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Verse 67: The Story of a Farmer

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (67) of this book, with
reference to a farmer who handled poison.

One day, some thieves having stolen some valuables and cash from the house of a rich man came to
a field. There, they divided the stolen property among themselves and dispersed; but a packet
containing one thousand in cash, having dropped from one of the thieves, was left behind
unnoticed.

Early in the morning on that day, the Buddha, on surveying the world with his supernormal power,
perceived that a farmer, cultivating near that field, would attain Sotapatti Fruition on that very
day. So, the Buddha went there, accompanied by the Venerable Ananda. The farmer on seeing the
Buddha paid obeisance to him and continued to plough the field. The Buddha seeing the packet of
money said to the Venerable Ananda, "Ananda, look at that very poisonous snake," and Ananda
replied, "Venerable Sir, yes, it is, indeed, a very poisonous snake!" Then, both the Buddha and the
Venerable Ananda continued their way.

The farmer, hearing them, went to find out if there really was a snake and found the packet of
money. He took the picket and hid it in a place. The owners of the property coming after the
thieves came to the field, and tracing the footprints of the farmer, found the packet of money.
They beat the farmer and took him to the king, who ordered his men to kill the farmer. On being
taken to the cemetery, where he was to be killed, the farmer kept on repeating, "Ananda, look at
that very poisonous snake. Venerable Sir, I see the snake; it is, indeed, a very poisonous snake!"
When the king's men heard the above dialogue between the Buddha and the Venerable Ananda
being repeated all the way, they were puzzled and took him to the king. The king surmised that the
farmer was calling upon the Buddha as a witness; he was therefore taken to the presence of the
Buddha. After hearing from the Buddha everything that had happened in the morning, the king
remarked, "If he had not been able to call upon the Buddha as a witness of his innocence, this man
would have been killed." To him, the Buddha replied, "A wise man should not do anything that he
would repent after doing it."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 67. That deed is not well done, if one regrets having done it, and if,
with a tearful face, one has to weep as a result of that deed.

At the end of the discourse, the farmer attained Sotapatti Fruition.

Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A.,
Burma Pitaka Association, Rangoon, Burma 1986.