Then the venerable Rahula thought, "Who indeed [nu from n'ajja],
after being personally exhorted by the Blessed One himself today,
would go into the village for alms?" Turning back, he sat down at the
foot of a certain tree, crossed his legs and, keeping his body
upright, established mindfulness before him.
Commentary:
<Rahula, who was eager to follow the training (sikkhaakaamo) would early in
the morning in the surroundings of the "fragrant chamber" (gandhaku.ti)
scatter a handful of salt, while he thought:"May I today receive as many
words of exhortation in the presence of the Buddha and as many words of
admonishment from my teacher (upajjhaya).>
We read that the Buddha placed Rahula foremost (agge) among his disciples
who are monks eager for training (Ang I, 24). Rahula uttered his "Lion's
roar" in the midst of the Order of monks, saying that he was the foremost in
being eager to follow the training.
We then read: <Then, because Rahula should not only know matter, but also
feeling, etc. the Blessed One said therefore to him, "rupa.m pi, Raahula",
beginning with matter also ( feeling etc.).
The words, ko n'ajja, that is, ko nu ajja, "who would today." This occurred
to the Thera (Rahula): "The Sammasambuddha who knows my attachment with
regard to the body (attabhaavanissita.m chandaraaga.m) did not give a
round-about talk, saying, 'A monk should not have such a thought.' He did
not send a messenger, saying, 'Go bhikkhu and say to Rahula, do not think
again such a thought.' After having placed me in front of him he personally
gave me a Blessed One's exhortation, just as one would grab a thief with his
(stolen) wares by his topknot. Since a Blessed One's exhortation is
difficult to receive during the countless aeons, whoever is wise, son of a
wise man, who indeed, after being personally exhorted by the Blessed One,
would today, go into the village for alms?", <gaama.m pi.n.daaya
pavissatiiti> Then this venerable person, after he had given up the task of
(receiving) almsfood, and after he had left the sitting place where he had
received the exhortation <tato va pa.tinivattitvaa a~n~natarasmi.m
rukkhamuule nisiidi> turning back he sat down at the foot of a certain
tree.>
*****
Question:nisinnena .thaane .thitena ovaado laddho: not sure about the
sitting place, this is away from? Thai has: after he returned from the
sitting place where he had received the exhortation. I appreciate very much
any corrections.
If it is not too much trouble I would like to have a link to the Pali text.
I have the hard copy, and can fix myself the Velthuis spelling. (I have an
IMac, and P Charter) Thank you.
Nina.
Remark: ko nu ajja: I am inclined to think that ajja belongs more to the
returning. Who would today return...Of course it also belongs to having
received the instruction, to both.