14. And Cunda the metalworker came to know: "The Blessed One, they say, has arrived at Pava, and is staying in my Mango Grove." And he went to the Blessed One, and having respectfully greeted him, sat down at one side. And the Blessed One instructed Cunda the metalworker in the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened him.
15. Then Cunda spoke to the Blessed One, saying: "May the Blessed One, O Lord, please accept my invitation for tomorrow's meal, together with the community of bhikkhus." And by his silence the Blessed One consented.
16. Sure, then, of the Blessed One's consent, Cunda the metalworker rose from his seat, respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and keeping his right side towards him, took his departure.
17. And Cunda the metalworker, after the night had passed, had choice food, hard and soft, prepared in his abode, together with a quantity of Sukara-Maddava, (n16) and announced it to the Blessed One, saying: "It is time, O Lord, the meal is ready."
(n16) Sukara-Maddava, SukaraMaddava,
Sukara = pig, boar, hog,
Maddava = soft, tender, delicate.
Hence two alternative renderings of the compound are possible:
(1) the tender parts of a pig or boar;
(2) what is enjoyed by pigs and boars. In the latter meaning, the term has been thought to refer to a mushroom or truffle, or a yam or tuber. K.E. Neumann, in the preface to his German translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, quotes from an Indian compendium of medicinal plants, the Rajanigantu, several plants beginning with sukara.
The commentary to our text gives three alternative explanations:
(1) the flesh from a single first-born (wild) pig, neither too young nor too old, which had come to hand naturally, i.e. without intentional killing;
(2) a preparation of soft boiled rice cooked with the five cow-products;
(3) a kind of alchemistic elixir (rasayanavidhi). Dhammapala, in his commentary to Udana VIII.5, gives, in addition, young bamboo shoots trampled by pigs (sukarehi maddita-vamsakaliro).
17. And Cunda the metalworker, after the night had passed, had choice food, hard and soft, prepared in his abode, together with a quantity of sukara-maddava, [n38] and announced it to the Blessed One, saying: "It is time, O Lord, the meal is ready."
18. Thereupon the Blessed One, in the forenoon, having got ready, took bowl and robe and went with the community of bhikkhus to the house of Cunda, and there sat down on the seat prepared for him. And he spoke to Cunda, saying: "With the Sukara-Maddava you have prepared, Cunda, you may serve me; with the other food, hard and soft, you may serve the community of bhikkhus."
"So be it, Lord." And with the Sukara-Maddava prepared by him, he served the Blessed One; and with the other food, hard and soft, he served the community of bhikkhus.
19. Thereafter the Blessed One spoke to Cunda, saying: "Whatever, Cunda, is left over of the sukara-maddava, bury that in a pit. For I do not see in all this world, with its gods, Maras, and Brahmas, among the host of ascetics and brahmins, gods and men, anyone who could eat it and entirely digest it except the Tathagata alone."
And Cunda the metalworker answered the Blessed One saying: "So be it, O Lord."And what remained over of the sukara-maddava he buried in a pit.
20. Then he returned to the Blessed One, respectfully greeted him, and sat down at one side. And the Blessed One instructed Cunda the metalworker in the Dhamma, and roused, edified, and gladdened him. After this he rose from his seat and departed.
21. And soon after the Blessed One had eaten the meal provided by Cunda the metalworker, a dire sickness fell upon him, even dysentery, and he suffered sharp and deadly pains. But the Blessed One endured them mindfully, clearly comprehending and unperturbed.
22. Then the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable ânanda, saying: "Come, ânanda, let us go to Kusinara." And the Venerable ânanda answered: "So be it, Lord."
23. When he had eaten Cunda's food, I heard,
With fortitude the deadly pains he bore.
From the Sukara-Maddava a sore
And dreadful sickness came upon the Lord.
But nature's pangs he endured. "Come, let us go
To Kusinara," was his dauntless word. [n39]
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Digha nikaya, Index, Table,
Volume 1,
1 Brahmajàla Sutta
2 Sàma¤¤aphala Sutta
3 Ambaññha Sutta
4 Soõadaõóa Sutta
5 Kåñadanta Sutta
6 Mahàli Sutta
7 Jàliya Sutta
8 Kassapa Sãhanàda Sutta
9 Poññhapàda Sutta
10 Subha Sutta
11 Kevaóóha Sutta
12 Lohicca Sutta
13 Tevijja Sutta
Volume 2,
14 Mahàpadàna Sutta
15 Mahànidàna Sutta
Related meat,
16 Mahà Parinibbàna Sutta Pali Eng (2) (3) Sinhala