Dhammapada Verses with the Story

Following ..Dhammapada Verses with the Story... were Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A. & Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon, Burma, 1986.

Dhammapada Verse 213
Visakha Vatthu

Pemato jayati soko
pemato jayati bhayam
pemato vippamuttassa
natthi soko kuto bhayam.

Verse 213: Endearment begets sorrow, endearment begets fear. For him who is free from endearment there is no sorrow; how can there be fear for him?

Verse 213. Sorrow And Fear Arise Due To Loved Ones

From affection grief is born,
from affection fear,
one who is affection-free
has no grief - how fear?

Explanation: From affection sorrow arises. From affection fear arises. To one free of affection there is no sorrow. Therefore, how can there be fear for such a person?

The Story of Visakha

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (213) of this book, with reference to Visakha, the renowned donor of the Pubbarama monastery.

One day, a granddaughter of Visakha named Sudatta died and Visakha felt very deeply about her loss and was sorrowing over the child's death. So she went to the Buddha; when the Buddha saw her, he said, "Visakha, don't you realize that many people die in Savatthi every day? If you were to regard all of them as you regard your own grandchild you would have to be endlessly weeping and mourning. Let not the death of a child affect you too much. Sorrow and fear arise out of endearment."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 213: Endearment begets sorrow, endearment begets fear. For him who is free from endearment there is no sorrow; how can there be fear for him?