[153] Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Bārāṇasī as long as he wished, set out on tour toward Sāvatthī, and wandering on tour by stages he arrived at Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One dwelt at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then Visākhā Migāramātā approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she sat down to one side. And as Visākhā Migāramātā sat to one side, the Blessed One instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened her with a talk on the Dhamma. Then Visākhā Migāramātā, having been instructed, roused, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Dhamma, said this to the Blessed One: "May the Blessed One, venerable sir, together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, consent to my meal for tomorrow." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then Visākhā Migāramātā, having understood the Blessed One's consent, rose from her seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping her right side toward him, and departed.
Now at that time, when that night had passed, a great four-continent cloud poured down rain. Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, just as it rains in the Jetavana, so it rains in the four continents. Let the rain fall upon your bodies, bhikkhus; this is the last great four-continent cloud." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One, and having laid aside their robes, they let the rain fall upon their bodies.
Then Visākhā Migāramātā, having had choice hard food and soft food prepared, ordered a slave woman: "Go, my girl; go to the park and announce the time: 'It is time, venerable sirs; the meal is ready.'" "Yes, mistress," that slave woman replied to Visākhā Migāramātā, and having gone to the park, she saw the bhikkhus, robes laid aside, letting the rain fall upon their bodies. Having seen them, thinking, "There are no bhikkhus in the park; Ājīvakas are letting the rain fall upon their bodies," she approached Visākhā Migāramātā; having approached, she said this to Visākhā Migāramātā: "Mistress, there are no bhikkhus in the park; Ājīvakas are letting the rain fall upon their bodies."
Then to Visākhā Migāramātā, who was wise, competent, and intelligent, this occurred: "Doubtless the masters, having laid aside their robes, are letting the rain fall upon their bodies; this foolish woman supposed, 'There are no bhikkhus in the park; Ājīvakas are letting the rain fall upon their bodies.'" She ordered the slave woman: "Go, my girl; go to the park and announce the time: 'It is time, venerable sirs; the meal is ready.'"
Then those bhikkhus, having cooled their limbs, their bodies refreshed, took their robes and entered each his own dwelling. Then that slave woman, having gone to the park and not seeing the bhikkhus, thinking, "There are no bhikkhus in the park; the park is empty," approached Visākhā Migāramātā; having approached, she said this to Visākhā Migāramātā: "Mistress, there are no bhikkhus in the park; the park is empty."
Then to Visākhā Migāramātā, who was wise, competent, and intelligent, this occurred: "Doubtless the masters, having cooled their limbs, their bodies refreshed, took their robes and entered each his own dwelling; this foolish woman supposed, 'There are no bhikkhus in the park; the park is empty.'" Again she ordered the slave woman: "Go, my girl; go to the park and announce the time: 'It is time, venerable sirs; the meal is ready.'"
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Get your bowls and robes ready, bhikkhus; it is time for the meal." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, just as a strong man might stretch out his bent arm or bend back his outstretched arm, even so vanished from the Jetavana and appeared at the gateway of Visākhā Migāramātā's residence. The Blessed One sat down on the prepared seat together with the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.
Then Visākhā Migāramātā, thinking, "Wonderful indeed, sirs! Marvelous indeed, sirs, is the great psychic power, the great majesty of the Tathāgata, in that, while floods knee-deep are flowing, while floods waist-deep are flowing, not even one bhikkhu's feet or robes have become wet!" — joyful and elated, having with her own hand served and satisfied the Saṅgha of bhikkhus headed by the Buddha with choice hard food and soft food, when the Blessed One had eaten and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, sat down to one side. And seated to one side, Visākhā Migāramātā said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I ask eight boons of the Blessed One."
"Tathāgatas, Visākhā, are beyond the granting of boons."
"Venerable sir, those which are allowable and those which are blameless."
"Speak, Visākhā."
"I wish, venerable sir, for as long as life lasts, to give to the Saṅgha rains cloths (vassikasāṭikā), to give food for incoming bhikkhus, to give food for bhikkhus going away, to give food for the sick, to give food for those who nurse the sick, to give medicine for the sick, to give a constant supply of conjey (yāgu); and to give to the Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs bathing cloths (udakasāṭikā)."
"But seeing what advantage, Visākhā, do you ask eight boons of the Tathāgata?"
"Here, venerable sir, I ordered a slave woman: 'Go, my girl; go to the park and announce the time: "It is time, venerable sirs; the meal is ready."' Then, venerable sir, that slave woman went to the park and saw the bhikkhus, robes laid aside, letting the rain fall upon their bodies. Having seen them, thinking, 'There are no bhikkhus in the park; Ājīvakas are letting the rain fall upon their bodies,' she approached me; having approached, she said this to me: 'Mistress, there are no bhikkhus in the park; Ājīvakas are letting the rain fall upon their bodies.' Nakedness, venerable sir, is impure, disgusting, and repulsive. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha rains cloths for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, an incoming bhikkhu, not skilled in the streets, not skilled in the alms-resort, walks for alms wearied. Having eaten my food for incoming bhikkhus, being skilled in the streets, skilled in the alms-resort, he will walk for alms unwearied. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha food for incoming bhikkhus for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, a bhikkhu going away, while seeking food for himself, will be left behind by the caravan, or he will arrive at the wrong time at the place where he wishes to go to stay, and he will travel the road wearied. Having eaten my food for those going away, he will not be left behind by the caravan, he will not arrive at the wrong time at the place where he wishes to go to stay, and he will travel the road unwearied. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha food for those going away for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, when a sick bhikkhu does not obtain suitable foods, either his illness will increase or he will die. When he has eaten my food for the sick, his illness will not increase and he will not die. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha food for the sick for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, a bhikkhu who nurses the sick, while seeking food for himself, will bring the meal to the sick one late in the day, and an interruption of the meal will be made. Having eaten my food for those who nurse the sick, he will bring the meal to the sick one at the proper time, and no interruption of the meal will be made. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha food for those who nurse the sick for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, when a sick bhikkhu does not obtain suitable medicines, either his illness will increase or he will die. When he has used my medicine for the sick, his illness will not increase and he will not die. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha medicine for the sick for as long as life lasts.
"Further, venerable sir, conjey was allowed by the Blessed One at Andhakavinda when he saw ten advantages. Seeing those advantages, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha a constant supply of conjey for as long as life lasts.
"Here, venerable sir, bhikkhunīs bathe naked at the same ford of the river Aciravatī together with prostitutes. The prostitutes, venerable sir, mocked the bhikkhunīs: 'What indeed, ladies, is the holy life practiced by you while you are young? Should not sensual pleasures be enjoyed? When you are old, then you may practice the holy life; thus both ends will be secured by you.' Those bhikkhunīs, venerable sir, being mocked by the prostitutes, were abashed. Nakedness in a woman, venerable sir, is impure, disgusting, and repulsive. Seeing this advantage, venerable sir, I wish to give to the Saṅgha of bhikkhunīs bathing cloths for as long as life lasts."
"But seeing what benefit, Visākhā, do you ask eight boons of the Tathāgata?"
"Here, venerable sir, bhikkhus who have spent the rains in the various quarters will come to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. Having approached the Blessed One, they will ask: 'Venerable sir, the bhikkhu of such-and-such a name has died; what is his destination, what is his future course?' The Blessed One will declare of him that he was established in the fruit of stream-entry, or in the fruit of once-returning, or in the fruit of non-returning, or in arahantship. Approaching them, I shall ask: 'Venerable sirs, did that master ever come to Sāvatthī?' If they say to me, 'That bhikkhu did come to Sāvatthī,' I shall come to the conclusion in this matter: 'Doubtless there was used by that master a rains cloth, or food for incoming bhikkhus, or food for those going away, or food for the sick, or food for those who nurse the sick, or medicine for the sick, or the constant conjey.' As I recollect that, gladness will arise in me; in me gladdened, rapture will arise; with a mind full of rapture, my body will become tranquil; with body tranquil, I shall feel pleasure; being happy, my mind (citta) will become concentrated. That will be for me the development of the faculties, the development of the powers, the development of the factors of awakening (bojjhaṅga). Seeing this benefit, venerable sir, I ask eight boons of the Tathāgata."
"Good, good, Visākhā! It is good that you, Visākhā, seeing this benefit, ask eight boons of the Tathāgata. I grant you, Visākhā, the eight boons."
Then the Blessed One expressed his appreciation to Visākhā Migāramātā with these verses:
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.