And He Guides His Brother, Nanda

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi, in Jetas Grove, Anathapindikas monastery. Now at that time Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed Ones brother, son of his maternal aunt -- told a large number of monks, "I dont enjoy leading the holy life, my friends. I cant endure the holy life. Giving up the training, I will return to the common life."

Then a certain monk went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he told the Blessed One: "Lord, Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed Ones brother, son of his maternal aunt -- has told a large number of monks, I dont enjoy leading the holy life, my friends. I cant endure the holy life. Giving up the training, I will return to the common life."

Then the Blessed One told a certain monk, "Come, monk. In my name, call Nanda, saying, The Teacher calls you, my friend."

"As you say, lord," the monk answered and, having gone to Ven. Nanda, on arrival he said, "The Teacher calls you, my friend."

"As you say, my friend," Ven. Nanda replied. Then he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, the Blessed One said to him, "Is it true, Nanda, that you have told a large number of monks, I dont enjoy leading the holy life, my friends. I cant endure the holy life. Giving up the training, I will return to the common life.?"

"Yes, lord."

"But why, Nanda, dont you enjoy leading the holy life?"

"Lord, as I was leaving home, a Sakyan girl -- the envy of the countryside -- glanced up at me, with her hair half combed, and said, Hurry back, master. Recollecting that, I dont enjoy leading the holy life. I cant endure the holy life. Giving up the training, I will return to the common life."

Then, taking Ven. Nanda by the arm -- as a strong man might flex his extended arm or extend his flexed arm -- the Blessed One disappeared from Jetas Grove and reappeared among the devas of the Tavatimsa Heaven. Now at that time about 500 dove footed nymphs had come to wait upon Sakka, the ruler of devas. And the Blessed One said to Ven. Nanda, "Nanda, do you see those 500 dove footed nymphs?"

"Yes, lord."

"What do you think, Nanda: Which is lovelier, better looking, more charming -- the Sakyan girl, the envy of the countryside, or these 500 dove footed nymphs?"

"Lord, compared to these 500 dove footed nymphs, the Sakyan girl, the envy of the countryside, is like a cauterized monkey with its ears and nose cut off. She doesnt count. Shes not even a small fraction. Theres no comparison. The 500 dove footed nymphs are lovelier, better looking, more charming."

"Then take joy, Nanda. Take joy! I am your guarantee for getting 500 dove footed nymphs."

"If the Blessed One is my guarantee for getting 500 dove footed nymphs, I will enjoy leading the holy life under the Blessed One."

Then, taking Ven. Nanda by the arm -- as a strong man might flex his extended arm or extend his flexed arm -- the Blessed One disappeared from among the devas of the Tavatimsa Heaven and reappeared in Jetas Grove. The monks heard, "They say that Ven. Nanda -- the Blessed Ones brother, son of his maternal aunt -- is leading the holy life for the sake of nymphs. They say that the Blessed One is his guarantee for getting 500 dove footed nymphs."

Then the monks who were friends of Ven. Nanda went around addressing him as they would a hired hand and a dealer: "Our friend Nanda, they say, is a hired hand. Our friend Nanda, they say, is a dealer. Hes leading the holy life for the sake of nymphs. The Blessed One is his guarantee for getting 500 dove footed nymphs."

Then Ven. Nanda -- humiliated, ashamed, and disgusted that the monks who were his friends were addressing him as they would a hired hand and a dealer -- went to dwell alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, and resolute. He in no long time entered and remained in the supreme goal of the holy life for which clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing and realizing it for himself in the here and now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And thus Ven. Nanda became another one of the arahants.

[Ud 3.2]