z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 09.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 579
HIS HUMANITY
579
As he sat there, the housefather, Nakulapita, addressed the Exalted One, saying: “Master, I am a broken-down old man, aged, far gone in years, I have reached life’s end, I am sick and always ailing. Moreover, Master, I am one to whom rarely comes the sight of the Exalted One and the worshipful brethren. Let the Exalted One cheer and comfort me, so that it be a profit and a blessing unto me for many a long day.”
“True it is, true it is, housefather, that your body is weak and cumbered ! For one carrying this body about, housefather, to claim but a moment’s health would be sheer foolishness. Wherefore, housefather, thus should you train yourself : ‘Though my body is sick, my mind shall not be sick.’ Thus, housefather, must you train yourself.”
Then Nakulapita, the housefather, welcomed and gladly heard the words of the Exalted One, and rising from his seat he saluted the Exalted One by the right, and departed.
(iv)
Once the Exalted One was staying among the Sakyans at Kapilavastu, in the fig-tree park.
Then on that occasion a number of brethren were busy with making robes for the Exalted One, “For,” said they, “when the three months are over, the Exalted One, his robes being complete, will go forth on his rounds.”
Now Mahanama, the Sakyan, heard it said, “A number of brethren are busy with making robes, and so forth”. . . and he went to the Exalted One, saluted him, and sat down at one side. So seated, Mahanama, the Sakyan, said :
“I hear it said, Lord, that a number of the brethren are busy with making robes for the Exalted One, saying, ‘when the robes are complete, at the end of the three months, the Exalted One will go forth on his rounds.’ Now, Lord, we have never heard from the Exalted One’s own lips how a discreet layman who is sick, in pain, grievously afflicted, should be cheered by another discreet lay-brother.”
VIII