Dvesahayakabhikkhu Vatthu

Bahumpi ce sahitam bhasamano

Na takkaro hoti naro pamatto

Gopova gavo ganayam paresam

Na bhgva samannassa hoti

Appampi ca sahitam bhasamano

Dhammassa hoti anudhammacari

Raganca dosanca pahaya moham

Sammappajano suvimuttacitto

Anupadiyano idha va huram va

Sa bhagava samannassa hoti.

Although he may recite the Sacred Texts constantly but act not in accordance with them, the heedless man is like a cowherd who counts other’s cows; he has no share in the blessing of the recluse.

If a man recites a little of the Sacred Texts but puts its precepts into practice, ridding himself of craving, hatred and delusion, possessed of right knowledge, with mind totally feed, clinging to nothing in this or in any other world, he shares the blessings of the recluse.

Story

We were told about the story of two monks; one who knew a lot about the Dhamma but he was still an ordinary monk, the other who knew a little about Dhamma but he attained Arahantship. The learned monk did not practice what he knew while the one who knew little practiced and realized Nibbana and then enjoyed the fruits of the holy life. The learned monk wanted to embarrass  the other by asking some difficult questions in the presence of the Buddha. Then the Buddha raised some questions connected with the realization of the Dhamma. The Arahant monk could answer them all from his personal experience, while the other could not as he had not attained any stage of Ariya Puggalas. Thereupon the Buddha praised the Arahant monk as superior to the learned monk.

Sumanadevi Vatthu

Idha nandati pecca nandati

Katapunno ubhayattha nandati

Punnam me katanti nandati

Bhiyyo nandati suggatim gato.

Here he is joyful, hereafter he is joyful, in both worlds the well-doer is joyful. “I have done good” is the thought that makes him happy. Still greater is his joy when he goes to the state of bliss.

Story

Sumanadevi, the youngest daughter of Anathapindikasetthi, while lying on her death-bed, called her father as “young brother” and died peacefully. Anathapidikasetthi, the main supporter of the Buddha, was sad to hear his daughter say such word at the moment of death. He told this matter to the Buddha. He explained that because she had attained the second stage of Ariya Puggalas (Sakadagami=Once-Returner) while her father had attained only the first stage of Sotapanna(Stream-Winner).

Devadatta Vatthu

Idha tappati pecca tappati

Papakari ubhayattha tappati

Papam me katanti pappati

Bhiyyo tappati dukkhatim gato.

He grieves here, he grieves hereafter, in both worlds the evil-doer grieves. “I have done evil” is the thought that torments him. Still greater is his grief when he goes to the state of woe.

Story

A well-known monk called Devadatta tried in vain to kill the Buddha. In his old age he felt sorry and wanted to see the Buddha. While he was carried on a litter by his followers to see the Buddha, he died on the way and went to the state of woe.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada : Dhammikaupasaka Vatthu

Idha modati pecca modati

Katapunno ubhayattha modati

So modati so pamodati

Disva kammavisuddhimattano.

He rejoices here, he rejoices hereafter, in both worlds the well-doer rejoices. He rejoices, exceedingly rejoices, seeing his own pure deeds.

Story

Upasaka named Dhammika, the devout man, led a religious life. While lying on his death-bed, he saw  good visions. After dying peacefully, he was taken by gods to a heaven.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Cundasukarika Vatthu

Idha socati pecca socati

Papakari ubhayattha socati

So socati so vihannati

Disva kammakilitthamattano.

He grieves here, he grieves hereafter, in both worlds the evil-doer grieves. He mourns, he is afflicted, beholding his own foul deeds.

Story

Cunda, the pork-butcher, lived by killing many pigs throughout his lifetime. He was subject to much suffering in his last days. Before dying, he rolled on the floor like a pig. After death he was born in a woeful state.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Nandatthera Vatthu

Yathagaram ducchannam

Vutthi samativijjhati

Evam abhavitam cittam

Rago samativijjhati.

Yathagaram succhannam

Vutthi na samativijjhati

Evam subhavitam cittam

Rago na samativijjhati.

As rain gets into an ill-thatched house, so lust penetrates an undeveloped mind.

As rain gets not into a well-thatched house, so craving gets not into a well-developed mind.

Story

Prince Nanda was admitted by the Buddha into the Sangha on his wedding day. As he was thinking of his bride instead of meditating, the Buddha used an effective means  whereby Nanda renounced his former thoughts and finally attained Arahantship. The Buddha compared his former state of mind to an ill-thatched house and his pure state of mind to a well-thatched house.

Verses and Stories of Dhammapada:Sanjaya Vatthu

Asare saramatino

Sare casaradassino

Te saram nadhigacchanti

Micchasankappagocara.

Saranca sarato natva

Asaranca asarato

Te saram adhigacchanti

Samma sankappagocara.

Those who mistake the false for the true, and the true for the false,--they who abide in the pasture-ground of wrong thoughts, - never arrive at the real.

Those who know the true as the true, and the false as the false, who abide in right-mindedness, they arrive at the real.

Story

Venerable Sariputta and Venerable Moggallana told the Buddha that they could not persuade Sanjaya, their former teacher, to see the Buddha and listen to his teachings as he did not want to be the follower of the Buddha. The Buddha then explained the difference between those who thought rightly and those who thought wrongly and the result of such thinking.