7.
The Discourse on "Born from Those Who Are Dear"
353. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time a certain householder's only son, dear and agreeable, had died. Because of his death, neither work occurred to him nor did food occur to him. He went to the cremation ground and wailed - "Where are you, only son, where are you, only son!" Then that householder approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To that householder seated to one side, the Blessed One said this - "Your faculties, householder, are not those of one established in his own mind; there is an alteration of your faculties." "How could there not be an alteration of my faculties, venerable sir? For my only son, venerable sir, dear and agreeable, has died. Because of his death, neither work occurs to me nor does food occur to me. I go to the cremation ground and wail - 'Where are you, only son, where are you, only son!'" "So it is, householder, so it is, householder! For, householder, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear." "For whom indeed, venerable sir, will it be thus - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear'? For indeed, venerable sir, joy and pleasure are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear." Then that householder, not delighting in the Blessed One's words, protesting against them, rose from his seat and departed.
354. Now at that time several gamblers were playing with dice not far from the Blessed One. Then that householder approached those gamblers; having approached, he said this to the gamblers - "Here I, sirs, approached the ascetic Gotama; having approached, I paid respect to the ascetic Gotama and sat down to one side. To me seated to one side, sirs, the ascetic Gotama said this - 'Your faculties, householder, are not those of one established in his own mind; there is an alteration of your faculties.' When this was said, I, sirs, said this to the ascetic Gotama - 'How could there not be an alteration of my faculties, venerable sir? For my only son, venerable sir, dear and agreeable, has died. Because of his death, neither work occurs to me nor does food occur to me. I go to the cremation ground and wail - Where are you, only son, where are you, only son!' 'So it is, householder, so it is, householder! For, householder, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.' 'For whom indeed, venerable sir, will it be thus - sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear? For indeed, venerable sir, joy and pleasure are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.' Then I, sirs, not delighting in the ascetic Gotama's words, protesting against them, rose from my seat and departed." "So it is, householder, so it is, householder! For, householder, joy and pleasure are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear." Then that householder departed, thinking "I agree with the gamblers." Then this topic of discussion gradually entered the royal inner palace.
355. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala addressed Queen Mallikā: "This was said to you, Mallikā, by the ascetic Gotama: 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'" "If that was said by the Blessed One, great king, so it is." "Just so indeed this Mallikā, whatever the ascetic Gotama says, she gives thanks for that very thing." "If that was said by the Blessed One, great king, so it is. Just as, whatever a teacher says to his disciple, that very thing the disciple gives thanks for: 'So it is, teacher, so it is, teacher.'" "Just so indeed you, Mallikā, whatever the ascetic Gotama says, you give thanks for that very thing." "If that was said by the Blessed One, great king, so it is." "Go away, Mallikā, be gone!" Then Queen Mallikā addressed the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha: "Come, brahmin, go to where the Blessed One is; having approached, in my name pay respect with your head at the Blessed One's feet, and ask about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort - 'Mallikā, venerable sir, the queen, pays respect with her head at the Blessed One's feet, and asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort.' And say this: 'Was this speech, venerable sir, spoken by the Blessed One: Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear?' As the Blessed One answers you, having learnt that well, report it to me. For Truth-finders do not speak falsely." "Yes, dear lady," the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha replied to Queen Mallikā and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha said this to the Blessed One: "Mallikā, Master Gotama, the queen, pays respect with her head at Master Gotama's feet; she asks about his health, whether he is free from illness, free from affliction, light in rising, strong, and dwelling in comfort; and he says thus - 'Was this speech, venerable sir, spoken by the Blessed One: Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear?'"
356. "So it is, brahmin, so it is, brahmin! For, brahmin, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear." By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear. Once upon a time, brahmin, in this very Sāvatthī, the mother of a certain woman died. She, due to her death, being mad, mentally deranged, having gone from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, said thus - "Have you seen my mother, have you seen my mother?" By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.
"Once upon a time, brahmin, in this very Sāvatthī, the father of a certain woman died... her brother died... her sister died... her son died... her daughter died... her husband died. She, due to his death, being mad, mentally deranged, having gone from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, said thus - "Have you seen my husband, have you seen my husband?" By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.
"Once upon a time, brahmin, in this very Sāvatthī, the mother of a certain man died. He, due to her death, being mad, mentally deranged, having gone from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, said thus - "Have you seen my mother, have you seen my mother?" By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.
"Once upon a time, brahmin, in this very Sāvatthī, the father of a certain man died... her brother died... her sister died... her son died... her daughter died... his wife died. He, due to her death, being mad, mentally deranged, having gone from road to road, from crossroads to crossroads, said thus - "Have you seen my wife, have you seen my wife?" By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.
"Once upon a time, brahmin, in this very Sāvatthī a certain woman went to her relatives' family. Her relatives, having taken her husband by force, wished to give her to another. But she did not wish for that. Then that woman said this to her husband - 'These relatives, master's son, having taken you by force from me, wish to give me to another. But I do not wish for that.' Then that man, having cut that woman in two, split himself open - 'After death we shall both be together.' By this method too, brahmin, it should be known how sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear."
357. Then the brahmin Nāḷijaṅgha, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat and approached Queen Mallikā; having approached, he reported to Queen Mallikā all the friendly conversation he had with the Blessed One. Then Queen Mallikā approached King Pasenadi of Kosala; having approached, she said this to King Pasenadi of Kosala - "What do you think, great king, is the princess Vajirī dear to you?" "Yes, Mallikā, the princess Vajirī is dear to me." "What do you think, great king, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish arise in you from the alteration and change of the princess Vajirī?" "Mallikā, from the alteration and change of the princess Vajirī, there would even be an alteration in my life, how then would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish not arise in me?" "This indeed, great king, was spoken with reference to this by that Blessed One, who knows and sees, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'
"What do you think, great king, is the noble lady Vāsabhā dear to you?" "Yes, Mallikā, the noble lady Vāsabhā is dear to me." "What do you think, great king, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish arise in you from the alteration and change of the noble lady Vāsabhā?" "Mallikā, from the alteration and change of the noble lady Vāsabhā, there would even be an alteration in my life, how then would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish not arise in me?" "This indeed, great king, was spoken with reference to this by that Blessed One, who knows and sees, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'
"What do you think, great king, is the general Viṭaṭūbha dear to you?" "Yes, Mallikā, the general Viṭaṭūbha is dear to me." "What do you think, great king, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish arise in you from the alteration and change of the general Viṭaṭūbha?" "Mallikā, from the alteration and change of the general Viṭaṭūbha, there would even be an alteration in my life, how then would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish not arise in me?" "This indeed, great king, was spoken with reference to this by that Blessed One, who knows and sees, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'
"What do you think, great king, am I dear to you?" "Yes, Mallikā, you are dear to me." "What do you think, great king, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish arise in you from my alteration and change?" "Mallikā, from your alteration and change, there would even be an alteration in my life, how then would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish not arise in me?" "This indeed, great king, was spoken with reference to this by that Blessed One, who knows and sees, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'
"What do you think, great king, are Kāsi and Kosala dear to you?" "Yes, Mallikā, Kāsi and Kosala are dear to me. Mallikā, by the power of Kāsi and Kosala, we enjoy Kāsi sandalwood, we wear garlands, scents, and cosmetics." "What do you think, great king, would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish arise in you from the alteration and change of Kāsi and Kosala?" "Mallikā, from the alteration and change of Kāsi and Kosala, there would even be an alteration in my life, how then would sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish not arise in me?" "This indeed, great king, was spoken with reference to this by that Blessed One, who knows and sees, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself - 'Sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and anguish are born from those who are dear, they arise from those who are dear.'"
"It is wonderful, Mallikā, it is marvellous, Mallikā! How far that Blessed One sees, having penetrated, I think, with wisdom. Come, Mallikā, bring water for rinsing." Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, uttered an inspired utterance three times - "Homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself, homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself, homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself."
The Discourse on Born of Those Who Are Dear is concluded as seventh.