Buddhist Legends Vol. II

Book VIII. Thousands, Sahassa Vagga - 270
By sorrow smitten and by suffering distraught.
Woman, why heedless dost thou still remain?
In this wise did the Teacher discourse on the round of existences without
conceivable beginning. As he spoke, the grief which pervaded her body became
less intense. Perceiving that her grief was become less intense, he continued his
discourse as follows, “Paṭācārā, to one that is on his way to the world beyond,
nor sons nor other kith and kin can ever be a shelter or a refuge. How much
less can you expect them to be such to you in this present life! He that is wise
should clarify his conduct, and so for himself make clear the path that leadeth
to Nibbāna.” So saying, he instructed her in the Law by pronouncing the
following Stanzas,
288. Nor sons nor father can a refuge be, nor kith and kin;
In them, to him whom death assails, no refuge remains.
289. Knowing this power of circumstances, the wise man, restrained by
the moral precepts,
Should straightway clear the path that leads to Nibbāna. {2.269}
At the conclusion of the discourse, Paṭācārā obtained the Fruit of Conversion,
and the Depravities within her, as numerous as the [29.256] particles of dust on
the whole wide earth, were burned away. Many others likewise obtained the
Fruit of Conversion and the Fruits of the Second and Third Paths. Paṭācārā,
having obtained the Fruit of Conversion, requested the Teacher to admit her to
the Order. The Teacher sent her to the community of nuns and directed that
she be admitted. Afterwards she made her full profession and by reason of her
happy demeanor (paṭitācārattā) came to be known as Paṭācārā.
One day she filled her water-pot with water, and pouring out water, bathed her
feet. As she poured out the water, she spilled some on the ground. The water
ran a little way and disappeared. The second time it went a little farther. The
third time a little farther yet. So she took this very incident for her Subject of
Meditation, and fixing accurately in her mind the three occurrences, she
meditated thus, “Even as the water I spilled the first time ran a little way and
disappeared, so also living beings here in the world are dying in youth. Even as
the water I spilled the second time ran a little farther, so also living beings here
in the world are dying in the prime of life. Even as the water I spilled the third
time ran a little farther yet, so also living beings here in the world are dying in
old age.”