Udāna 8

Heartfelt Sayings 1.8

With Saṅgāmaji

1 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time Venerable Saṅgāmaji had arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Buddha. His former wife heard that he had arrived, and went to the Jetavana, taking their boy.

2 Now at that time Venerable Saṅgāmaji was sitting at the root of a tree for the day’s meditation. Then his former wife went up to him and said, “Ascetic, please raise this little boy.” When she said this, Saṅgāmaji kept silent.

3 For a second time she said, “Ascetic, please raise this little boy.” For a second time, Saṅgāmaji kept silent.

4 For a third time she said, “Ascetic, please raise this little boy.” For a third time, Saṅgāmaji kept silent.

5 Then she put down the boy in front of Saṅgāmaji, saying, “This is your child, ascetic. Please raise him.”

6 But Saṅgāmaji neither looked at the boy nor spoke to him. Then his former wife went a little distance away. Looking back, she saw Saṅgāmaji ignoring the boy, and thought, “This ascetic doesn’t even want his child.” She returned to pick up the boy, then left. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha saw how Saṅgāmaji’s former wife went back for the child.

7 Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

8 “When she came he was not glad,

when she left he did not grieve.

Victorious in battle, freed from chains,

that’s who I declare a brahmin.”