Mahavagga, Khandaka 6, Chapter 30

1. Now the courtezan Ambapālī heard that the Blessed One had arrived at Koṭigāma. And the courtezan Ambapālī ordered a number of magnificent vehicles to be made ready, mounted one of these vehicles, and left Vesālī with her magnificent vehicles in order to visit the Blessed One. She went in the carriage as far as the ground was passable for carriages; there she alighted; and she proceeded on foot to the place where the Blessed One was. Having approached him and respectfully saluted the Blessed One, she sat down near him.

2. When she was sitting near him, the Blessed One taught, incited, animated, and gladdened the courtezan Ambapālī by religious discourse. And the courtezan Ambapālī, having been taught, &c., by the Blessed One by religious discourse, said to the Blessed One: 'Might the Blessed One, Lord, consent to take his meal with me to-morrow together with the fraternity of Bhikkhus.'

The Blessed One expressed his consent by remaining silent.

Then the courtezan Ambapālī, when she understood that the Blessed One had accepted her invitation, rose from her seat, respectfully saluted the Blessed One, and, passing round him with her right side towards him, went away.

3. Now the Licchavis of Vesālī heard that the Blessed One had arrived at Koṭigāma. And the Licchavis of Vesālī ordered a number of magnificent vehicles to be made ready, mounted these vehicles, and left Vesālī with their magnificent vehicles in order to visit the Blessed One. Some of the Licchavis were dark, dark in colour, and wearing dark clothes and ornaments; some of them. were fair, fair in colour, and wearing light clothes and ornaments; some of them were red, ruddy in colour, and wearing red clothes and ornaments; some of them were white, pale in colour, and wearing white colours and ornaments. And the courtezan Ambapālī drove up against the young Licchavis, pole to pole, yoke to yoke, wheel to wheel, axle to axle. [4.] And those Licchavis said to the courtezan Ambapālī: 'How is it, Ambapālī, that you drive up against the young Licchavis, pole to pole, &c.?'

My Lords, I have just invited the Blessed One with the fraternity of Bhikkhus for their morrow's meal.'

'Ambapālī! give up this meal to us for a hundred thousand.'

'My Lords, were you to offer all Vesālī with its subject territory, I would not give up this meal.' Then the Licchavis snapped their fingers (exclaiming), 'We are outdone by this woman^[1]! we are out-reached by this woman^[1]!'

4. Then the Licchavis went to the place where the Blessed One was. And the Blessed One saw the Licchavis coming from afar; when he saw them, he addressed the Bhikkhus and said: 'O Bhikkhus, let those of the Bhikkhus who have never seen the Tāvatiṃsa gods, gaze upon this company of the Licchavis, behold this company of the Licchavis, compare this company of the Licchavis, even as a company of Tāvatiṃsa gods!' And the Licchavis went in the carriages as far as the ground was passable for carriages (&c., as in §§ 1, 2, down to:) 'Might the Blessed One, Lord, consent to take his meal with us to-morrow together with the fraternity of Bhikkhus.'

'I have promised, O Licchavis, to dine to-morrow with Ambapālī the courtezan.'

5. And the Blessed One, after having dwelt at Koṭigāma as long as he thought fit, went to Ñātikā. There the Blessed One dwelt at Ñātikā, in the Brick Hall (Giñjakāvasatha). And when the night had elapsed, the courtezan Ambapālī ordered in her park excellent food (&c., as in chap. 28. 10^[2], down to:) she sat down near him. Sitting near him the courtezan Ambapālī said to the Blessed One: 'I give up this Ambapālī grove, Lord, to the fraternity of Bhikkhus with the Buddha at its head.' The Blessed One accepted the Ārāma. Then the Blessed One, after having taught, incited, animated, and gladdened the courtezan Ambapālī by religious discourse, rose from his seat and went to the Mahāvana. There the Blessed One dwelt at Vesālī, in the Mahāvana, in the Kūṭāgāra-sālā.

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End of the Licchavi Bhāṇavāra.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ambakāya, which Buddhaghosa explains by itthikāya, comp. the well-known Mantra, Vājasaneyi Saṃhitā 23. 18: Ambe ambike ’mbālike, &c. Probably the word ambakā is a contemptuous form intended here at the same time to convey an allusion to the mango- (amba-) gardens which Ambapālī possessed, and from which she was named. Comp. Rh. D.'s note at Mahāparinibbāna Sutta II, 19.

[2]:

Replace 'the Magadha ministers Sunīdha and Vassakāra' by the courtezan Ambapālī,' and instead of 'Reverend Gotama,' read 'Lord.'