Ghatikara

1. Standing on a side, Ghaññhãkara the son of the gods said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:

"Seven bhikkhus, destroyed greed and hatred,
Crossed the diffused ness of the world,
And took birth, as Aviha Brahmas.
2. How did they cross the difficult domains of death?

How did they give up the human bodies and gain heavenly ones?
3. The three Upaka, Phalagaõ.da and Pukkusati,

Bhaddiya, Khaõ.dadeva, Bahuraggi and Pingiya.
They gave up human bodies and obtained heavenly ones.
4. To tell their merit, how they overcame the snare of death,

Knowing whose Teaching did they cut the bond `to be'.
5. It's not in another's but the Blessed One's dispensation,

They learnt the Teaching and cut the bond `to be'.
They destroyed name and matter without a hold.
Knowing this Teaching they cut the bond `to be'"
6. "You say wise words, difficult to understand and realize.

Knowing whose Teaching do you speak words like these?"
7. "In the past, there was a potter named Gathikara in Vehalinga.

He, a lay disciple of the Blessed One Kassapa, cared for his mother and father.
Refraining from sexuality, he led a holy life and abstained from eating meat.
They came from the same village, they were your friends.
I know this, with the destruction of greed and anger,
The seven bhikkhus are released from the diffused ness of the world."

8. "As Bhaggava says there was, in the past a lay disciple of the Blessed One Kassapa, who cared for his mother and father.

He refrained from sexuality, led a holy life and abstained from eating meat.

We came from the same village, we were friends.
Thus the friends of yore have met,
We two having developed our selves, bear the last bodies."