Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vajjīsu viharati hatthigāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ uggaṁ gahapatiṁ hatthigāmakaṁ dhārethā”ti.
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling among the Vajjīs at Hatthigāma. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, remember Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma as being endowed with eight wonderful and marvelous qualities.
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Accomplished One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena uggassa gahapatino hatthigāmakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho uggo gahapati hatthigāmako yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho uggaṁ gahapatiṁ hatthigāmakaṁ so bhikkhu etadavoca:
Then, a certain bhikkhu, having dressed early in the morning and taking his alms bowl and outer robe, approached the residence of Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma; having approached, he sat down on a prepared seat. Then, Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma approached that bhikkhu; having approached, he paid homage to the bhikkhu and sat down to one side. As Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma was seated to one side, the bhikkhu said to him:
“aṭṭhahi kho tvaṁ, gahapati, acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato. Katame te, gahapati, aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, yehi tvaṁ samannāgato bhagavatā byākato”ti?
“Householder, the Blessed One declared that you has declared that you are endowed with eight wonderful and marvelous qualities. What are they?”
“Na kho ahaṁ, bhante, jānāmi: ‘katamehi aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato’ti. Api ca, bhante, ye me aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā saṁvijjanti, taṁ suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Venerable sir, I do not know what eight wonderful and marvelous qualities the Blessed One has declared that I possess. However, there are indeed eight wonderful and marvelous qualities found in me. Listen to this and pay close attention; I will speak.”
“Evaṁ, gahapatī”ti kho so bhikkhu uggassa gahapatino hatthigāmakassa paccassosi. Uggo gahapati hatthigāmako etadavoca:
“Yes, householder,” the bhikkhu replied to Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma. Then Ugga, the householder of Hatthigāma spoke thus:
“yadāhaṁ, bhante, nāgavane paricaranto bhagavantaṁ paṭhamaṁ dūratova addasaṁ; saha dassaneneva me, bhante, bhagavato cittaṁ pasīdi, surāmado ca pahīyi. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
1.) “Venerable sir, while I was walking around in the Nāga forest, I saw the Blessed One from afar; just at the very sight of him, venerable sir, my mind became inspired with confidence, and my |tipsiness::intoxication| vanished. This, venerable sir, is the first wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
So kho ahaṁ, bhante, pasannacitto bhagavantaṁ payirupāsiṁ. Tassa me bhagavā anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ—dānakathaṁ sīlakathaṁ saggakathaṁ; kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi. Yadā maṁ bhagavā aññāsi kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā taṁ pakāsesi—dukkhaṁ, samudayaṁ, nirodhaṁ, maggaṁ. Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ vatthaṁ apagatakāḷakaṁ sammadeva rajanaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya; evamevaṁ kho me tasmiṁyeva āsane virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi: ‘yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman’ti. So kho ahaṁ, bhante, diṭṭhadhammo pattadhammo viditadhammo pariyogāḷhadhammo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane tattheva buddhañca dhammañca saṅghañca saraṇaṁ agamāsiṁ, brahmacariyapañcamāni ca sikkhāpadāni samādiyiṁ. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
2.) With a confident mind, I attended upon the Blessed One. The Blessed One gradually gave me a discourse, first on giving, then on virtue, and then on the heavens. He explained the dangers, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that my mind was ready, receptive, free of hindrances, uplifted, and confident, he then expounded to me the distinctive teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its arising, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth with no dark spots would perfectly absorb dye, so too, as I was sitting there, the stainless, immaculate Dhamma eye arose in me: ‘Whatever is subject to arising, is subject to cessation.’ Venerable sir, I then became one who has seen the Dhamma, who has attained the Dhamma, who has understood the Dhamma, who has deeply penetrated the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt, with no more uncertainty, confident and self-assured, and independent of others in the Teacher’s instruction. Right there, I went for refuge to the Buddha, the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, and the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]|, and I undertook the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. This, venerable sir, is the second wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, catasso komāriyo pajāpatiyo ahesuṁ. Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, yena tā pajāpatiyo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā tā pajāpatiyo etadavacaṁ: ‘mayā kho, bhaginiyo, brahmacariyapañcamāni sikkhāpadāni samādinnāni. Yā icchati sā idheva bhoge ca bhuñjatu puññāni ca karotu, sakāni vā ñātikulāni gacchatu. Hoti vā pana purisādhippāyo, kassa vo dammī’ti? Evaṁ vutte, sā, bhante, jeṭṭhā pajāpati maṁ etadavoca: ‘itthannāmassa maṁ, ayyaputta, purisassa dehī’ti. Atha kho ahaṁ, bhante, taṁ purisaṁ pakkosāpetvā vāmena hatthena pajāpatiṁ gahetvā dakkhiṇena hatthena bhiṅgāraṁ gahetvā tassa purisassa oṇojesiṁ. Komāriṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, dāraṁ pariccajanto nābhijānāmi cittassa aññathattaṁ. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
3.) Venerable sir, I had four young wives. Then, venerable sir, I approached them and said: ‘Sisters, I have undertaken the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. Whoever wishes may stay here and enjoy the wealth and perform meritorious deeds, or you may return to your own family. Or if there is another man you prefer, I will give you to him.’ When I said this, venerable sir, my eldest wife replied: ‘Give me to such and such a man, dear husband.’ So, venerable sir, I called that man, and with my left hand, I gave my wife to him, and with my right hand, I presented him with a ceremonial offering. Yet, venerable sir, even while parting with my young wife, I did not notice any alteration in my mind. This, venerable sir, is the third wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Saṁvijjanti kho pana me, bhante, kule bhogā. Te ca kho appaṭivibhattā sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
4.) Venerable sir, there is wealth in my family, and it is not withheld from virtuous and good people. This, venerable sir, is the fourth wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Yaṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhuṁ payirupāsāmi; sakkaccaṁyeva payirupāsāmi, no asakkaccaṁ. So ce me āyasmā dhammaṁ deseti; sakkaccaṁyeva suṇomi, no asakkaccaṁ. No ce me so āyasmā dhammaṁ deseti, ahamassa dhammaṁ desemi. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
5.) Venerable sir, when I attend upon a bhikkhu, I do so with proper respect, not without respect. If a venerable one teaches me the Dhamma, I listen to it attentively, not carelessly. If he does not teach me the Dhamma, I teach him the Dhamma. This, venerable sir, is the fifth wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Anacchariyaṁ kho pana, bhante, saṅghe nimantite devatā upasaṅkamitvā ārocenti: ‘asuko, gahapati, bhikkhu ubhatobhāgavimutto asuko paññāvimutto asuko kāyasakkhī asuko diṭṭhippatto asuko saddhāvimutto asuko dhammānusārī asuko saddhānusārī asuko sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo asuko dussīlo pāpadhammo’ti. Saṅghaṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhante, parivisanto nābhijānāmi evaṁ cittaṁ uppādento: ‘imassa vā thokaṁ demi imassa vā bahukan’ti. Atha khvāhaṁ, bhante, samacittova demi. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
6.) Venerable sir, it is not unusual that when the Saṅgha is invited, deities come to me and announce: ‘Such and such a bhikkhu is liberated in both ways, such and such is liberated by wisdom, such and such is a body-witness, such and such has attained through view, such and such is liberated by confidence, such and such is a follower of the Dhamma, such and such is a follower of faith, such and such is virtuous and has good qualities, such and such is immoral and has bad qualities.’ However, venerable sir, when I serve the Saṅgha, I do not notice myself arousing the thought: ‘I will give more to this one, less to that one.’ Instead, venerable sir, I give with an impartial mind. This, venerable sir, is the sixth wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Anacchariyaṁ kho pana maṁ, bhante, devatā upasaṅkamitvā ārocenti: ‘svākkhāto, gahapati, bhagavatā dhammo’ti. Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, tā devatā evaṁ vademi: ‘vadeyyātha vā evaṁ kho tumhe devatā no vā vadeyyātha, atha kho svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo’ti. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, abhijānāmi tatonidānaṁ cittassa unnatiṁ: ‘maṁ tā devatā upasaṅkamanti, ahaṁ vā devatāhi saddhiṁ sallapāmī’ti. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
7.) It is not unusual for deities to come to me and announce: ‘The Dhamma is well proclaimed by the Blessed One, householder.’ When this is said, venerable sir, I reply to those deities: ‘Whether you deities say this or not, the Dhamma is indeed well-expounded by the Blessed One. However, venerable sir, I do not perceive any elation of mind because of this, thinking: ‘Deities approach me, and I converse with them.’ This, venerable sir, is the seventh wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Sace kho panāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato paṭhamataraṁ kālaṁ kareyyaṁ, anacchariyaṁ kho panetaṁ yaṁ maṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyya: ‘natthi taṁ saṁyojanaṁ yena saṁyutto uggo gahapati hatthigāmako puna imaṁ lokaṁ āgaccheyyā’ti. Ayaṁ kho me, bhante, aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo saṁvijjati.
8.) Furthermore, Venerable sir, if I were to pass away before the Blessed One, it would not be surprising if the Blessed One were to declare of me: ‘There is no fetter by which Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma is bound that would bring him back to this world again.’ This, venerable sir, is the eighth wonderful and marvelous quality that is found in me.
Ime kho me, bhante, aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā saṁvijjanti. Na ca kho ahaṁ jānāmi: ‘katamehi cāhaṁ aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato bhagavatā byākato’”ti.
These, venerable sir, are the eight wonderful and marvelous qualities that are found in me. However, I do not know which eight wonderful and marvelous qualities the Blessed One declared that I am endowed with.
Atha kho so bhikkhu uggassa gahapatino hatthigāmakassa nivesane piṇḍapātaṁ gahetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu yāvatako ahosi uggena gahapatinā hatthigāmakena saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo, taṁ sabbaṁ bhagavato ārocesi.
Then the bhikkhu, after taking alms food from the house of Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma, rose from his seat and departed. After his meal, the bhikkhu, having completed his alms round, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As he was sitting to one side, the bhikkhu reported to the Blessed One all of his conversation with Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma.
“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Yathā taṁ uggo gahapati hatthigāmako sammā byākaramāno byākareyya, imeheva kho, bhikkhu, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgato uggo gahapati hatthigāmako mayā byākato. Imehi ca pana, bhikkhu, aṭṭhahi acchariyehi abbhutehi dhammehi samannāgataṁ uggaṁ gahapatiṁ hatthigāmakaṁ dhārehī”ti.
The Blessed One said, “Good, good, bhikkhu. Just as Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma rightly explained, in the same way, I declare that he is endowed with these eight wonderful and marvelous qualities. Bhikkhu, remember Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma as being endowed with these eight wonderful and marvelous qualities.”