feet with your head, (and say): `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One's feet with her head.' And please say this: `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. May the Gracious One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà together with the Community of monks.' û

ß(That is) the best thingû, said the Koliyan gentleman, and after replying to Suppavàsà the Koliyan lady, he went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

While sat on one side the Koliyan gentleman said this to the Gracious One: ßThe Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, worships the Gracious One's feet with her head. And she says this: `The Koliyan lady Suppavàsà, reverend Sir, was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she invites the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. May the Gracious One consent, reverend Sir, to seven meals from the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà together with the Community of monks.' û

Then at that time a certain lay follower had invited the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head to a meal on the morrow. Now that lay follower was venerable Mahàmoggallàna's supporter.

Then the Gracious One addressed venerable Mahàmoggallàna, (saying): ß Come, Moggallàna, you must go to that lay follower, and after going, please say this to that lay follower: `Friend, the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal, please let the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà make her seven meals.' Afterwards he can make (his) - he is your supporter. û

ßYes, reverend Sir,û said venerable Mahàmoggallàna, and after replying to the Gracious One, he went to that lay follower, and after going, he said this to that lay follower: ßFriend, the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà was with child for seven years, and for seven days it was lost in the womb, but now she is happy and healthy, and has born a healthy son. For seven days she has invited the Community of monks, with the Buddha at its head, for a meal. Let the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà make her seven meals, and afterwards you can make (yours).û

ßIf, reverend Sir, master Mahàmoggallàna is my surety for three things - for wealth, for life, and for faith - the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà may make her seven meals, and afterwards I will make (mine).û

ßFor two things, friend, I am your surety - for wealth and for life - but for faith you are the surety.û

ßIf, reverend Sir, master Mahàmoggallàna is my surety for two things - for wealth and for life - the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà may make her seven meals, and afterwards I will make (mine).û

Then venerable Mahàmoggallàna, after conciliating that lay follower, went to the Gracious One, and after going, he said this to the Gracious One: ßThat lay follower has been conciliated by me, reverend Sir, let the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà make her seven meals, and afterwards he can make (his).û

Then the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà for seven days with her own hand served and satisfied the Community of monks with the Buddha at its head with excellent comestibles and edibles. Then she made the little boy worship the Buddha, and the whole Community of monks. Then venerable Sàriputta said this to that little boy: ßCan you bear up, little boy? Can you carry on? Do you have any pain?û

ßHow, reverend Sàriputta, can I bear up? How can I carry on? For seven years I have been living in a bloodbath.û

Then (it occured) to the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà: ßMy son is consulting with the general of the Dhamma,û and she became elated, gladdened, joyful and happy.

Then the Gracious One after seeing that the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà was elated, gladdened, joyful and happy, said this to the Koliyan lady Suppavàsà: ßSuppavàsà, do you long for another such son?û ßGracious One, I long for another seven such sons.û

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