The Story of Sāmaṇera Sangharakkhita

Sāmaṇera Sangharakkhita (nephew of Venerable Mahānāga) was a remarkable sāmaṇera who attained arahatta-phala even while his head was being shaved at the time of entering into the Order of Bhikkhus. He reflected whether, there had appeared before, any bhikkhus who could cause the Vejayanta mansion of Sakka to shake, and seeing none, he attempted at it. But he could not do it. Seeing his attempt fail, the deva maidens who belonged to the group of dancers at Sakka’s palace ridiculed him. “Son, you are too young to try to do such a feat; this Vejayanta mansion is too strong for you,” they said to him.

Sāmaṇera Sangharakkhita bethought himself: “I am being ridiculed by these celestial maidens because I lack proper instruction from a teacher.” And so, he considered where his preceptor the Venerable Sāmuddika Mahānāga could be found, and knowing that the latter was spending the day in a cave underneath the great ocean, he went there and stood in worshipping posture before the bhikkhu-elder.

“So you had failed to shake the Vejayanta mansion because you joined battle even before you learned how to fight,” said the elder.

“Venerable Sir, I have not received any instructions from an able teacher,” the Sāmaṇera said.

“Son, if such a person of psychic power as yourself cannot shake the Vejayanta mansion, who else could? Now, then, you have seen some dried piece of cow dung floating along the surface of water, haven't you? And remember, son, how the pan-cake maker retrieves her pancake from the frying pan by tearing off its edges first. Mark this example.” These were the elliptical words from the teacher.

“That will do, Venerable Sir,” the Sāmaṇera said.

Then he made the wish: “Let the Vejayanta mansion be surrounded by water.” And the Sāmaṇera went to where the Vejayanta mansion stood. On seeing him return, the celestial maidens remarked: “Here he comes round again, not satisfied with his disgrace. Yes, he is here again!”

When Sakka heard them, he said to them: “Do not ridicule my son. He has received instruction from an able teacher. He will shake the mansion now.” Sāmaṇera Sangharakkhita then touched the outside beam of the Vejayanta mansion with his big toe.

The mansion swayed in all the four directions, sideways as well as back and forth. Thereupon the deva maidens cried: “Son, please stop! Leave the great mansion alone!”

Sāmaṇera Sangharakkhita then let the Vejayanta mansion stand in its place, and standing above it, uttered the following three verses in ecstatic joy:

“Just today I have become a bhikkhu. I have today attained arahatship even as my head was being shaved. And today, I have been able to shake Sakka’s mansion, (having received instruction from my teacher.) Excellent and marvellous indeed is the Buddha, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. Excellent and marvellous indeed is the Dhamma, that truly leads to emancipation. Excellent and marvellous indeed is the Sangha, the true ariyas!”

(Three verses rendered combinedly).