[83] Now at that time, in the city of Bhaddiya there dwelt the householder Meṇḍaka. He possessed supernormal power (iddhānubhāva) of this kind: having washed his head and had the granary swept, he would sit outside the door, and a shower of grain, falling from the sky, would fill the granary. His wife possessed supernormal power of this kind: sitting beside just a single pot of one āḷhaka's measure and a single pot of curry, she would serve the slaves, workmen, and servants with food; it was not exhausted so long as she did not rise from her seat. His son possessed supernormal power of this kind: taking just a single bag containing a thousand, he would give six months' wages to the slaves, workmen, and servants; it was not exhausted so long as it remained in his hand. His daughter-in-law possessed supernormal power of this kind: sitting beside just a single basket of four doṇas' measure, she would give six months' rice to the slaves, workmen, and servants; it was not exhausted so long as she did not rise from her seat. His slave possessed supernormal power of this kind: when he ploughed with a single plough, seven furrows went forth.
King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha heard: "It is said that in the city of Bhaddiya in our realm there dwells the householder Meṇḍaka. He possesses supernormal power of this kind: having washed his head and had the granary swept, he sits outside the door, and a shower of grain, falling from the sky, fills the granary. His wife possesses supernormal power of this kind: sitting beside just a single pot of one āḷhaka's measure and a single pot of curry, she serves the slaves, workmen, and servants with food; it is not exhausted so long as she does not rise from her seat. His son possesses supernormal power of this kind: taking just a single bag containing a thousand, he gives six months' wages to the slaves, workmen, and servants; it is not exhausted so long as it remains in his hand. His daughter-in-law possesses supernormal power of this kind: sitting beside just a single basket of four doṇas' measure, she gives six months' rice to the slaves, workmen, and servants; it is not exhausted so long as she does not rise from her seat. His slave possesses supernormal power of this kind: when he ploughs with a single plough, seven furrows go forth."
Then King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha addressed a certain minister in charge of all affairs: "It is said, my good man, that in the city of Bhaddiya in our realm there dwells the householder Meṇḍaka. He possesses supernormal power of this kind: having washed his head and had the granary swept, he sits outside the door, and a shower of grain, falling from the sky, fills the granary … His slave possesses supernormal power of this kind: when he ploughs with a single plough, seven furrows go forth. Go, my good man, and find out, so that as it would have been seen by me myself, so it shall be seen by you."
"Even so, sire," that minister assented to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and with a fourfold army he set out for Bhaddiya. Travelling in stages he came to Bhaddiya and approached the householder Meṇḍaka; having approached, he said this to the householder Meṇḍaka: "I, householder, have been commanded by the king: 'It is said, my good man, that in the city of Bhaddiya in our realm there dwells the householder Meṇḍaka. He possesses supernormal power of this kind: having washed his head and had the granary swept, he sits outside the door, and a shower of grain, falling from the sky, fills the granary … His slave possesses supernormal power of this kind: when he ploughs with a single plough, seven furrows go forth. Go, my good man, and find out, so that as it would have been seen by me myself, so it shall be seen by you.' Let us see your supernormal power, householder."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka, having washed his head and had the granary swept, sat outside the door. A shower of grain, falling from the sky, filled the granary.
"Your supernormal power has been seen, householder. Let us see the supernormal power of your wife."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka ordered his wife: "Then serve the fourfold army with food." Then the wife of the householder Meṇḍaka, sitting beside just a single pot of one āḷhaka's measure and a single pot of curry, served the fourfold army with food. It was not exhausted so long as she did not rise from her seat.
"The supernormal power of your wife has been seen, householder. Let us see the supernormal power of your son."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka ordered his son: "Then give six months' wages to the fourfold army." Then the son of the householder Meṇḍaka, taking just a single bag containing a thousand, gave six months' wages to the fourfold army. It was not exhausted so long as it remained in his hand.
"The supernormal power of your son has been seen, householder. Let us see the supernormal power of your daughter-in-law."
Then the householder Meṇḍaka ordered his daughter-in-law: "Then give six months' rice to the fourfold army." Then the daughter-in-law of the householder Meṇḍaka, sitting beside just a single basket of four doṇas' measure, gave six months' rice to the fourfold army. It was not exhausted so long as she did not rise from her seat.
"The supernormal power of your daughter-in-law has been seen, householder. Let us see the supernormal power of your slave."
"The supernormal power of my slave, sir, must be seen in the field."
"Enough, householder; the supernormal power even of your slave has been seen."
Then that minister with the fourfold army returned once more to Rājagaha, approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and having approached, informed King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha of this matter.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.