The Life Stories of the Male Lay Disciples – 2204 

 

 

The Buddha said: “Good, good, monastic. Anyone who could answer your 
questions well should be given these very answers that Uggata the householder 
did. Monastic, I say that Uggata the householder is endowed with those eight 
extraordinary qualities that are marvellous. Monastics, note that Uggata the 
householder has these very eight marvellous qualities that he told you.” 

In the Collection of the Numerical Discourses (

Aṅguttara-nikāya

) 

discourses both the above two householders are called “Ugga.” Here we 
are leaning on the Collection of the Numerical Discourses (

Aṅguttara-

nikāya

)

 

about the foremost disciples in calling the householder of 

Hatthigāma, Uggata, in contradistinction to Ugga, the householder of 
Vesālī. Since the noble and rare attributes of these two householders 
inspire devotion, these notes are somewhat more than summarized 
statements. 

8. Sūrambaṭṭha the Householder 

Aspiration in the Past 

The future Sūrambaṭṭha the householder was born into a worthy family in the 
city of Haṁsavatī, during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. While listening to a 
discourse by the Buddha, he saw a lay disciple being named by the Buddha as the 
foremost lay disciple who had firm conviction in the teaching. He aspired to that 
distinction, and, after making an extraordinary offering, he expressed his wish 
that at some future existence his aspiration would be fulfilled. 

Discipleship in His Last Existence 

The future Sūrambaṭṭha was reborn in the Deva or human realms for 100,000 
aeons before being reborn into a rich man’s family of Sāvatthī, during the time 
of 

[1443]

 Buddha Gotama. His name was Sūrambaṭṭha. When he came of age, he 

married and became a regular lay supporter of ascetics who were outside the 
Buddha’s teaching. 

Early one morning, the Buddha, in his routine review of the world for 
individuals who were ready for Awakening, saw the ripeness of the past merit of 
Sūrambaṭṭha the householder to gain Stream-entry (

Sotāpatti-magga

). So, he 

went to Sūrambaṭṭha’s house for alms food. Sūrambaṭṭha thought to himself: 
“Ascetic Gotama comes from a royal family and has earned a vast reputation in 
the world. Perhaps, it is only proper for me to welcome him.” Thinking thus, he