Good Deeds Bring Happiness
1 (11) The Story of Dhammika Upàsaka (Verse 16)
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Sàvatthi, the
Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Dhammika, a lay
disciple.
Once there lived in Sàvatthi, a lay disciple by the name
of Dhammika, who was virtuous and very fond of giving
charity. He generously offered food and other requisites to
the monks regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in
fact, the leader of five hundred virtuous lay disciples of the
Buddha who lived in Sàvatthi. Dhammika had seven sons
and seven daughters and all of them, like their father, were
virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was very
ill and was on his death-bed he made a request to the Sangha
to come to his bedside and recite the sacred texts. While the
monks were reciting the Mahàsatipaññhana Sutta, six deco-
rated chariots from six celestial worlds arrived to invite him
to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for a
while for fear of interrupting the recitation of the Sutta. The
monks, thinking that they were being asked to stop, stopped
and left the place.
A little while later, Dhammika told his children about
the six decorated chariots waiting for him. Then and there he
decided to choose the chariot from the Tusita world and asked
one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Accordingly
the children of the layman threw the wreath of flowers, and it
clung to the pole of the chariot and hung suspended in the air
The populace saw the wreath of flowers suspended in the air,
but did not see the chariot. Said Dhammika, “Do you see this
wreath of flowers?” “Yes, we see it.” “This wreath hangs sus-
pended from the chariot which came from the World of the
Tusita gods. I am going to the World of the Tusita gods; do not
be disturbed. If you desire to be reborn with me, do works of
merit even as I have done.” Then he passed away and was
reborn in the Tusita world. Thus, the virtuous man rejoices in
this world as well as in the next. When those monks reached
the Monastery, the Buddha asked them, “Monks, did the lay
disciple hear the Dhamma?” “Yes, Venerable. But in the midst
of the recitation he cried out, ‘Wait! Wait!’ and stopped us.
Then his sons and daughters began to weep, whereupon we
departed.” “Monks, he was not talking to you. From the Six
Worlds of the Gods six deities approached in six magnificently
adorned chariots, and they summoned that lay disciple to go
with them; but the lay disciple, unwilling that the Dhamma
should be interrupted, spoke to them.” Is that true, Venerable?”
“That is true, monks.” “Venerable, where was he reborn just
now?” In the World of the Tusita gods, monks.”
“Venerable, but recently he lived here among his kinsfolk
rejoicing, and just now he went again to a place of rejoicing
and was there reborn.” “Yes, monks. They that are heedful, be
they laymen or monks, rejoice in both places equally.”
Explanatory Translation (Verse 16)
katapu¤¤o idha modati pecca modati ubhayattha modati
so attano kamma visuddhiü disvà modati so pamodati
katapu¤¤o: he who has done good deeds; idha: in this
world itself; modati: rejoices; pecca: in the life after; modati:
rejoices; ubhayattha: in both worlds; modati: (he) rejoices;
so: he; attano: his own; kamma visuddhiü: purity of actions;
disvà: having seen; modati: rejoices; so: he; pamodati: is
thoroughly joyous.
A wise person does good deeds. Having done those good
deeds he rejoices here in this world. He rejoices in the life
after as well. Seeing the purity of his virtuous actions, he
rejoices. He is thoroughly joyous seeing the goodness of his
deeds.
Commentary
katapu¤¤o: Dhammika was in great joy in his death bed because he
had accumulated a great amount of good deeds during his lifetime.
An individual who can look upon a lifetime of virtuous conduct and,
in consequence, can look forward to a birth after death in a pleasant
state can be described as a Katapu¤¤o.
modati: rejoices. This is a state of mind of a person who has accumu-
lated a lifetime of good conduct. He can feel a sense of joy at the end
of his life as Lay Disciple Dhammika in this stanza.
1 (11) The Story of Dhammika Upàsaka (Verse 16)
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Sàvatthi, the
Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Dhammika, a lay
disciple.
Once there lived in Sàvatthi, a lay disciple by the name
of Dhammika, who was virtuous and very fond of giving
charity. He generously offered food and other requisites to
the monks regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in
fact, the leader of five hundred virtuous lay disciples of the
Buddha who lived in Sàvatthi. Dhammika had seven sons
and seven daughters and all of them, like their father, were
virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was very
ill and was on his death-bed he made a request to the Sangha
to come to his bedside and recite the sacred texts. While the
monks were reciting the Mahàsatipaññhana Sutta, six deco-
rated chariots from six celestial worlds arrived to invite him
to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for a
while for fear of interrupting the recitation of the Sutta. The
monks, thinking that they were being asked to stop, stopped
and left the place.
A little while later, Dhammika told his children about
the six decorated chariots waiting for him. Then and there he
decided to choose the chariot from the Tusita world and asked
one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Accordingly
the children of the layman threw the wreath of flowers, and it
clung to the pole of the chariot and hung suspended in the air
The populace saw the wreath of flowers suspended in the air,
but did not see the chariot. Said Dhammika, “Do you see this
wreath of flowers?” “Yes, we see it.” “This wreath hangs sus-
pended from the chariot which came from the World of the
Tusita gods. I am going to the World of the Tusita gods; do not
be disturbed. If you desire to be reborn with me, do works of
merit even as I have done.” Then he passed away and was
reborn in the Tusita world. Thus, the virtuous man rejoices in
this world as well as in the next. When those monks reached
the Monastery, the Buddha asked them, “Monks, did the lay
disciple hear the Dhamma?” “Yes, Venerable. But in the midst
of the recitation he cried out, ‘Wait! Wait!’ and stopped us.
Then his sons and daughters began to weep, whereupon we
departed.” “Monks, he was not talking to you. From the Six
Worlds of the Gods six deities approached in six magnificently
adorned chariots, and they summoned that lay disciple to go
with them; but the lay disciple, unwilling that the Dhamma
should be interrupted, spoke to them.” Is that true, Venerable?”
“That is true, monks.” “Venerable, where was he reborn just
now?” In the World of the Tusita gods, monks.”
“Venerable, but recently he lived here among his kinsfolk
rejoicing, and just now he went again to a place of rejoicing
and was there reborn.” “Yes, monks. They that are heedful, be
they laymen or monks, rejoice in both places equally.”
Explanatory Translation (Verse 16)
katapu¤¤o idha modati pecca modati ubhayattha modati
so attano kamma visuddhiü disvà modati so pamodati
katapu¤¤o: he who has done good deeds; idha: in this
world itself; modati: rejoices; pecca: in the life after; modati:
rejoices; ubhayattha: in both worlds; modati: (he) rejoices;
so: he; attano: his own; kamma visuddhiü: purity of actions;
disvà: having seen; modati: rejoices; so: he; pamodati: is
thoroughly joyous.
A wise person does good deeds. Having done those good
deeds he rejoices here in this world. He rejoices in the life
after as well. Seeing the purity of his virtuous actions, he
rejoices. He is thoroughly joyous seeing the goodness of his
deeds.
Commentary
katapu¤¤o: Dhammika was in great joy in his death bed because he
had accumulated a great amount of good deeds during his lifetime.
An individual who can look upon a lifetime of virtuous conduct and,
in consequence, can look forward to a birth after death in a pleasant
state can be described as a Katapu¤¤o.
modati: rejoices. This is a state of mind of a person who has accumu-
lated a lifetime of good conduct. He can feel a sense of joy at the end
of his life as Lay Disciple Dhammika in this stanza.
