Buddhist Dhammapadha the marriage proposal to the Buddha Magandiya

Chapter XIV - BUDDHA VAGGA - The Buddha

THE BUDDHA CANNOT BE FATHOMED

THE BUDDHA CANNOT BE FATHOMED

Yassa jitam n' avajiyati jitamassa no yati koci loke
Tam Buddham ananta gocaram apadam kena padena nessatha. [179]

THE BUDDHA IS PASSIONLESS

Yassa jalini visattika tanha natthi kuhinci netave
Tam buddham ananta gocaram apadam kena padena nessatha. [180]

Whose conquest (of passion) is not turned into defeat,¹ not conquered (passion) of his in this world follows him ² that trackless³ Buddha of infinite range,⁴ by which way will you trace him [179]

Him in whom there is not that entangling,⁵ embroiling craving to lead (to any life), him the trackless Buddha of infinite range, by which way will you trace him? ⁶[180]

XIV: 01 The marriage proposal to the Buddha (Magandiya)

Magandiya the brahmin and his wife lived in the kingdom of the Kurus with their beautiful daughter who was also named Magandiya. She was very beautiful and her father turned down all her suitors, saying they were not good enough for her. One day, early in the morning, the Buddha through his vision knew that the time was ripe for the brahmin Magandiya and his wife to attain Anagami (the third stage of Sainthood). So the Buddha set out to meet Magandiya at the place where the brahmin usually went to offer fire sacrifice.

The brahmin, on seeing the Buddha, promptly decided that he was the very person who was worthy of his daughter. He pleaded with him to wait there and hurriedly went off to fetch his wife and daughter. The Buddha left his footprint and went to another place nearby. When the brahmin and his family came, they found only the footprint. Seeing the footprint, the wife of the brahmin remarked that it was the footprint of one who was free from sensual desires. Undaunted, the brahmin managed to find the Buddha and offered his daughter in marriage to him.

The Buddha replied that he was not interested in the offer. Then, he related to the brahmin how the most beautiful daughters of Mara had tried to tempt him soon after his attainment of Buddhahood. He further said, 'It is no use trying to tempt one who is free from craving, clinging and passion, for he cannot be lured by any temptation whatsoever.'

Then, the Buddha continued, 'Brahmin Magandiya, even when I saw those peerless daughters of Mara, I felt no sensual desire in me. After all what is this body of your daughter? I have no interest even to touch her.' On hearing those words of the Buddha, both the brahmin and his wife realised the meaning and were established in the Dhamma. Later, they joined the Order and eventually both of them attained Sainthood. However, Magandiya the daughter felt insulted by the Buddha's remark and vowed to take revenge on the Enlightened One.

Notes:

As the Buddha had eradicated all passions of lust, hatred, and delusion they could not arise in him any more. His spiritual victory was unconquerable.

Because the eradicated passions do not arise again.

Since the Buddha is devoid of the tracks (pada) of lust, hatred, and delusion.

Being omniscient.

Of lust, hatred, and delusion.

Nessatha = will lead to temptation by bringing under the sway of the tempters.