Udayasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena udayassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavato pattaṁ odanena pūresi. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena udayassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami …pe… tatiyampi kho udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavato pattaṁ odanena pūretvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “pakaṭṭhakoyaṁ samaṇo gotamo punappunaṁ āgacchatī”ti.

At Sāvatthī. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Udaya. Then Udaya filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice. The next day … Udaya again filled the Buddha’s bowl with rice. But when he had filled the Buddha’s bowl on the third day, he said to the Buddha, “This ascetic Gotama is such a drag! He keeps coming back again and again!”

“Punappunañceva vapanti bījaṁ, Punappunaṁ vassati devarājā; Punappunaṁ khettaṁ kasanti kassakā, Punappunaṁ dhaññamupeti raṭṭhaṁ.

“Again and again, they sow the seed; again and again, the king of the heavens sends rain; again and again, farmers plough the field; again and again, grain is produced for the nation.

Punappunaṁ yācakā yācayanti, Punappunaṁ dānapatī dadanti; Punappunaṁ dānapatī daditvā, Punappunaṁ saggamupenti ṭhānaṁ.

Again and again, the beggars beg; again and again, the donors give. Again and again, when the donors have given, again and again, they take their place in heaven.

Punappunaṁ khīranikā duhanti, Punappunaṁ vaccho upeti mātaraṁ; Punappunaṁ kilamati phandati ca, Punappunaṁ gabbhamupeti mando.

Again and again, dairy farmers milk; again and again, a calf cleaves to its mother; again and again, oppressing and intimidating, that dullard returns to the womb again and again.

Punappunaṁ jāyati mīyati ca, Punappunaṁ sivathikaṁ haranti; Maggañca laddhā apunabbhavāya, Na punappunaṁ jāyati bhūripañño”ti.

Again and again, you’re reborn and die; again and again, you get carried to a charnel ground. But when they’ve gained the path <j>for no further rebirth, one of vast wisdom is not reborn again and again.”

Evaṁ vutte, udayo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

When he had spoken, the brahmin Udaya said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”