Udāna
IV.3: Gopala Suttaɱ
The Cowherd
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
[IV-3.1] I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was wandering among the Kosalans with a large community of monks. Then he came down from the road, went to a certain tree, and on arrival sat down on a seat made ready. A certain cowherd then went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One, instructed, urged, roused, and encouraged him with a talk on Dhamma. The cowherd -- instructed, urged, roused, and encouraged by the Blessed One's talk on Dhamma -- said to him: "Lord, may the Blessed One, together with the community of monks, acquiesce to my offer of tomorrow's meal."
The Blessed One acquiesced with silence.
Then the cowherd, understanding the Blessed One's acquiescence, got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and left.
Then, after the night had passed, the cowherd -- having prepared in his own home a great deal of thick milk-rice porridge and fresh ghee -- announced the time of the meal to the Blessed One: "It is time, lord. The meal is ready."
So the Blessed One early in the morning put on his robes and, carrying his bowl and outer robe, went together with the community of monks to the cowherd's home. On arrival, he sat down on a seat made ready. The cowherd, with his own hand, served and satisfied the community of monks headed by the Blessed One with thick milk-rice porridge and fresh ghee. Then, when the Blessed One had eaten and had removed his hand from his bowl, the cowherd took a lower seat and sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One, instructed, urged, roused, and encouraged him with a talk on Dhamma, then got up from his seat and left.
Now, not long after the Blessed One's departure, the cowherd was killed by a certain man between the boundaries of two villages. A large number of monks then went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there, they told him: "The cowherd who today served and satisfied the community of monks headed by the Blessed One with thick milk-rice porridge and fresh ghee, has been killed, it is said, by a certain man between the boundaries of two villages."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:
Whatever an enemy
might do to an enemy,
or a foe
to a foe,
the ill-directed mind
can do to you
even worse.
References:
This verse also appears at Dhp 42
