Rouse yourself, be diligent,
in Dhamma faring well.
Who dwells in Dhamma’s happy
in this birth and the next.
Explanation: Wake up to reality; do not be delude. Live in accordance with reality. The realistic person lives happily in this world and in the next.
The Story of King Suddhodana (Verses 168 & 169)
While residing at the Banyan Grove, the Buddha spoke these verses, with reference to his own father.
For a certain time the Buddha made his first journey to the city of Kapila, and when he arrived there, his kinsmen came forth to meet him and to greet him. On that occasion, in order to break the overwhelming pride of his kinsfolk, he created by supernormal psychic power a cloister of jewels in midair, and in this cloister walked up and down preaching the Dhamma. The hearts of his kinsfolk were straightaway endowed with faith, and beginning with the great king Suddhodana, all did reverence to him. Thereupon there fell upon the assemblage of his kinsfolk a shower of rain, with reference to which there arose a discussion among the multitude. Said the Buddha, “Monks, this is not the first time a shower of rain has fallen upon an assemblage of my kinsfolk: the same thing happened in a previous state of existence also.” So saying, he related the Vessantara Jataka. Having heard him preach the Dhamma, his kinsfolk departed, not even one extending an invitation to the Buddha. Likewise, the king, although the thought occurred to him, If my son does not come to my house, where will he go?”, went home without inviting him. When he reached the royal residence, however, he caused rice-gruel and other kinds of food to be prepared for twenty thousand monks, and likewise seats to be provided for them.
On the following day, as the Buddha entered the city to receive alms, he considered within himself, “Did the Buddhas of the past, upon entering the city of their father, straightaway enter the house of their kinsfolk, or did they go from house to house in regular order receiving alms?” Perceiving that they always went from house to house, the Buddha, likewise, began at the first house and went from house to house receiving alms. They brought word of this to the king. The king went quickly out of his residence, adjusting his cloak as he went, and prostrating himself before the Buddha, said, “Son, why do you mortify me? I am overwhelmed with shame to see you going from house to house receiving alms. In this very city where you used to go in a golden carriage it would be improper for you to go from house to house in a golden litter receiving alms. Why do you put me to shame?” “Great king, I am not putting you to shame: I am merely keeping up the tradition of my lineage.” “But, my dear son, is it a tradition of my lineage to gain a livelihood by going from house to house receiving alms?” “No, great king, that is not a tradition of your lineage. But it is a tradition of my lineage, for countless thousands of Buddhas have gone from house to house receiving alms, and have so gained their sustenance.”