With Udaya (SN7.12)

Linked Discourses 7.12

2. Lay Followers

With Udaya

At Sāvatthī.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Udaya.

Then Udaya filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice.

The next day … Udaya again filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice.

But when he had filled the Buddha’s bowl on the third day, he said to the Buddha,

“This ascetic Gotama is such a drag! He keeps coming back again and again!”¹

“Again and again, they sow the seed;

again and again, the king of the heavens sends rain;²

again and again, farmers plough the field;

again and again, grain is produced for the nation.

Again and again, the beggars beg;

again and again, the donors give.

Again and again, when the donors have given,

again and again, they take their place in heaven.

Again and again, dairy farmers milk;

again and again, a calf cleaves to its mother;

again and again, oppressing and intimidating,³

that dullard returns to the womb again and again.

Again and again, you’re reborn and die;

again and again, you get carried to a charnel ground.

But when they’ve gained the path for no further rebirth,

one of vast wisdom is not reborn again and again.”

When he had spoken, the brahmin Udaya said to the Buddha,

“Excellent, worthy Gotama …

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”