PSALMS OF THE BRETHREN

Canto I.
Psalms of Single Verses
Part 8

LXXI
Vacchapāla

Translated from the Pali by Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davids.

[idx][pali]

Public Domain

 

He was born in this Buddha-age at Rājagaha, as the son of a rich brahmin, and was named Vacchapāla (calf-herd). He saw when the Master met Bimbisāra, the selfsubmission of Uruvela-Kassapa to the Exalted One,^[1] and believing, entered the Order. In a week he had so developed insight as to have acquired sixfold abhiññā.

As arahant he extolled in sheer happiness his attainment of Nibbāna in this verse:

Is there a man who can the truth discern
Tho' it be very subtle and refined,
Who, skilled to measure spiritual growth,
Is yet of lowly and of gentle mind,
Who shapes his life by rule of Them that Wake:^[2]
For him Nibbāna is not hard to find.

And this was the Brother's confession of aññā.

 

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^[1] See CCX.; also Vinaya Texts, i. 136 ff.; Bud. Birth Stories, p. 114 ff.

^[2] Saṅsevita-buddha-sīlinā. 'Spiritual growth' is from the Commentary. 'Truth' or true meaning = attha.