Do What Brings Happiness
The Story of a Farmer
Chapter 5: Fools • Verse 8
The Story of a Farmer
Chapter 5: Fools • Verse 8
Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to a farmer who came upon poison.
A farmer tilled a field not far from Savatthi. One day some thieves robbed a rich man's house. One of them secretly hid a purse of a thousand coins in a fold of his garment, but as he left with his share, the purse fell out without his noticing.
Early that morning, the Buddha surveyed the world and saw this farmer within his net of vision, and considered what was about to happen.
When the farmer went out to plough, the Buddha was there with Venerable Ananda. The farmer paid his respects and returned to his work, and the Buddha said nothing to him.
Then, reaching the place where the purse had fallen, the Buddha said to Venerable Ananda, 'See, Ananda, a poisonous snake!' Ananda replied, 'I see, Venerable, a deadly poisonous snake!'
Overhearing them, the farmer took his goad-stick to kill the snake, and instead found the purse. Realizing that this was what the Buddha meant, and not knowing what else to do, he set it aside, covered it with dust, and went back to ploughing.
When the theft was discovered, men tracked the thieves to the field where they had divided their loot, and found the farmer's footprints there. Following them, they dug up the purse, accused him of robbing the house, beat him, and brought him before the king.
The king ordered the farmer to be put to death. As the king's men led him away, whipping him, he kept repeating only, 'See, Ananda, a poisonous snake!' and 'I see, Venerable, a deadly poisonous snake!'
The king's men asked what he meant by repeating the words of the Buddha and Venerable Ananda, and he said he would explain only if allowed to see the king.
Brought before the king, the farmer declared he was no thief and told him the whole story. The king took him to the Buddha and asked about it. The Buddha confirmed that he had indeed said those words when he went there, and said that a wise man should not do a deed of which he must afterwards repent.
The Story of a Farmer
Chapter 5: Fools • Verse 8
Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to a farmer who came upon poison.
A farmer tilled a field not far from Savatthi. One day some thieves robbed a rich man's house. One of them secretly hid a purse of a thousand coins in a fold of his garment, but as he left with his share, the purse fell out without his noticing.
Early that morning, the Buddha surveyed the world and saw this farmer within his net of vision, and considered what was about to happen.
When the farmer went out to plough, the Buddha was there with Venerable Ananda. The farmer paid his respects and returned to his work, and the Buddha said nothing to him.
Then, reaching the place where the purse had fallen, the Buddha said to Venerable Ananda, 'See, Ananda, a poisonous snake!' Ananda replied, 'I see, Venerable, a deadly poisonous snake!'
Overhearing them, the farmer took his goad-stick to kill the snake, and instead found the purse. Realizing that this was what the Buddha meant, and not knowing what else to do, he set it aside, covered it with dust, and went back to ploughing.
When the theft was discovered, men tracked the thieves to the field where they had divided their loot, and found the farmer's footprints there. Following them, they dug up the purse, accused him of robbing the house, beat him, and brought him before the king.
The king ordered the farmer to be put to death. As the king's men led him away, whipping him, he kept repeating only, 'See, Ananda, a poisonous snake!' and 'I see, Venerable, a deadly poisonous snake!'
The king's men asked what he meant by repeating the words of the Buddha and Venerable Ananda, and he said he would explain only if allowed to see the king.
Brought before the king, the farmer declared he was no thief and told him the whole story. The king took him to the Buddha and asked about it. The Buddha confirmed that he had indeed said those words when he went there, and said that a wise man should not do a deed of which he must afterwards repent.