The Life Stories of the Monks – 1928 

 

 

Hence he was the foremost monastic in the degree of devotion to the 
Buddha. 

[1277]

 

20-21. Ven. Rāhula and Ven. Raṭṭhapāla 

Aspiration in the Past 

During the early part of the aeon of Buddha Padumuttara, the future Rāhula and 
the future Raṭṭhapāla were born into well-to-do families in Haṁsavatī, however 
their names and clans are not mentioned in the old commentaries. 

When they came of age, they married and at the death of their fathers, they 
became heads of their respective households. In taking over the family 
properties from the custodians of their family estates, they came to know the 
immense wealth they had inherited. They pondered: “Our forbears have 
amassed these vast fortunes but have not been able to take them along when they 
left the present existence. As for us, we would take them along into the hereafter 
in whatever way we can. So they started to practise generosity. They erected 
distribution stations at the four gates of the city, where all the needs of destitute 
and travellers were provided liberally. 

Of the two friends, one was in the habit of inquiring into the needs of the 
recipients who came to receive his generosity and would give according to their 
needs, and he was therefore known as Āgatapāka, “the discriminative giver.” 
The other never asked about the needs of the recipient but let them take 
however much they wanted, and hence he was known as Anaggapāka, “the 
liberal giver.” 

One early morning, the two friends went out from their village to wash their 
faces. At that time, two recluses, using their supernormal powers, disappeared 
from the Himavanta mountains and reappeared at a place not far away from the 
two friends. They made themselves invisible and stood by the roadside and were 
visible only when they were heading to the village with their alms bowls and 
other vessels seeking for alms. The two friends went near and paid homage to 
the recluses, who asked them: “Men of great merit, when did you come here?” 
And the two friends replied: “Venerable sirs, we have just arrived.” Then they 
each invited a recluse to their respective homes, offered them alms food, after 
which they asked and received the promise from the recluses to receive their 
offerings every day thenceforth.