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ud.7.9 Udana

The Discourse about the Well

Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was walking on walking tour amongst the Mallas with a great Community of monks and arrived at the brāhmaṇa village of the Mallas called Thūna. The brāhmaṇa householders of Thūna heard: “The ascetic Gotama, the son of the Sakyans who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, is walking on walking tour amongst the Mallas with a great Community of monks and has arrived at Thūna”, and they completely filled the well to the top with grass and chaff, thinking: “May these shaveling ascetics not drink our drinking water.”

Then the Gracious One, having gone down from the road, went to the root of a certain tree, and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat. While sat the Gracious One addressed venerable Ānanda, saying: “Come now, Ānanda, bring drinking water from that well.”

After that was said, venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One: “Now the well, reverend Sir, has been filled to the top with grass and chaff by the brāhmaṇa householders of Thūna, thinking: ‘May these shaveling ascetics not drink our drinking water.’ ”

For a second time the Gracious One addressed venerable Ānanda, saying: “Come now, Ānanda, bring drinking water from that well.”

After that was said, venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One: “Now the well, reverend Sir, has been filled to the top with grass and chaff by the brāhmaṇa householders of Thūna, thinking: ‘May these shaveling ascetics not drink our drinking water.’ ”

For a third time the Gracious One addressed venerable Ānanda, saying: “Come now, Ānanda, bring drinking water from that well.”

“Yes, reverend Sir”, said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to the Gracious One, and taking the bowl, he went to the well. Then as venerable Ānanda was going to that well, all the grass and chaff was thrown away from the top of the well, and it stood full of transparent, undisturbed, clear water, to the top so that one might think it was overflowing.

Then it occurred to venerable Ānanda: “Surely it is wonderful, surely it is marvellous, the Realised One’s great power and great majesty, in that as I was going to that well, all the grass and chaff was thrown away from the top of the well, and it stood full of transparent, undisturbed, clear water, to the top so that one might think it was overflowing.”

After taking drinking water with a bowl he went to the Gracious One, and after going, he said this to the Gracious One: “It is wonderful, reverend Sir, it is marvellous, reverend Sir, the Realised One’s great power and great majesty, in that as I was going to that well, all the grass and chaff was thrown away from the top of the well, and it stood full of transparent, undisturbed, clear water, to the top so that one might think it was overflowing. Please drink the drinking water, Gracious One! Please drink the drinking water, Fortunate One!”

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“What will he do with a well, if there will be water at all times?
Having cut off craving at the root, who will go about seeking?”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

The Well

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Mallas together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a brahmin town of the Mallas named Thūṇa.
The brahmins and householders of Thūṇa heard:
“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—while wandering in the land of the Mallas has arrived at Thūṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.”
They filled the well with grass and chaff right to the top, thinking,
“Don’t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.”
And then the Buddha left the road, went to the root of a tree, and sat down on the seat spread out.
When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:
“Please, Ānanda, fetch me some water from that well.”
When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,
“Just now, sir, the brahimns and householders of Thūṇa filled the well with grass and chaff right to the top, thinking,
‘Don’t let these shavelings, these fake ascetics drink the water.’”
For a second time,
and for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda:
“Please, Ānanda, fetch me some water from that well.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his bowl he went to the well.
As he approached the well, all the grass and chaff erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.
Then Venerable Ānanda thought,
“It’s incredible, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!
For when I approached this well, all the grass and chaff erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.”
Gathering a bowl of drinking water he went back to the Buddha, and said to him,
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might!
For when I approached that well, all the grass and chaff erupted out of the well-mouth. The water stood transparent, unclouded, and clear right up to the top, seeming to overflow.
Drink the water, Blessed One! Drink the water, Holy One!”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“What difference would a well make
if water is there all the time?
Having cut off craving at the root,
who would go out on a quest?”