Ud 2:10 Bhaddiya Kāḷigodha (Kāḷigodha Sutta)
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was
staying near Anupiyā in the Mango Grove. And on that occasion, Ven.
Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, on going to the wilderness, to the root of a
tree, or to an empty dwelling, would repeatedly exclaim, “What bliss!
What bliss!”
A large number of monks heard Ven. Bhaddiya,
Kāḷigodhā’s son, on going to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, or
to an empty dwelling, repeatedly exclaim, “What bliss! What bliss!” and
on hearing him, the thought occurred to them, “There’s no doubt but that
Ven. Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, doesn’t enjoy leading the holy life,
for when he was a householder he knew the bliss of kingship, so that
now, on recollecting that when going to the wilderness, to the root of a
tree, or to an empty dwelling, he is repeatedly exclaiming, ‘What
bliss! What bliss!’”
So they went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having
bowed down to him, sat to one side. As they were sitting there, they
told him, “Ven. Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, lord, on going to the
wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, repeatedly
exclaims, ‘What bliss! What bliss!’ There’s no doubt but that Ven.
Bhaddiya doesn’t enjoy leading the holy life, for when he was a
householder he knew the bliss of kingship, so that now, on recollecting
that when going to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty
dwelling, he is repeatedly exclaiming, ‘What bliss! What bliss!’”
Then the Blessed One told a certain monk, “Come, monk.
In my name, call Bhaddiya, saying, ‘The Teacher calls you, friend
Bhaddiya.’”
Responding, “As you say, lord,” to the Blessed One, the
monk went to Ven. Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, and on arrival he said to
him, “The Teacher calls you, friend Bhaddiya.”
Responding, “As you say, my friend,” to the monk, Ven.
Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā’s son, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the
Blessed One said to him, “Is it true, Bhaddiya that–on going to the
wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling–you
repeatedly exclaim, ‘What bliss! What bliss!’?”
“Yes, lord.”
“What compelling reason do you have in mind that–when
going to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty
dwelling–you repeatedly exclaim, ‘What bliss! What bliss!’?”
“Before, when I has a householder, maintaining the bliss of kingship,
1
lord, I had guards posted within and without the royal apartments,
within and without the city, within and without the countryside. But
even though I was thus guarded, thus protected, I dwelled in
fear–agitated, distrustful, & afraid. But now, on going alone to the
wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, I dwell
without fear, unagitated, confident, & unafraid–unconcerned,
unruffled, living on the gifts of others, with my mind like a wild deer.
This is the compelling reason I have in mind that–when going to the
wilderness, to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling–I repeatedly
exclaim, ‘What bliss! What bliss!’”
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:
From whose heart
there is no provocation,
& for whom becoming & non-becoming
are overcome,
he–
beyond fear,
blissful,
with no grief–
is one the devas can’t see.
Note
1. Reading rajja-sukhaṁ with the Thai and PTS editions. The Sri Lankan and Burmese editions have rajjaṁ: “kingship.”