VERSE 236
[The slavegirl Puṇṇikā tells a brahman why she is down at the river:]
‘I am a water carrier. I have always, even in winter, come down to the river, afraid of the danger of my mistresses’ punishment, afflicted by the fear of their castigation and hatred.
Udakamāhariṃ sīte sadā udakamotariṃ
Ayyānaṃ daṇḍabhayabhītā vācādosabhayaṭṭitā
COMMENT
Puṇṇikā was the daughter of one of Anāthapiṇḍika’s slaves, and already a stream-enterer. Later she became the arahant bhikkhunī Puṇṇā.
COMMENT
Udaka: ‘river.’ Verse 243 says imā nadiyo
COMMENT
Vācādosa: ‘castigation and hatred.’ Commentary: Vācādosabhayaṭṭitā ti vacīdaṇḍabhayena ceva dosabhayena ca aṭṭitā pīḷitā.
VERSE 237
[Puṇṇikā:]
‘[And] what are you afraid of, brahman, that you always, [even in winter], come down to the river? With shivering limbs you experience bitter coldness.’
Kassa brāhmaṇa tvaṃ bhīto sadā udakamotari
Vedhamānehi gattehi sītaṃ vedayase bhusaṃ
VERSE 238
[Brahman:]
‘You ask, Puṇṇikā, already knowing that one [like] me is engaging in spiritually wholesome conduct and nullifying demeritorious karmically consequential conduct.
Jānantī vata maṃ hoti puṇṇike paripucchasi
Karontaṃ kusalaṃ kammaṃ rundhantaṃ katapāpakaṃ
COMMENT
Karmically consequential deeds are nullified by experiencing their karmic consequence, a process described in this quote:
• ’I declare that there can be no nullification of karmically consequential deeds which have been intentionally undertaken and karmically accumulated without experiencing [their karmic consequences], either in this life, or on rebirth, or in some other subsequent [existence].’
☸ Nāhaṃ bhikkhave sañcetanikānaṃ kammānaṃ katānaṃ upacitānaṃ appaṭisaṃviditvā vyantībhāvaṃ vadāmi. Tañca kho diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajje vā apare vā pariyāye (A.5.292).
COMMENT
Kusalaṃ: ‘spiritually wholesome.’ See IGPT sv Kusala.
VERSE 239
‘Whoever, whether young or old, does a demeritorious deed is released from the accumulated demerit by water ablution.’
Yo ca vuḍḍho daharo vā pāpakammaṃ pakubbati
Dakābhisecanā sopi pāpakammā pamuccati
COMMENT
Pāpakammaṃ... pāpakammā: ‘demeritorious deed... accumulated demerit.’ See IGPT sv Pāpaka.
VERSE 240
[Puṇṇikā:]
‘But who, ignorant to the ignorant, told you this: “He is released from the accumulated demerit by water ablution”?
Ko nu te idamakkhāsi ajānantassa ajānako
Dakābhisecanā nāma pāpakammā pamuccati
VERSE 241
‘[In which case], they will all go to heaven: frogs, turtles, alligators, crocodiles, and all other water-dwellers.
Saggaṃ nūna gamissanti sabbe maṇḍūkakacchapā
Nakkā ca susumārā ca ye caññe udake carā
COMMENT
Susumārā: ‘crocodiles.’ Commentary: Susumārā ti kumbhīlā.
VERSE 242
‘Sheep butchers, pig butchers, fishermen, trappers, thieves, and executioners, and other evildoers, even they are released from their accumulated demerit by water ablution.
Orabbhikā sūkarikā macchikā migabandhakā
Corā ca vajjhaghātā ca ye caññe pāpakammino
Dakābhisecanā tepi pāpakammā pamuccare
VERSE 243
‘If these rivers have carried off your accumulated demerit, may they not also carry off your accumulated merit, by which you would then be excluded from both.
Sace imā nadiyo te pāpaṃ pubbe kataṃ vahuṃ
Puññampi mā vaheyyuṃ te tena tvaṃ paribāhiro
VERSE 244
‘Brahman, do not do whatever it is on account of which you always, [even in winter], come down in terror to the river. May the coldness not harm your skin.’
Yassa brāhmaṇa tvaṃ bhīto sadā udakamotari
Tameva brahme mā kāsi mā te sītaṃ chaviṃ hane
VERSE 245
[Brahman:]
‘I have been following a wrong path. You have brought me back from water ablution to the noble path, honourable lady. I offer you this bathing cloth.’
Kummaggaṃ paṭipannaṃ maṃ ariyamaggaṃ samānayi
Udakābhisecanā bhoti imaṃ sāṭaṃ dadāmi te
VERSE 246
[Puṇṇikā:]
‘Please keep the cloth yourself. I do not want it. If you are afraid of suffering, if suffering is disagreeable to you,
Tuyheva sāṭako hotu nāhaṃ icchāmi sāṭakaṃ
Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa sace te dukkhamappiyaṃ
VERSE 247
‘Do no unvirtuous deed either openly or in secret. But if you do or will do an unvirtuous deed
Mākāsi pāpakaṃ kammaṃ āvi vā yadi vā raho
Sace ca pāpakaṃ kammaṃ karissasi karosi vā
VERSE 248
‘there is no freedom from suffering for you even if you rise into the air and flee. If you are afraid of suffering, if suffering is disagreeable to you,
Na te dukkhā pamuttyatthi upeccāpi palāyato
Sace bhāyasi dukkhassa sace te dukkhamappiyaṃ
COMMENT
Upecca: ‘rise into the air.’ Commentary: uppatitvāti attho. PED (Uppatati): to fly or rise up into the air.
VERSE 249
‘Go to the Buddha for refuge, one of excellent qualities, and to the teaching, and to the community of the Blessed One’s [noble] disciples. Undertake the precepts. That will be for your benefit.’
Upehi saraṇaṃ buddhaṃ dhammaṃ saṅghañca tādinaṃ
Samādiyāhi sīlāni taṃ te atthāya hehiti
VERSE 250
[Brahman:]
‘I go to the Buddha for refuge, one of excellent qualities, and to the teaching, and to the community of the Blessed One’s [noble] disciples. I undertake the precepts. That will be for my benefit.’
Upemi saraṇaṃ buddhaṃ dhammaṃ saṅghañca tādinaṃ
Samādiyāmi sīlāni taṃ me atthāya hehiti
VERSE 251
[The brahman declares his arahantship:]
‘Formerly I was Brahmā’s offspring, today I am a true Brahman, a master of the three final knowledges, endowed with profound knowledge, fully versed in profound knowledge, spiritually cleansed.’
Brahmabandhu pure āsiṃ ajjamhi saccabrāhmaṇo
Tevijjo vedasampanno sottiyo camhi nahātako ti
COMMENT
After this conversation the brahman met the Buddha, went forth, and attained arahantship. Likewise for Puṇṇikā: Anāthapiṇḍika enfranchised her. She went forth and was soon enlightened.