Commentary to Mahaaraahulovaadasutta, B series, 12 B

Words:
vasati: to live, dwell
vatta (n): duty, service
kira: emphatic: truly, or presumptive or narrative: people say, I have
heard...
aggasaavaka : chief disciple
ekaakii: someone who is solitary, lives alone.
yadaa: whenever
sammajjati: to sweep, (samma.t.tha p.p.)
pa.tijaggati: look after, tend to(subst: pa.tijaggana.m)
samaapatti (f): attainment concentration, jhaana
appeti : to apply, fix on
ruccati: delight in, like
ruci (f): liking, inclination
sannisiidati: to settle, subside, become quiet (p.p. : sannisinna)
aacaara (m): conduct, practice
parivaara (m): retinue, followers
paasaadika : pleasing, lovely.
kacavara (m): rubbish
cha.d.deti: throw away, abandon.
paaniya (nt) drinking water
kuu.ta (m, n): top, ridge.
paaniyagha.ta (m) : pot for drinking water
gilaana: sick
icchati: wish, desire.
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Relevant sutta passage:

<addasaa kho aayasmaa saariputto aayasmanta.m raahula.m a~n~natarasmi.m
rukkhamuule nisinna.m palla"nka.m aabhujitvaa uju.m kaaya.m pa.nidhaaya
parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaa.
The venerable Sariputta saw the venerable Rahula seated at the foot of that
tree, cross-legged and body upright with mindfulness established before him.

>

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Commentary:

addasaa kho aayasmaa saariputtoti bhagavati gate pacchaa gacchanto addasa.
As to the words, the venerable Saariputta saw him, the meaning is that after
the Blessed One had gone, the venerable Saariputta who came afterwards saw
him.

etassa kiraayasmato ekakassa viharato a~n~na.m vatta.m, bhagavataa saddhi.m
viharato a~n~na.m.
It is said that when the Venerable One was dwelling alone, his task was
different from when he was together with the Blessed One

yadaa hi dve aggasaavakaa ekaakino vasanti,
When the two chief disciples stayed by themselves,

tadaa paatova senaasana.m sammajjitvaa sariirapa.tijaggana.m katvaa
they would in the early morning sweep their dwelling, tend to their bodily
needs,

samaapatti.m appetvaa sannisinnaa attano cittaruciyaa bhikkhaacaara.m
gacchanti.
sit in quiet while applying themselves to attainment concentration, and then
they would, as they were inclined to, go on their alms round.

bhagavataa saddhi.m viharantaa pana theraa eva.m na karonti.
However, when they were together with the Blessed One they would not act in
that way.

tadaa hi bhagavaa bhikkhusa"nghaparivaaro pa.thama.m bhikkhaacaara.m
gacchati.
Then the Blessed One, surrounded by the monks, would go on almsround first.

tasmi.m gate thero attano senaasanaa nikkhamitvaa --
When the Buddha had gone, the venerable Sariputta would leave his lodging
and consider:

``bahuuna.m vasana.t.thaane naama sabbeva paasaadika.m kaatu.m sakkonti
vaa, na vaa sakkontii''ti
³When there are many monks in a dwelling place, not all of them may be able
to
make it agreeable.²

tattha tattha gantvaa asamma.t.tha.m .thaana.m sammajjati.
He would go around and sweep the places that had not been swept.

sace kacavaro acha.d.dito hoti, ta.m cha.d.deti.
When there was rubbish that was not thrown away, he threw it away.

paaniiya.t.thapetabba.t.thaanamhi paaniiyakuu.te asati paaniiyagha.ta.m
.thapeti.
When there was no drinking water in the place where it should be set out, he
placed a pot with drinking water.

gilaanaana.m santika.m gantvaa,
He went to visit the sick and asked:

``aavuso, tumhaaka.m ki.m aaharaami, ki.m vo icchitabba''nti? pucchati.
"Friend, what shall I bring you, what do you wish?"

******
English:

As to the words, the venerable Saariputta saw him, the meaning is that after
the Blessed One had gone, the venerable Saariputta who came afterwards saw
him.
It is said that when the Venerable One was dwelling alone, his task was
different from when he was together with the Blessed One.
When the two chief disciples stayed by themselves,
they would in the early morning sweep their dwelling, tend to their bodily
needs,
sit in quiet while applying themselves to attainment concentration, and then
they would, as they were inclined to, go on their alms round.
However, when they were together with the Blessed One they would not act in
that way.
Then the Blessed One, surrounded by the monks, would go on almsround first.
When the Buddha had gone, the venerable Sariputta would leave his lodging
and consider:
³When there are many monks in a dwelling place, not all of them may be able
to
make it agreeable.²
He would go around and sweep the places that had not been swept.
When there was rubbish that was not thrown away, he threw it away.
When there was no drinking water in the place where it should be set out, he
placed a pot with drinking water.
He went to visit the sick and asked:
"Friend, what shall I bring you, what do you wish?"

********