Nanda
Thus I have heard: One time, the Budha was staying at
Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
At that time, the Venerable Nanda was staying in the Hastipaala Udyaana in Shraavastii.
At that moment, the Venerable Nanda was in a quiet and secluded place and gave rise to this thought:
“The appearance of the Tathaagata in the world is extremely rare. He manifests only once in countless eons and is truly difficult to encounter.
The Tathaagata arises only after an immeasurable, long night, just like the udumbara flower (Ficus racemosa, commonly known as the cluster fig tree.), which appears only at rare intervals.
Likewise, the appearance of the Tathaagata is extremely rare.
He manifests only once in countless eons and is truly difficult to see.
This state is also difficult to encounter: where all actions come to complete rest, where craving is entirely extinguished without remainder, where there is no defilement, and where there is the complete cessation—Nirvaaṇa.”
At that time, a Maara deity, knowing the thoughts in the mind of the Venerable Nanda, went to the Shaakya woman Sundarii.
Hovering in the sky, he praised her with a verse, saying:
“Rejoice now with delight,
Adorn yourself and enjoy the five pleasures!
Nanda has now abandoned his robes;
Soon, you shall rejoice together!”
At that time, when the Shaakya woman Sundarii heard the words of the deity, she was filled with joy and excitement, unable to contain herself.
She immediately adorned herself, decorated her dwelling, arranged fine seats, and prepared music and entertainment, just as if Nanda were still living as a householder.
At that time, King Prasenajit gathered in the assembly hall and heard that the Bhikshu Nanda had abandoned the monastic robes and returned to household life.
The reason was that a deity in the sky had informed his wife.
At that time, when King Prasenajit heard these words, he became sorrowful and distressed.
He immediately mounted his white elephant and went to that garden.
Upon arrival, he entered the Hastipaala (Elephant Flower) Pond.
From a distance, he saw the Venerable Nanda.
He then approached Nanda, bowed down with his head at Nanda’s feet, and sat to one side.
At that time, the Venerable Nanda said to King Prasenajit:
“Great King, why have you come here with such a changed expression? What matter has brought you to me?”
King Prasenajit replied:
“Venerable one, you should know that while I was in the great assembly hall, I heard that you had abandoned the monastic robes and returned to lay life. Upon hearing this, I came here immediately.
I am uncertain if this is true—what instructions do you have to give?”
At that time, Nanda smiled gently and said to the king:
“Without seeing or hearing it yourself, why do you speak such words, Great King?
Have you not heard from the Tathaagata that I have eliminated all defilements, ended the cycle of birth and death, established the noble path, and completed what was to be done?
I will no longer take rebirth in any womb—I know this as it truly is.
Now, I have attained Arhantship, and my mind is fully liberated.”
King Prasenajit said:
“I have not heard from the Tathaagata that Bhikshu Nanda… has ended the cycle of birth and death… attained Arhantship, and achieved liberation of mind.
The reason is that a deity came and spoke to the Shaakya woman Sundarii.
Upon hearing these words, Lady Sundarii immediately prepared music and entertainment, adorned herself, and arranged fine seats.
After hearing this, I came straight to you, Venerable One.”
Nanda said:
“Great King, since you have neither seen nor heard it yourself, why do you speak these words?
All shramaṇas and braahmanas take delight in the bliss of cessation, the bliss of the Sugata, the bliss of the shramaṇas life, and the bliss of Nirvaaṇa. Yet, they do not examine for themselves the pit of lustful fire.
If one were to pursue such things again, it would not be so.”
“Bones are like chains, and flesh is like piled stones.
It is like honey smeared on a blade—one, driven by greed for a small gain, does not consider the suffering that follows.
It is also like a tree branch heavy with fruit that soon breaks, like something borrowed that must soon be returned, like a grove of sword-leaf trees, like a poisonous drug, like deadly poison, and like toxic flowers and fruits.
In the same way, one should view lust and desire.”
“For one whose mind clings to desires, this is not the right path.
If someone does not contemplate the dangers of desire—like a pit of fire… up to… a poisonous fruit—yet wishes to cross beyond the flood of desire, the flood of existence, the flood of views, and the flood of ignorance, this is not possible.
Without crossing these four floods, if one wishes to enter the realm of Nirvaaṇa without remainder and attain final Nirvaaṇa, this is not possible.”
“Great King, you should know that if shramanas and braahmanas merely observe the bliss of cessation, the bliss of the Sugata, the bliss of the shramana life, and the bliss of Nirvaaṇa without deeper insight, this is not the right path.
However, if they contemplate correctly and understand the blazing fire of lust—seeing it as bone chains, a mass of flesh, honey smeared on a sharp blade, a fruit-laden branch that is bound to break, something borrowed that must soon be returned, or like a grove of sword-leaf trees, poisonous trees, and harmful poison—then this is the right path.
Having fully realized the dangers arising from the fire of lust, one can cross beyond the flood of desire, the flood of existence, the flood of views, and the flood of ignorance—this is certain.
For one who has already crossed these four floods, this is indeed the truth.”
“What do you think, Great King? Based on what have you seen or known that makes you say such things?
Now, Great King, I have already attained Arhantship.
“Birth and death have been extinguished, the holy life has been established, what had to be done has been done.
I know that I will not born again in future.” —my mind is completely liberated.”**
At that time, King Prasenajit was filled with joy, and a wholesome mind arose within him.
He said to the Venerable Nanda:
“I now have no doubt whatsoever, not even as much as a strand of hair. Now I truly know that you have attained Arhantship.
I take my leave now, as I have many affairs to attend to in the kingdom.”
Nanda replied:
“You may go at an appropriate time.”
At that time, King Prasenajit immediately rose from his seat, bowed with his head at Nanda’s feet, and then took his leave.
Not long after King Prasenajit had departed, the Maara deity came to the Venerable Nanda.
Hovering in the sky, he once again spoke this verse to Nanda:
“Her face is like the moon,
Adorned with gold and silver ornaments.
Remembering her beauty and grace,
One finds constant joy in the five pleasures.
She plays the harp, beats the drum, and sings,
Her voice is soft and melodious.
She can dispel all sorrow and worry—
Why choose to dwell in this forest instead?”
At that time, the Venerable Nanda thought to himself:
“This is a Maara deity.”
Realizing this, he responded with a verse:
“In the past, I had such thoughts,
Indulging in desire without satisfaction.
Entangled by craving,
I was unaware of aging, sickness, and death.
Now I have crossed the abyss of lust,
Unstained and free from defilements.
Worldly status is nothing but suffering;
True joy lies in the Dharma of ultimate reality.
Now, I am free from all fetters;
Desire, anger, and ignorance are completely extinguished.
I will no longer follow such ways—
Let the foolish take heed and awaken.”
At that time, when the Maara deity heard these words, he became filled with sorrow and distress.
Immediately, he vanished from that place and was no longer seen.
At that time, many bhikshus reported this event in full to the Bhagavaan.
Then, the Bhagavaan said to the bhikshus:
“Among bhikshus of handsome appearance, none surpass Bhikshus Nanda.
Among those with serene faculties, Bhikshu Nanda excels.
Among those free from desire, Bhikshu Nanda is foremost.
Among those free from anger, Bhikshu Nanda is also foremost.
Among those free from ignorance, Bhikshu Nanda is foremost.
Among those who have attained Arhantship, Bhikshu Nanda is also foremost.
Why is this so?
Because Bhikshu Nanda is of noble appearance, with faculties that are perfectly tranquil.”
At that time, the Bhagavaan said to the bhikshus:
“Among my disciples in the Sangha, the one of the most handsome appearance is Bhikshu Nanda.
Among those with tranquil faculties, Bhikshu Nanda is also foremost.”
When the bhikshus heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.