Biography (4): Kāḷavaḷiya, the Rich Man

A brief account of Kāḷavaḷiya, the Rich Man, is found in Commentary on the Uparipaṇṇāsa which is reproduced here.

During the time of Buddha Gotama, there lived in Rājagaha a poor man by the name of Kāḷavaḷiya. One day, his wife had cooked a meal of sour gruel mixed with some edible leaves, (for rice was not within their means). On that day, the Venerable Mahā Kassapa, rising from dwelling in the attainment of Cessation, reviewed the world, contemplating on whom he should bring his blessing. He saw Kāḷavaḷiya in his supernormal vision and went to his door for alms-food.

Kāḷavaḷiya’s wife took the alms-bowl of Venerable Mahā Kassapa and emptied her cooking pot into it. She offered her poor meal of sour gruel mixed with edible leaves to the Venerable, without keeping back anything for themselves - an offering at one’s own sacrifice (niravasesa dāna). The Venerable Mahā Kassapa went back to the monastery and offered the gruel to the Buddha. The Buddha accepted just a portion of it, with which to satisfy himself and gave the remainder to the five hundred bhikkhus who had enough to eat for that meal. Kāḷavaḷiya happened to be at the Buddha’s monastery to beg for the gruel.

The Venerable Mahā Kassapa asked the Buddha as to the benefit that would result to Kāḷavaḷiya on account of the brave deed of sacrificing the food completely. And the Buddha said: “Seven days hence Kāḷavaḷiya will get the white umbrella of the Treasurer’s office, i.e. he will be made a Royal Treasurer by the King.” Kāḷavaḷiya heard these words of the Buddha and hastened home to tell his wife about it.

At that time, King Bimbisāra was on his inspection round and he saw a criminal tied on a stake outside the city. The man impudently said to the King in a loud voice: “Great King, I would request that a meal, which was prepared for Your Majesty, be sent to me.” The King replied: “Ah, yes, I would.” When dinner was being brought to to the King, he remembered his promise to the criminal on the stake and ordered the officials concerned to find someone who would send his dinner to the criminal on the stake outside the city.

The outside of the city of Rājagaha was infested with demons so that very few people dared to go out of the city by night. The officials went around the city announcing that a thousand ticals would be awarded on the spot to anyone who would take the King’s meal to a criminal on the stake outside the city. No one came out at the first round of announcement (with the beating of the gong); and the second round also was fruitless. But at the third round, Kāḷavaḷiya’s wife accepted the offer of a thousand ticals.

She was brought before the King as the person undertaking the King’s mission. She disguised herself as a man and wielded five kinds of weapons. As she fearlessly went out of the city carrying the King’s meal, she was accosted by the Dīghatāla, guardian spirit of a palm tree who said: “Stop there, stop! You are now my food.” But Kāḷavaḷiya’s wife was not afraid and said: “I am not your food. I am the King’s messenger.”

“Where are you going?”

“I am going to the criminal on the stake.”

“Could you convey a message for me?”

“Yes, I could.”

“If so, cry aloud all along your way this message: ‘Kāḷī, daughter of Sumaṇa, the chief of celestial devas, wife of Dīghatāla, has given birth to a son!’ There are seven pots full of gold at the root of this Palmyra tree. Take them as your fee.”

The brave woman went her way crying aloud the message: “Kālī, daughter of Sumaṇa, the chief of celestial devas, wife of Dīghatāla, has given birth to a son!” Sumaṇa, the chief of celestial devas heard her cry while presiding over a meeting of celestial devas and said to his assistants: “There is a human being bringing happy tiding. Bring him here.” And so she was brought before Sumana who thanked her and said: “There are pots full of gold underneath the shade (at noon) of the big tree. I give them all to you.”

She went to the criminal on the stake, who had to be fed with her hand. After taking his meal, when his mouth was wiped clean by the woman, he felt the feminine touch and bit her knotted hair so as not to let her go. The woman being courageous, had presence of mind, she cut the hair-knot with her sword and freed herself.

She reported to the King that she had fulfilled her task. “What proof can you show that you have actually fed that man?” asked the King. “My hair-knot in the mouth of that villain should be sufficient proof. But I have further proof too,” replied Kāḷavaḷiya’s wife and related her meeting with Dīghatāla and Sumaṇa. The King ordered the pots of gold described by her to be dug up. All were found. Kāḷavaḷiya couple became very rich at once. “Is there anyone as wealthy as Kāḷavaḷiya?” inquired the King. The ministers said: “There is none, great King.” So the King appointed him as Treasurer of Sāvatthi and gave him all the paraphernalia, seal and title of office.

Here ends The Great Chronicle of the Buddhas.

Dated: the 13th waxing day of the 1st Wazo, 1331 M.E. (1969 A.D)
Completed at 11:00 am

U Vicittasārābhivamsa
Dhammanāda Monastery Mingun Hill