One Pacifying Word Is Noble
The Story of Tambadathika
Chapter 8: The Thousands • Verse 1
The Story of Tambadathika
Chapter 8: The Thousands • Verse 1
Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word, hearing which one attains peace.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Tambadathika, the executioner of thieves.
Tambadathika served the king as executioner of thieves for fifty-five years. In his old age he could no longer cut off a man's head with a single blow, and so he was retired from his office.
On the day of his retirement, he ordered sweet milk-porridge to be cooked for him. Taking old clothes, jasmine flowers, and perfumes, he went to the river and bathed, then dressed in the old clothes, adorned himself with garlands, anointed his limbs, and went home and sat down.
Just as the sweet milk-porridge with fresh ghee was set before him, Venerable Sariputta appeared at his door. Tambadathika paid homage to him, invited him in, gave him a seat, poured the porridge into his bowl with fresh ghee, and stood beside him fanning him.
After the meal, the elder taught him the Dhamma, but Tambadathika could not pay attention, because he was so agitated by memories of his life as an executioner.
Seeing this, the elder tactfully asked him whether he had killed the thieves because he wanted to, or because he was ordered to. Tambadathika answered that the king had ordered it and he had no wish to kill. The elder then asked whether, in that case, he would be guilty.
Tambadathika concluded that, since he was not the one responsible for those deeds, he was not guilty. Calmed, he asked the elder to continue, and listening now with full attention, he came very close to stream-entry, reaching the knowledge of conformity (anuloma nana).
After the discourse, he accompanied Venerable Sariputta a little way and then turned for home. On the way, a cow, which was really a demon in the form of a cow, gored him to death.
That evening the monks told the Buddha of Tambadathika's death and asked where he had been reborn. The Buddha said that although he had done evil all his life, because he had understood the Dhamma from Sariputta and had reached the knowledge of conformity before he died, he was reborn in the Tusita deva world.
The monks wondered how such an evildoer could gain so much from hearing the Dhamma just once. The Buddha told them that the length of a discourse is of no consequence, for a single meaningful word can bring great benefit.
The Story of Tambadathika
Chapter 8: The Thousands • Verse 1
Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word, hearing which one attains peace.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Tambadathika, the executioner of thieves.
Tambadathika served the king as executioner of thieves for fifty-five years. In his old age he could no longer cut off a man's head with a single blow, and so he was retired from his office.
On the day of his retirement, he ordered sweet milk-porridge to be cooked for him. Taking old clothes, jasmine flowers, and perfumes, he went to the river and bathed, then dressed in the old clothes, adorned himself with garlands, anointed his limbs, and went home and sat down.
Just as the sweet milk-porridge with fresh ghee was set before him, Venerable Sariputta appeared at his door. Tambadathika paid homage to him, invited him in, gave him a seat, poured the porridge into his bowl with fresh ghee, and stood beside him fanning him.
After the meal, the elder taught him the Dhamma, but Tambadathika could not pay attention, because he was so agitated by memories of his life as an executioner.
Seeing this, the elder tactfully asked him whether he had killed the thieves because he wanted to, or because he was ordered to. Tambadathika answered that the king had ordered it and he had no wish to kill. The elder then asked whether, in that case, he would be guilty.
Tambadathika concluded that, since he was not the one responsible for those deeds, he was not guilty. Calmed, he asked the elder to continue, and listening now with full attention, he came very close to stream-entry, reaching the knowledge of conformity (anuloma nana).
After the discourse, he accompanied Venerable Sariputta a little way and then turned for home. On the way, a cow, which was really a demon in the form of a cow, gored him to death.
That evening the monks told the Buddha of Tambadathika's death and asked where he had been reborn. The Buddha said that although he had done evil all his life, because he had understood the Dhamma from Sariputta and had reached the knowledge of conformity before he died, he was reborn in the Tusita deva world.
The monks wondered how such an evildoer could gain so much from hearing the Dhamma just once. The Buddha told them that the length of a discourse is of no consequence, for a single meaningful word can bring great benefit.