The Discourse about the Pregnant Woman

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa paribbājakassa daharamāṇavikā pajāpati hoti gabbhinī upavijaññā.

Atha kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca:

“kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti?

Dutiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

Dutiyampi kho so paribbājako taṁ paribbājikaṁ etadavoca:

“kuto panāhaṁ, bhoti, telaṁ āharāmī”ti?

Tatiyampi kho sā paribbājikā taṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

“gaccha tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, telaṁ āhara, yaṁ me vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ.

Atha kho tassa paribbājakassa etadahosi:

“rañño kho pana pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāre samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sappissa vā telassa vā yāvadatthaṁ pātuṁ dīyati, no nīharituṁ.

Yannūnāhaṁ rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā ucchadditvāna dadeyyaṁ, yaṁ imissā vijātāya bhavissatī”ti.

Atha kho so paribbājako rañño pasenadissa kosalassa koṭṭhāgāraṁ gantvā telassa yāvadatthaṁ pivitvā gharaṁ āgantvā neva sakkoti uddhaṁ kātuṁ, na pana adho.

So dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭho āvaṭṭati parivaṭṭati.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Addasā kho bhagavā taṁ paribbājakaṁ dukkhāhi tibbāhi kharāhi kaṭukāhi vedanāhi phuṭṭhaṁ āvaṭṭamānaṁ parivaṭṭamānaṁ.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Sukhino vata ye akiñcanā,

Vedaguno hi janā akiñcanā;

Sakiñcanaṁ passa vihaññamānaṁ,

Jano janasmiṁ paṭibandhacitto”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

SC 1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then at that time a certain wanderer’s young brāhmaṇa wife, was pregnant and about to give birth.

SC 2Then that female wanderer said this to that wanderer: “Please go, brāhmaṇa, and bring oil which can be used for my delivery.”

SC 3When that was said that wanderer said this to that female wanderer: “But from where, dear lady, can I bring oil?”

SC 4Then for a second time that female wanderer said this to that wanderer: “Please go, brāhmaṇa, and bring oil which can be used for my delivery.”

SC 5For a second time that wanderer said this to that female wanderer: “But from where, dear lady, can I bring oil?”

SC 6Then for a third time that female wanderer said this to that wanderer: “Please go, brāhmaṇa, and bring oil which can be used for my delivery.”

SC 7Then at that time at the Kosalan King Pasenadi’s storehouse to an ascetic or brāhmaṇa as much ghee or oil as was necessary was being given to drink, but not to carry away. Then it occured to that wanderer: “At the Kosalan King Pasenadi’s storehouse to an ascetic or brāhmaṇa as much ghee or oil as is necessary is being given to drink, but not to carry away. Well now, after going to the Kosalan King Pasenadi’s storehouse, drinking as much of the oil as is necessary, returning to the house, and throwing it up, I could give it to her, and that can be used for her delivery.”

SC 8Then that wanderer after going to the Kosalan King Pasenadi’s storehouse, drinking as much of the oil as was necessary, returning to the house, was not able to get it up nor down, and he was affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, and he rolled around forwards and backwards.

SC 9Then the Gracious One, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, was entering Sāvatthī for alms. The Gracious One saw that wanderer affected by painful, sharp, harsh, and bitter feelings, and rolling around forwards and backwards. Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

SC 10“Happy indeed are those who have nothing,
The Perfect Ones are people who surely have nothing,
See how one who has something is troubled,
He is a person who is in a state of bondage in regard to other people.”