{"collection":"Khuddaka Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_ud2.8/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_ud2.8","id":"suttacentral_ud2.8","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/ud2.8/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Khuddaka Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ku\u1e47\u1e0diy\u0101 in the Ku\u1e47\u1e0dadh\u0101na Grove. Now at that time Suppav\u0101s\u0101 the Koliyan had been pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days. While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts helped her endure: \u201cOh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this. Oh! The Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this. Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.\u201d Then Suppav\u0101s\u0101 addressed her husband, \u201cPlease, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: \u2018Suppav\u0101s\u0101 the Koliyan has been pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days. While suffering painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings, three thoughts help her endure: \u201cOh! The Blessed One is indeed a fully awakened Buddha, who teaches the Dhamma for giving up suffering such as this. Oh! The Sa\u1e45gha of the Buddha\u2019s disciples is indeed practicing well, who practice for giving up suffering such as this. Oh! Extinguishment is so very blissful, where such suffering as this is not found.\u201d\u2019\u201d \u201cExcellent idea,\u201d he replied. He went to the Buddha and told him of his wife\u2019s struggles. The Buddha said: \u201cMay Suppav\u0101s\u0101 the Koliyan be happy and healthy! May she give birth to a healthy child!\u201d As soon as he spoke, Suppav\u0101s\u0101, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child. Saying \u201cYes, sir,\u201d the Koliyan gentleman approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he returned to his own house. He saw that his wife, happy and healthy, had given birth to a healthy child, and thought, \u201cOh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For as soon as he spoke, Suppav\u0101s\u0101, happy and healthy, gave birth to a healthy child.\u201d He became uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness. Then Suppav\u0101s\u0101 addressed her husband, \u201cPlease, master, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. And then say, \u2018Suppav\u0101s\u0101 the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days, is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child. She invites the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days. Sir, would the Buddha please accept seven meals from Suppav\u0101s\u0101?\u2019\u201d \u201cExcellent idea,\u201d he replied. He went to the Buddha, told him the good news, and conveyed his wife\u2019s invitation. Now at that time a certain lay follower had already invited the Sa\u1e45gha of monks headed by the Buddha for the meal on the following day. That lay follower was Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na\u2019s supporter. Then the Buddha addressed Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na, \u201cPlease, Moggall\u0101na, go to that lay follower and say to him, \u2018Suppav\u0101s\u0101 the Koliyan, who was pregnant for seven years, and in obstructed labor for seven days, is now happy and healthy and has given birth to a healthy child. She invites the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha to a meal for seven days. Let Suppav\u0101s\u0101 make seven meals, afterwards you can make yours.\u2019 He is your supporter.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na. He went to that lay follower and conveyed the Buddha\u2019s request. \u201cIf, sir, Master Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na can guarantee me three things\u2014 wealth, life, and faith\u2014 then let Suppav\u0101s\u0101 make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.\u201d \u201cI can guarantee you two things\u2014 wealth and life. But as for faith, you alone are the guarantor.\u201d \u201cIf, sir Master Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na can guarantee me two things\u2014 wealth and life\u2014 then let Suppav\u0101s\u0101 make seven meals, afterwards I shall make mine.\u201d Having persuaded that lay follower, Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na went to the Buddha and said, \u201cI\u2019ve persuaded the lay follower. Let Suppav\u0101s\u0101 make seven meals, afterwards he shall make his.\u201d For seven days Suppav\u0101s\u0101 served and satisfied the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha headed by the Buddha with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. And she made her little boy bow to the Buddha and the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. Then S\u0101riputta said to the boy, \u201cI hope you\u2019re keeping well, little boy, I hope you\u2019re all right. I hope you are not in pain.\u201d \u201cHow could I be keeping well? How could I be getting by? For seven years I lived in a pot of blood.\u201d Then Suppav\u0101s\u0101, thinking, \u201cMy child is conversing with the General of the Dhamma!\u201d was uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness. Knowing this, the Buddha said to her, \u201cWould you like to have another child like this?\u201d \u201cSir, I would like to have seven more children like this!\u201d Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: \u201cPain in the guise of pleasure, the disliked in the guise of the liked, suffering in the guise of happiness, overpower the negligent.\u201d","title":"Suppav\u0101s\u0101","tradition":"Khuddaka Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":854}