Dhaniya Sutta | Sn I-2
2. Dhaniya Sutta
Discourse on the Cowherd
18. Dhaniya, the cowherd who tends his own cattle says:
My rice has been cooked my milking done. Making my abode near the bank of River Mahī, I have a fairy-sized family, all near and dear to me.
Now that I have thatched my house-roof, and lit my fire,
Oh! Rain god, pour, pour, if you will! (1)
19. The Buddha says:
I know no anger, for I am free from the passions that pierce the poor unseeing person. I make my stay near the bank of river Mahī just for one night.
My dwelling house of the 5 aggregates is no more covered by any kleśa roofing. All the 11 fires of kleśas I have extinguished.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, as you wish! (2)
20. Dhaniya, the cowherd says:
There are no gadflies or mosquitoes here in this lush grassland by the river bank which offers wonderful pasture. The cattle certainly won't mind the rain.
Oh! Rain god, pour, pour, if you will! (3)
21. And the Buddha says:
Through wisdom have I built the barge of the Noble Path, so have I braved the four Floods of the Saṁsāric ocean. I am now perfectly safe and sound on the yonder shore of the ocean which is Nibbāna, and have no need for a barge.
Oh! Rain god, pour, pour, as you wish! (4)
22. Dhaniya the cowherd says:
My wife the cowherdess is obedient, good and true. My spouse over a long period, she adores me. Never a breath of word about her fault have I heard.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, if you will! (5)
23. And the Buddha says:
My mind is under my absolute control. It is free from the bondage of defilements. After a long period of training, it is thoroughly tamed. Evil have I none.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, as you wish! (6)
24. Dhaniya the cowherd says:
I am self-employed, not a wage earner. My sons and daughters make up my loving family. In robust health they all are, and never a word of their fault have I heard.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, and pour, if you will! (7)
25. And the Buddha says:
Wage earner I am not; I roam about the (3) worlds with absolute detachment in the blissful Dhamma that is Nibbāna. No merit need I to earn any more.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, if you will! (8)
26. Dhaniya the cowherd says:
Among my cattle there are the bulls not castrated yet, suckling calves, pregnant cows, cows of productive age and the leader bull who heads the herd.
Oh! Rain god, pour, pour, if you. will! (9)
27. And the Buddha says:
In my mind there is no defilement which may be likened to uncastrated bulls, nor any inclination or potential defilement which may be likened to suckling calves.
I have no volitional action that bear karmic force which may be likened to pregnant cows; nor any craving which may be likened to cows of productive age, nor any rebirth consciousness which may be likened to the leader bull.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, as you wish! (10)
28. Dhaniya the cowherd says:
Firm and secure are my tethers, my post fixed, stout are my new tethering ropes of reed. The calves also cannot break these tethering ropes.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, if you will! (11)
29. And the Buddha says:
In as much as the leader bull has broken loose of his tether, so have I broken the upper fetters through Arahatta Path the Forth Path
in as much as the bull elephant breaks loose of his tether of stout woodbine, so have I broken the lower fetters. As such there is no more rebirth for me.
Oh! Rain-god, pour, pour, as you wish! (12)
30. Presently there come the rains pouring, filling both low and high grounds.
Dhaniya on hearing the patter of the rain expresses thus: (13)
31. We who are (fortunate) to worship the Buddha are greatly benefited.
Oh! Buddha, the Great One endowed with 5 kinds of Eye, Chief of all sages, may you remain our Teacher. (14)
32. I, as well as my obedient wife the cowherdess, would like to take up the Noble Way under the Buddha’s guidance.
We would like to see the yonder shore of Saṁsāra’s ocean of re-birth and death.
We would like to put an end to the misery of existence and attain Nibbāna. (15)
33. At that time the wicked Māra says thus:
He who has children gets delight from his children;
he who has cattle gets delight from his cattle.
Yes, he who has lust gets delight from his lust.
One who lacks lust, misses all life has to offer! (16)
34. To this the Buddha says:
He who has Children sorrows for his children;
he who has cattle sorrows for his cattle.
Yes, defilements such as lust make men mournful.
He who has no lust mourns not. (17)
End of the Second Dhaniya Sutta.