[112] 22. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling among the Vajjis at Hatthigāma. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, you should remember Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma as one endowed with eight astounding and amazing qualities (acchariyā abbhutadhammā)." This the Blessed One said; and having said this, the Fortunate One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Then, in the morning, a certain bhikkhu, having dressed and taken bowl and robe, approached the residence of Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma; having approached, he sat down on a seat that had been prepared. Then Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma approached that bhikkhu; having approached, he paid homage to that bhikkhu and sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, that bhikkhu said this to Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma: "Householder, the Blessed One has declared you to be endowed with eight astounding and amazing qualities. What, householder, are those eight astounding and amazing qualities with which you are endowed and which the Blessed One has declared?"
"Venerable sir, I do not know with which eight astounding and amazing qualities the Blessed One has declared me endowed. However, venerable sir, as to the eight astounding and amazing qualities that are found in me — listen and attend carefully; I will speak." "Yes, householder," that bhikkhu replied to Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma.
Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma said this: "When, venerable sir, I first saw the Blessed One from afar while I was revelling in the Nāga Grove, at the very sight of him my mind (citta) gained confidence in the Blessed One, and my intoxication with liquor vanished. This, venerable sir, is the first astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"Then, venerable sir, with a confident mind, I attended upon the Blessed One. The Blessed One gave me a progressive talk (anupubbīkathā), that is: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on heaven; he made known the danger, the degradation, and the defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit of renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that my mind was ready, malleable, free of hindrances, uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching which is special to the Buddhas: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, the path. Just as a clean cloth free from stains would properly take the dye, so too, right there in that very seat, the dust-free, stainless vision of the Dhamma (dhammacakkhu) arose in me: 'Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.' Then, venerable sir, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, fathomed the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt (vicikicchā), with perplexity gone, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, right there I went for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and I undertook the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. This, venerable sir, is the second astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"I had, venerable sir, four young wives. Then, venerable sir, I approached those wives; having approached, I said this to them: 'Sisters, I have undertaken the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. Whoever wishes may enjoy this wealth here and do meritorious deeds, or may go to her own family of relatives; or, if she desires a man — to whom shall I give you?' When this was said, venerable sir, the eldest wife said this to me: 'Give me, dear husband, to the man named so-and-so.' Then, venerable sir, I had that man summoned, and taking my wife with my left hand and the ceremonial water-vessel with my right hand, I bestowed her upon that man. Yet, venerable sir, while giving away my young wife as a gift, I am not aware of any alteration of mind. This, venerable sir, is the third astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"There is, venerable sir, wealth in my family, and it is shared without reserve with those who are virtuous and of good character. This, venerable sir, is the fourth astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"Whenever, venerable sir, I attend upon a bhikkhu, I attend upon him respectfully indeed, not disrespectfully. If that venerable one teaches me the Dhamma, I listen respectfully indeed, not disrespectfully; and if that venerable one does not teach me the Dhamma, I teach him the Dhamma. This, venerable sir, is the fifth astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"It is not astounding to me, venerable sir, that when the Saṅgha has been invited, deities approach and announce: 'Householder, such-and-such a bhikkhu is liberated in both ways; such-and-such is liberated by wisdom; such-and-such is a body-witness; such-and-such is one attained to view; such-and-such is liberated by faith; such-and-such is a Dhamma-follower; such-and-such is a faith-follower; such-and-such is virtuous, of good character; such-and-such is immoral, of bad character.' Yet, venerable sir, while serving the Saṅgha, I am not aware of arousing such a thought as: 'Let me give a little to this one, or much to that one.' Rather, venerable sir, I give with an impartial mind. This, venerable sir, is the sixth astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"It is not astounding, venerable sir, that deities approach me and announce: 'Householder, well expounded is the Dhamma by the Blessed One.' When this is said, venerable sir, I say this to those deities: 'Whether you deities say so, or whether you do not say so, still the Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.' Yet, venerable sir, I am not aware of any elation of mind on that account — that deities approach me, or that I converse with deities. This, venerable sir, is the seventh astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"And if, venerable sir, I should die before the Blessed One, it would not be astounding that the Blessed One should declare of me thus: 'There is no fetter (saṃyojana) bound by which Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma might come back to this world.' This, venerable sir, is the eighth astounding and amazing quality found in me.
"These, venerable sir, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities found in me. But I do not know with which eight astounding and amazing qualities the Blessed One has declared me endowed."
Then that bhikkhu, having received almsfood in the residence of Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma, rose from his seat and departed. Then, after the meal, when he had returned from the almsround, that bhikkhu approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu reported to the Blessed One the entire conversation he had had with Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma.
"Good, good, bhikkhu! As Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma, answering rightly, has answered, even so, bhikkhu, has Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma been declared by me to be endowed with these very eight astounding and amazing qualities. And, bhikkhu, you should remember Ugga the householder of Hatthigāma as endowed with these eight astounding and amazing qualities."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.