Those Born Into This World Must Acquire Much Merit
The Story of Visakha
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 10
The Story of Visakha
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 10
As from a great heap of flowers many garlands can be made, even so should many good deeds be done by one born a mortal.
While residing at the Pubbarama Monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Visakha, the famous donor of the Pubbarama Monastery.
Visakha was the daughter of the rich man Dhananjaya of Bhaddiya and his wife Sumanadevi, and granddaughter of Mendaka, one of the five extremely wealthy men in King Bimbisara's domain. When Visakha was seven, the Buddha visited Bhaddiya, and Mendaka took her and her five hundred companions to pay homage to him; after hearing his discourse, Visakha, her grandfather, and all her companions attained the fruit of stream-entry.
When Visakha came of age, she married Punnavaddhana, son of the wealthy Migara of Savatthi. One day, while Migara was eating, a monk stopped for alms at the house, but Migara ignored him completely. When Visakha remarked to the monk that her father-in-law only ate leftovers, Migara flew into a rage and ordered her to leave the house.
Visakha refused to leave, insisting that the eight elderly advisors her father had sent with her should judge whether she was at fault. When they heard the story, they ruled in her favour. Visakha then declared that since she had unshakable faith in the Buddha's teaching, she could not remain in a house where monks were unwelcome, and would leave unless given permission to invite them for alms.
Permission was granted, and the next day the Buddha and his disciples were invited to the house. Migara refused Visakha's invitation to join in offering the food, and again refused to join in hearing the Buddha's discourse afterward, though his teachers, the Niganthas, allowed him to listen from behind a curtain, not wanting to refuse a second time.
After hearing the discourse, Migara attained the fruit of stream-entry and, filled with gratitude toward both the Buddha and his daughter-in-law, declared that Visakha would henceforth be like a mother to him, and she came to be known as Migaramata. Visakha went on to have ten sons and ten daughters, and each of her children and grandchildren had ten sons and ten daughters in turn.
Visakha owned an immensely valuable gem-encrusted ornament, a wedding gift from her father. One day, finding it too heavy while visiting the Jetavana Monastery, she took it off, wrapped it in her shawl, and gave it to her maid to hold, who absent-mindedly left it behind.
Since it was the Venerable Ananda's custom to look after items left behind by lay disciples, Visakha sent the maid back to retrieve it, but instructed her that if Ananda had already found and kept it, she wished to donate it to him instead. Ananda, however, declined the donation.
Unable to find anyone who could afford to buy such a valuable ornament, Visakha bought it back herself for nine billion and one hundred thousand, and used the money to build a monastery on the eastern side of the city, which came to be known as Pubbarama.
The Story of Visakha
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 10
As from a great heap of flowers many garlands can be made, even so should many good deeds be done by one born a mortal.
While residing at the Pubbarama Monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Visakha, the famous donor of the Pubbarama Monastery.
Visakha was the daughter of the rich man Dhananjaya of Bhaddiya and his wife Sumanadevi, and granddaughter of Mendaka, one of the five extremely wealthy men in King Bimbisara's domain. When Visakha was seven, the Buddha visited Bhaddiya, and Mendaka took her and her five hundred companions to pay homage to him; after hearing his discourse, Visakha, her grandfather, and all her companions attained the fruit of stream-entry.
When Visakha came of age, she married Punnavaddhana, son of the wealthy Migara of Savatthi. One day, while Migara was eating, a monk stopped for alms at the house, but Migara ignored him completely. When Visakha remarked to the monk that her father-in-law only ate leftovers, Migara flew into a rage and ordered her to leave the house.
Visakha refused to leave, insisting that the eight elderly advisors her father had sent with her should judge whether she was at fault. When they heard the story, they ruled in her favour. Visakha then declared that since she had unshakable faith in the Buddha's teaching, she could not remain in a house where monks were unwelcome, and would leave unless given permission to invite them for alms.
Permission was granted, and the next day the Buddha and his disciples were invited to the house. Migara refused Visakha's invitation to join in offering the food, and again refused to join in hearing the Buddha's discourse afterward, though his teachers, the Niganthas, allowed him to listen from behind a curtain, not wanting to refuse a second time.
After hearing the discourse, Migara attained the fruit of stream-entry and, filled with gratitude toward both the Buddha and his daughter-in-law, declared that Visakha would henceforth be like a mother to him, and she came to be known as Migaramata. Visakha went on to have ten sons and ten daughters, and each of her children and grandchildren had ten sons and ten daughters in turn.
Visakha owned an immensely valuable gem-encrusted ornament, a wedding gift from her father. One day, finding it too heavy while visiting the Jetavana Monastery, she took it off, wrapped it in her shawl, and gave it to her maid to hold, who absent-mindedly left it behind.
Since it was the Venerable Ananda's custom to look after items left behind by lay disciples, Visakha sent the maid back to retrieve it, but instructed her that if Ananda had already found and kept it, she wished to donate it to him instead. Ananda, however, declined the donation.
Unable to find anyone who could afford to buy such a valuable ornament, Visakha bought it back herself for nine billion and one hundred thousand, and used the money to build a monastery on the eastern side of the city, which came to be known as Pubbarama.