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Verse 96: The Story of a Samanera from Kosambi

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (96) of this book, with
reference to a samanera, a pupil of Thera Tissa from Kosambi.

Once, a seven year old boy was made a samanera at the request of his father. Before his head
was shaved, the boy was given a subject of meditation. While he was being shaved, the boy had
his mind fixed steadfastly on the object of meditation; as a result, he attained Arahatship as
soon as they finished shaving his head.

After some time, Thera Tissa, accompanied by the samanera, set out for Savatthi to pay
homage to the Buddha. On the way, they spent one night in a village monastery. The thera fell
asleep, but the young samanera sat up the whole night beside the bed of the old thera. Early in
the morning, the old thera thought it was time to wake up the young samanera. So he roused up
the samanera with a palm-leaf fan, and accidentally hit the eye of the samanera with the
handle of the fan and damaged the eye. The samanera covered that eye with one hand and
went about doing his duties of getting water for the thera to wash his face and clean his
mouth, sweeping the floor of the monastery, etc. When the young samanera offered water
with one hand to the thera, the thera chided him, and said that he should offer things with
both hands. Only then, did the thera learn how the samanera lost his eye. At that instant, he
realized that he had wronged a truly Noble person. Feeling very sorry and humiliated, he made
an apology to the samanera. But the samanera said that it was not the fault of the thera, nor
his own fault, but that it was only the result of kamma, and so the thera was not to feel sad
about it. But the thera could not get over the unfortunate incident.

Then they continued their journey to Savatthi and arrived at the Jetavana monastery, where
the Buddha was in residence. The thera then told the Buddha, that the young samanera, who
came along with him was the most Noble person he had ever met, and related all that had
happened on their way. The Buddha listened to him, and replied, "My son, an Arahat does not
get angry with anyone. He is restrained in his senses and is perfectly calm and serene."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 96. An Arahat is calm in his mind, calm in his speech, and also in his deed; truly knowing the
Dhamma, such an Arahat is free from moral defilements and is unperturbed by the ups and downs
of life.

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