UD 4.3  Gopālaka sutta - Cowherd

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma yena aññataraṁ rukkhamūlaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was wandering on a walking tour in the Kosala region together with a large |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]| of bhikkhus. Then, the Blessed One stepped off the road and approached the foot of a certain tree. Having drawn near, he sat down on the seat that had been prepared.

Atha kho aññataro gopālako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ gopālakaṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.

Then a certain cowherd approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. While that cowherd was seated to one side, the Blessed One gave him a talk on the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|—instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening him.

Atha kho so gopālako bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho so gopālako bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then that cowherd, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One’s talk on the Dhamma, said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, may the Blessed One together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus accept tomorrow’s meal from me.” The Blessed One consented in silence. Then that cowherd, having received the Blessed One’s consent, rose from his seat, and after paying homage to the Blessed One, keeping him on his right, he departed.

Atha kho so gopālako tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane pahūtaṁ appodakapāyāsaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā navañca sappiṁ bhagavato kālaṁ ārocesi: “kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.

Then, when the night had passed, that cowherd, having prepared abundant thick milk porridge and |fresh ghee::clarified butter [sappi]| in his own residence, informed the Blessed One, saying: “It is time, venerable sir, the meal is ready.”

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena yena tassa gopālakassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho so gopālako buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ appodakapāyāsena navena ca sappinā sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho so gopālako bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ gopālakaṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Atha kho acirapakkantassa bhagavato taṁ gopālakaṁ aññataro puriso sīmantarikāya jīvitā voropesi.

Then the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning, taking his alms bowl and outer robe, went to the residence of that cowherd together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Having arrived, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then that cowherd, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with thick milk porridge and fresh ghee. Then that cowherd took a low seat and sat down to one side after the Blessed One had finished his meal and put away his bowl. Then, when that cowherd was seated to one side, the Blessed One, having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma, rose from his seat and departed. Then, not long after the Blessed One had left, a certain man deprived that cowherd of life near the village boundary.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “yena, bhante, gopālakena ajja buddhappamukho bhikkhusaṅgho appodakapāyāsena navena ca sappinā sahatthā santappito sampavārito so kira, bhante, gopālako aññatarena purisena sīmantarikāya jīvitā voropito”ti.

Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the cowherd who today, with his own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with thick milk porridge and fresh ghee—venerable sir, it is said that this cowherd has been deprived of life by a certain man near the village boundary.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:

“Diso disaṁ yaṁ taṁ kayirā,
verī vā pana verinaṁ;
Micchāpaṇihitaṁ cittaṁ,
pāpiyo naṁ tato kare”ti.

“Whatever harm an enemy may do to an enemy,
or a hostile person may do to another hostile person;
A mind that is |wrongly oriented::badly directed [micchāpaṇihita]|,
inflicts on oneself even greater harm.”