The Buddha recounts his past life as Jotipāla, who was convinced to visit Kassapa Buddha by his friend, the devout potter Ghaṭikāra. Later, Kassapa Buddha extols Ghaṭikāra's unparalleled virtues and profound faith to King Kikī, highlighting his complete dedication to the Dhamma.

MN 81 Ghaṭikāra sutta - Ghaṭikāra the Potter

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ carati mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ. Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma aññatarasmiṁ padese sitaṁ pātvākāsi.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was wandering on a walking tour in the |Kosala::name of a kingdom [kosala]| country together with a large |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| of bhikkhus. Then the Blessed One stepped off the path and manifested a smile at a certain spot.

Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “ko nu kho hetu, ko paccayo bhagavato sitassa pātukammāya? Na akāraṇena tathāgatā sitaṁ pātukarontī”ti.

Then it occurred to the venerable Ānanda: “What is the cause, what is the condition for the Blessed One manifesting a smile? |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]|s do not manifest a smile without a reason.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo bhagavato sitassa pātukammāya? Na akāraṇena tathāgatā sitaṁ pātukarontī”ti.

Then the venerable Ānanda arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: “What is the cause, venerable sir, what is the condition for the Blessed One manifesting a smile? Tathāgatas do not manifest a smile without a reason.”

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, ānanda, imasmiṁ padese vegaḷiṅgaṁ nāma gāmanigamo ahosi iddho ceva phīto ca bahujano ākiṇṇamanusso. Vegaḷiṅgaṁ kho, ānanda, gāmanigamaṁ kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho upanissāya vihāsi. Idha sudaṁ, ānanda, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa ārāmo ahosi. Idha sudaṁ, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho nisinnako bhikkhusaṅghaṁ ovadatī”ti.

“Formerly, |Ānanda,::::| in this spot there was a town named Vegaḷiṅga, prosperous, affluent, populous, and crowded with people. In the town of Vegaḷiṅga, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, lived supported by it. Here|, Ānanda,::::| was the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Here|, Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, sat and advised the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññapetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “tena hi, bhante, bhagavā nisīdatu ettha. Ayaṁ bhūmipadeso dvīhi arahantehi sammāsambuddhehi paribhutto bhavissatī”ti. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:

Then the venerable Ānanda folded his outer robe in four, prepared it, and said to the Blessed One: “Then, venerable sir, let the Blessed One sit here. This spot of ground will have been used by two accomplished, perfectly awakened ones.” The Blessed One sat on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda:

“Formerly, |Ānanda,::::| in this spot there was a town named Vegaḷiṅga, prosperous, affluent, populous, and crowded with people. In the town of Vegaḷiṅga, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, lived supported by it. Here|, Ānanda,::::| was the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Here, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, sat and advised the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.

Ghaṭikāra and Jotipāla

Vegaḷiṅge kho, ānanda, gāmanigame ghaṭikāro nāma kumbhakāro kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa upaṭṭhāko ahosi aggupaṭṭhāko. Ghaṭikārassa kho, ānanda, kumbhakārassa jotipālo nāma māṇavo sahāyo ahosi piyasahāyo. Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: ‘āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

In the town of Vegaḷiṅga, |Ānanda,::::| there was a potter named |Ghaṭikāra::name of a potter; lit. water jar maker [ghaṭikāra]| who was the attendant, the chief attendant, of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. The potter Ghaṭikāra|, Ānanda,::::| had a young man named |Jotipāla::name of a brahmin, a previous birth name of the Buddha; lit. protector of the fire [jotipāla]| as his friend, his dear friend. Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra addressed the young man Jotipāla: ‘Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Evaṁ vutte, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘alaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra. Kiṁ pana tena muṇḍakena samaṇakena diṭṭhenā’ti?

When this was said, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Enough, friend Ghaṭikāra. What is the use of seeing that bald-headed ascetic?’

Dutiyampi kho, ānanda …pe… tatiyampi kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: ‘āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

For a second time, Ānanda ... For a third time, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra said to the young man Jotipāla: ‘Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Tatiyampi kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘alaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra. Kiṁ pana tena muṇḍakena samaṇakena diṭṭhenā’ti?

For a third time, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Enough, friend Ghaṭikāra. What is the use of seeing that bald-headed ascetic?’

‘Tena hi, samma jotipāla, sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ gamissāma sināyitun’ti.

‘In that case, friend Jotipāla, let us take bathing powder and go to the river to bathe.’

‘Evaṁ, sammā’ti kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa paccassosi. Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro ca kumbhakāro jotipālo ca māṇavo sottisināniṁ ādāya nadiṁ agamaṁsu sināyituṁ.

‘Yes, friend,’ the young man Jotipāla replied to the potter Ghaṭikāra. Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra and the young man Jotipāla took bathing powder and went to the river to bathe.

Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: ‘ayaṁ, samma jotipāla, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa avidūre ārāmo. Āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra addressed the young man Jotipāla: ‘This, friend Jotipāla, is not far from the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Evaṁ vutte, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘alaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra. Kiṁ pana tena muṇḍakena samaṇakena diṭṭhenā’ti?

When this was said, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Enough, friend Ghaṭikāra. What is the use of seeing that bald-headed ascetic?’

Dutiyampi kho, ānanda …pe… tatiyampi kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ, samma jotipāla, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa avidūre ārāmo. Āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

For a second time, Ānanda ... For a third time, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra said to the young man Jotipāla: ‘This, friend Jotipāla, is not far from the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Tatiyampi kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘alaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra. Kiṁ pana tena muṇḍakena samaṇakena diṭṭhenā’ti?

For a third time, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Enough, friend Ghaṭikāra. What is the use of seeing that bald-headed ascetic?’

Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ ovaṭṭikāyaṁ parāmasitvā etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ, samma jotipāla, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa avidūre ārāmo. Āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra grabbed the young man Jotipāla by his belt and said: ‘This, friend Jotipāla, is not far from the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Atha kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ovaṭṭikaṁ vinivaṭṭetvā ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘alaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra. Kiṁ pana tena muṇḍakena samaṇakena diṭṭhenā’ti?

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla untied his belt and said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Enough, friend Ghaṭikāra. What is the use of seeing that bald-headed ascetic?’

Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro jotipālaṁ māṇavaṁ sīsaṁnhātaṁ kesesu parāmasitvā etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ, samma jotipāla, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa avidūre ārāmo. Āyāma, samma jotipāla, kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissāma. Sādhusammatañhi me tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| after the young man Jotipāla had washed his head, the potter Ghaṭikāra grabbed him by the hair and said: ‘This, friend Jotipāla, is not far from the monastery of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Come, friend Jotipāla, let us approach to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is regarded as good by me.’

Atha kho, ānanda, jotipālassa māṇavassa etadahosi: ‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Yatra hi nāmāyaṁ ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro ittarajacco samāno amhākaṁ sīsaṁnhātānaṁ kesesu parāmasitabbaṁ maññissati; na vatidaṁ kira orakaṁ maññe bhavissatī’ti; ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘yāvatādohipi, samma ghaṭikārā’ti?

Then, |Ānanda,::::| it occurred to the young man Jotipāla: ‘It is wonderful, it is marvelous! That this potter Ghaṭikāra, being of a low birth, would presume to grab me by the hair after I have washed my head; surely this cannot be a trivial matter.’ He said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Are you going this far, friend Ghaṭikāra?’

‘Yāvatādohipi, samma jotipāla. Tathā hi pana me sādhusammataṁ tassa bhagavato dassanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā’ti.

‘I am going this far, friend Jotipāla. For seeing that Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is so regarded as good by me.’

‘Tena hi, samma ghaṭikāra, muñca; gamissāmā’ti.

‘In that case, friend Ghaṭikāra, let go; we will go.’

Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro ca kumbhakāro jotipālo ca māṇavo yena kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Jotipālo pana māṇavo kassapena bhagavatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra and the young man Jotipāla approached the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Having approached, the potter Ghaṭikāra paid homage to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, and sat down to one side. But the young man Jotipāla exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. After engaging in courteous and polite conversation, he sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ me, bhante, jotipālo māṇavo sahāyo piyasahāyo. Imassa bhagavā dhammaṁ desetū’ti. Atha kho, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho ghaṭikārañca kumbhakāraṁ jotipālañca māṇavaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro ca kumbhakāro jotipālo ca māṇavo kassapena bhagavatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkamiṁsu.

Seated to one side, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘This, venerable sir, is the young man Jotipāla, my friend, my dear friend. Let the Blessed One teach the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| to him.’ Then, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the potter Ghaṭikāra and the young man Jotipāla with a talk on the Dhamma. Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra and the young man Jotipāla, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, with a talk on the Dhamma, welcomed and rejoiced in the words of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, keeping him on their right, and departed.

Atha kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ etadavoca: ‘imaṁ nu tvaṁ, samma ghaṭikāra, dhammaṁ suṇanto atha ca pana agārasmā anagāriyaṁ na pabbajissasī’ti?

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the young man Jotipāla said to the potter Ghaṭikāra: ‘Hearing this Dhamma, friend Ghaṭikāra, why do you not go forth from the home life into homelessness?’

‘Nanu maṁ, samma jotipāla, jānāsi, andhe jiṇṇe mātāpitaro posemī’ti?

‘Do you not know, friend Jotipāla, that I support my blind and aged parents?’

‘Tena hi, samma ghaṭikāra, ahaṁ agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajissāmī’ti.

‘In that case, friend Ghaṭikāra, I will go forth from the home life into homelessness.’

Atha kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro ca kumbhakāro jotipālo ca māṇavo yena kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, ānanda, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ me, bhante, jotipālo māṇavo sahāyo piyasahāyo. Imaṁ bhagavā pabbājetū’ti. Alattha kho, ānanda, jotipālo māṇavo kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra and the young man Jotipāla approached the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, |Ānanda,::::| the potter Ghaṭikāra said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘This, venerable sir, is the young man Jotipāla, my friend, my dear friend. Let the Blessed One give him the going forth.’ The young man Jotipāla received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, he received full ordination.

King Kikī

Atha kho, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho acirūpasampanne jotipāle māṇave aḍḍhamāsupasampanne vegaḷiṅge yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena bārāṇasī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bārāṇasī tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Assosi kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā: ‘kassapo kira bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bārāṇasiṁ anuppatto bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye’ti. Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi bārāṇasiyā niyyāsi mahaccarājānubhāvena kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ dassanāya. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova yena kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho, ānanda, kikiṁ kāsirājānaṁ kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| not long after the young man Jotipāla had been fully ordained, half a month after his full ordination, the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, having stayed at Vegaḷiṅga as long as he wished, set out to wander toward |Varanasi::name of a city; modern day Varanasi [bārāṇasī]|. Wandering by stages, he eventually arrived at Varanasi. There, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, stayed at Varanasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana. King |Kikī::name of the reigning king of Kāsi at the time of Kassapa Buddha [kikī]| of Kāsi heard, Ānanda: ‘It seems the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, has arrived at Varanasi and is staying at Varanasi in the Deer Park at Isipatana.’ Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi had excellent carriages harnessed, mounted an excellent carriage, and drove out of Varanasi with excellent carriages and great royal pomp to see the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. He went by carriage as far as the ground allowed, then dismounted and approached the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, on foot. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, and sat down to one side. When King Kikī of Kāsi was seated to one side, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened him with a talk on the Dhamma.

Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapena bhagavatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’ti. Adhivāsesi kho, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho tuṇhībhāvena.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, with a talk on the Dhamma, said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘Let the Blessed One, venerable sir, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, accept my meal for tomorrow.’ The Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, |Ānanda,::::| consented in silence.

Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapassa bhagavato sammāsambuddhassa adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā paṇḍupuṭakassa sālino vigatakāḷakaṁ anekasūpaṁ anekabyañjanaṁ, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa kālaṁ ārocāpesi: ‘kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi, knowing of the consent of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, and keeping him on his right, departed. Then, |Ānanda,::::| after the passage of that night, King Kikī of Kāsi had excellent food and provisions prepared in his own residence, along with rice without dark specks and many curries and condiments, and announced the time to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘It is time, venerable sir, the meal is ready.’

Atha kho, ānanda, kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena kikissa kāsirañño nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena. Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, having dressed early in the morning and taking his bowl and robe, approached the residence of King Kikī of Kāsi. Having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi personally served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with excellent food and provisions.

Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ; evarūpaṁ saṅghassa upaṭṭhānaṁ bhavissatī’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| when the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, King Kikī of Kāsi took a certain low seat and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘Let the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept the rains residence in Varanasi; there will be such support for the Saṅgha.’

‘Alaṁ, mahārāja. Adhivuttho me vassāvāso’ti.

‘Enough, great king. My rains residence is already committed.’

Dutiyampi kho, ānanda … tatiyampi kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ; evarūpaṁ saṅghassa upaṭṭhānaṁ bhavissatī’ti.

For a second time, Ānanda ... For a third time, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘Let the Blessed One, venerable sir, accept the rains residence in Varanasi; there will be such support for the Saṅgha.’

‘Alaṁ, mahārāja. Adhivuttho me vassāvāso’ti.

‘Enough, great king. My rains residence is already committed.’

Atha kho, ānanda, kikissa kāsirañño ‘na me kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho adhivāseti bārāṇasiyaṁ vassāvāsan’ti ahudeva aññathattaṁ, ahu domanassaṁ. Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā kassapaṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca: ‘atthi nu kho, bhante, añño koci mayā upaṭṭhākataro’ti?

Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi thought: ‘The Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, does not accept the rains residence from me in Varanasi,’ and he was dismayed and displeased. Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi said to the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One: ‘Is there anyone, venerable sir, who is a better supporter than I am?’

Ghaṭikāra’s qualities

‘Atthi, mahārāja, vegaḷiṅgaṁ nāma gāmanigamo. Tattha ghaṭikāro nāma kumbhakāro; so me upaṭṭhāko aggupaṭṭhāko. Tuyhaṁ kho pana, mahārāja, na me kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho adhivāseti bārāṇasiyaṁ vassāvāsanti attheva aññathattaṁ, atthi domanassaṁ. Tayidaṁ ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa natthi ca na ca bhavissati.

‘There is, great king, a town named Vegaḷiṅga. There is a potter named Ghaṭikāra there; he is my supporter, my chief supporter. Now you, great king, were dismayed and displeased, thinking: “The Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, does not accept the rains residence from me in Varanasi.” The potter Ghaṭikāra does not have this, nor will he ever have it.

Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato, dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato, ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro dukkhe nikkaṅkho, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkho, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkho, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkho. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro ekabhattiko brahmacārī sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro nikkhittamaṇisuvaṇṇo apetajātarūparajato. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro pannamusalo na sahatthā pathaviṁ khaṇati. Yaṁ hoti kūlapaluggaṁ vā mūsikukkaro vā taṁ kājena āharitvā bhājanaṁ karitvā evamāha: “ettha yo icchati taṇḍulapaṭibhastāni vā muggapaṭibhastāni vā kaḷāyapaṭibhastāni vā nikkhipitvā yaṁ icchati taṁ haratū”ti. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro andhe jiṇṇe mātāpitaro poseti. Ghaṭikāro kho, mahārāja, kumbhakāro pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātiko tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā.

The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, has gone for refuge to the Buddha, gone for refuge to the Dhamma, gone for refuge to the Saṅgha. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, abstains from killing living beings, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from |consuming intoxicants::consuming wine, spirits, or drugs and getting intoxicated [surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhāyī]| that cause a |state of intoxication::state of negligence [pamādaṭṭhāna]|. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, is endowed with |perfect clarity::unshakable confidence that arises through direct experience, by personally seeing the benefits in one’s own practice [aveccappasāda]| in the Buddha, endowed with perfect clarity in the Dhamma, endowed with perfect clarity in the Saṅgha, and is endowed with the virtues dear to the Noble Ones. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, is |free from doubt::confident [nikkaṅkha]| regarding suffering, free from doubt regarding the arising of suffering, free from doubt regarding the end of suffering, free from doubt regarding the way of practice leading to the end of suffering. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, eats one meal a day, is celibate, virtuous, and of good character. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, has laid aside gems and gold, and is free of silver and gold. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, does not dig the earth with his own hands with a pickaxe. Whatever clay has broken off the banks or is dug up by mice, he brings that in a carrying pole, makes a vessel, and says: “Whoever wishes, let them put down a measure of rice, or a measure of mung beans, or a measure of chickpeas here, and take away whatever they wish.” The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, supports his blind and aged parents. The potter Ghaṭikāra, great king, with the |complete exhaustion::gradual and complete wearing away [parikkhaya]| of the five lower fetters, is of spontaneous birth, will attain |final Nibbāna::complete cooling, full quenching, total emancipation, dying one’s final death [parinibbāyi]| there, and is not liable to return from that world.

Ekamidāhaṁ, mahārāja, samayaṁ vegaḷiṅge nāma gāmanigame viharāmi. Atha khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa mātāpitaro tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa mātāpitaro etadavocaṁ: “handa ko nu kho ayaṁ bhaggavo gato”ti?

At one time, great king, I was staying in the town named Vegaḷiṅga. Then, great king, having dressed early in the morning and taking my bowl and robe, I approached the parents of the potter Ghaṭikāra. Having approached, I said to the parents of the potter Ghaṭikāra: “Well now, where has this |Bhaggava::potter; ceramicist; lit. from Bhaggu [bhaggava]| gone?”

“Nikkhanto kho te, bhante, upaṭṭhāko antokumbhiyā odanaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjā”ti. Atha khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, kumbhiyā odanaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁ.

They said: “Your supporter, venerable sir, has gone out. Take some rice from the pot, take some curry from the bowl, and eat.” Then, great king, having taken some rice from the pot and some curry from the bowl, and having eaten, I rose from my seat and departed.

Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro yena mātāpitaro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mātāpitaro etadavoca: “ko kumbhiyā odanaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto”ti?

Then, great king, the potter Ghaṭikāra approached his parents. Having approached, he said to his parents: “Who took some rice from the pot, took some curry from the bowl, ate, rose from their seat, and departed?”

“Kassapo, tāta, bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho kumbhiyā odanaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto”ti?

They said: “The Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, dear, took some rice from the pot, took some curry from the bowl, ate, rose from his seat, and departed.”

Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa etadahosi: “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me kassapo bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho evaṁ abhivissattho”ti. Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ aḍḍhamāsaṁ pītisukhaṁ na vijahati, sattāhaṁ mātāpitūnaṁ.

Then, great king, it occurred to the potter Ghaṭikāra: “It is a blessing for me, it is most fortunate for me, that the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, |has extreme confidence in::has placed trust in [abhivissattha]| me!” Then, great king, |uplifting joy and pleasure::delight and ease; sometimes experienced as ecstasy, intense exhilaration or rapture [pītisukha]| did not leave the potter Ghaṭikāra for half a month, nor his parents for a week.

Ekamidāhaṁ, mahārāja, samayaṁ tattheva vegaḷiṅge nāma gāmanigame viharāmi. Atha khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa mātāpitaro tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa mātāpitaro etadavocaṁ: “handa ko nu kho ayaṁ bhaggavo gato”ti?

At one time, great king, I was staying in that same town named Vegaḷiṅga. Then, great king, having dressed early in the morning and taking my bowl and robe, I approached the parents of the potter Ghaṭikāra. Having approached, I said to the parents of the potter Ghaṭikāra: “Well now, where has this Bhaggava gone?”

“Nikkhanto kho te, bhante, upaṭṭhāko anto kaḷopiyā kummāsaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjā”ti. Atha khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, kaḷopiyā kummāsaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkamiṁ.

They said: “Your supporter, venerable sir, has gone out. Take some porridge from the vessel, take some curry from the bowl, and eat.” Then, great king, having taken some porridge from the vessel and some curry from the bowl, and having eaten, I rose from my seat and departed.

Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro yena mātāpitaro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mātāpitaro etadavoca: “ko kaḷopiyā kummāsaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto”ti?

Then, great king, the potter Ghaṭikāra approached his parents. Having approached, he said to his parents: “Who took some porridge from the vessel, took some curry from the bowl, ate, rose from their seat, and departed?”

“Kassapo, tāta, bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho kaḷopiyā kummāsaṁ gahetvā pariyogā sūpaṁ gahetvā paribhuñjitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto”ti.

They said: “The Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, dear, took some porridge from the vessel, took some curry from the bowl, ate, rose from his seat, and departed.”

Then, great king, it occurred to the potter Ghaṭikāra: “It is a blessing for me, it is most fortunate for me, that the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, has extreme confidence in me!” Then, great king, uplifting joy and pleasure did not leave the potter Ghaṭikāra for half a month, nor his parents for a week.

Ekamidāhaṁ, mahārāja, samayaṁ tattheva vegaḷiṅge nāma gāmanigame viharāmi. Tena kho pana samayena kuṭi ovassati. Atha khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, bhikkhū āmantesiṁ:

At one time, great king, I was staying in that same town named Vegaḷiṅga. At that time, my hut was leaking. Then, great king, I addressed the bhikkhus:

“gacchatha, bhikkhave, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa nivesane tiṇaṁ jānāthā”ti.

“Go, bhikkhus, and find out if there is any grass at the potter Ghaṭikāra’s residence.”

Evaṁ vutte, mahārāja, te bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ: “natthi kho, bhante, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa nivesane tiṇaṁ, atthi ca khvāssa āvesane tiṇacchadanan”ti.

When this was said, great king, the bhikkhus said to me: “There is no grass at the potter Ghaṭikāra’s residence, venerable sir, but there is grass thatch over his workshop.”

“Gacchatha, bhikkhave, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa āvesanaṁ uttiṇaṁ karothā”ti. Atha kho te, mahārāja, bhikkhū ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa āvesanaṁ uttiṇamakaṁsu.

“Go, bhikkhus, and strip the grass off the potter Ghaṭikāra’s workshop.” Then, great king, the bhikkhus stripped the grass off the potter Ghaṭikāra’s workshop.

Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa mātāpitaro te bhikkhū etadavocuṁ: “ke āvesanaṁ uttiṇaṁ karontī”ti?

Then, great king, the parents of the potter Ghaṭikāra said to those bhikkhus: “Who is stripping the grass off the workshop?”

“Bhikkhū, bhagini, kassapassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa kuṭi ovassatī”ti.

“The bhikkhus, sister. The hut of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is leaking.”

“Haratha, bhante, haratha, bhadramukhā”ti.

“Take it, venerable sirs! Take it, dear ones!”

Atha kho, mahārāja, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro yena mātāpitaro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mātāpitaro etadavoca: “ke āvesanaṁ uttiṇamakaṁsū”ti?

Then, great king, the potter Ghaṭikāra approached his parents. Having approached, he said to his parents: “Who stripped the grass off the workshop?”

“Bhikkhū, tāta, kassapassa kira bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa kuṭi ovassatī”ti.

“The bhikkhus, dear. They say the hut of the Blessed One Kassapa, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, is leaking.”

Atha kho, mahārāja, āvesanaṁ sabbantaṁ temāsaṁ ākāsacchadanaṁ aṭṭhāsi, na devotivassi. Evarūpo ca, mahārāja, ghaṭikāro kumbhakāro’ti.

Then, great king, that entire workshop stood with the open sky for a roof for three months, and yet, no rain came in. Such is the potter Ghaṭikāra, great king.’

‘Lābhā, bhante, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa, suladdhā, bhante, ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa yassa bhagavā evaṁ abhivissattho’ti.

‘It is a blessing, venerable sir, for the potter Ghaṭikāra, it is most fortunate, venerable sir, for the potter Ghaṭikāra, that the Blessed One has extreme confidence in him.’

Atha kho, ānanda, kikī kāsirājā ghaṭikārassa kumbhakārassa pañcamattāni taṇḍulavāhasatāni pāhesi paṇḍupuṭakassa sālino tadupiyañca sūpeyyaṁ. Atha kho te, ānanda, rājapurisā ghaṭikāraṁ kumbhakāraṁ upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘imāni kho, bhante, pañcamattāni taṇḍulavāhasatāni kikinā kāsirājena pahitāni paṇḍupuṭakassa sālino tadupiyañca sūpeyyaṁ. Tāni, bhante, paṭiggaṇhathā’ti.

Then, |Ānanda,::::| King Kikī of Kāsi sent to the potter Ghaṭikāra five hundred cartloads of red rice stored in the sheaf, and also sauce materials to go with it. Then, |Ānanda,::::| the royal men approached the potter Ghaṭikāra and said: ‘These five hundred cartloads of red rice stored in the sheaf, and also sauce materials to go with it, venerable sir, have been sent by King Kikī of Kāsi. Please accept them, venerable sir.’

‘Rājā kho bahukicco bahukaraṇīyo. Alaṁ me. Raññova hotū’ti.

‘The king has many duties, many things to do. I have enough. Let this be for the king himself.’

Siyā kho pana te, ānanda, evamassa: ‘añño nūna tena samayena jotipālo māṇavo ahosī’ti. Na kho panetaṁ, ānanda, evaṁ daṭṭhabbaṁ. Ahaṁ tena samayena jotipālo māṇavo ahosin”ti.

Now, Ānanda, it may occur to you: ‘Perhaps at that time the young man Jotipāla was someone else.’ But it should not be seen in that way, Ānanda. I was the young man Jotipāla at that time.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

The Blessed One said this. The venerable Ānanda was delighted and pleased with the Blessed One’s words.