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 The Story Of Little Sumana
My dear daughter & My dear son,

Sumana Samanera about whom we are going to speak now got

ordained by Arahant Anuruddha. At that time Sumana Samanera’s
age was seven years. He attained Arahanthood (Enlightenment)
while his head was being shaved before ordaining.

A few days after becoming a monk he went along with Arahant

Anuruddha by air to a monastery in the Himalayas to see Lord
Buddha. At that time Arahant Anuruddha was suffering from a
stomach ache. He was suffering a lot due to this illness.
Sumana Samanera asked “Venerable Sir, you seem to be
experiencing a lot of pain. Are you not well?”

“Oh my Child, I have a stomach ailment. The pain is due to

that”. Sumana Samanera then asked “What will cure it?” Arahant
Anuruddha replied “It will get cured if I drink some water from
'Anawatapta' Lake”.

Sumana Samanera said, “Then Sir, I will go immediately to Lake

Anavatapta and bring water”. Arahant Anuruddha asked “Can you?”
“Yes” replied Sumana Samanera.

Arahant Anuruddha said, “But You little monk, Think of this.

There is a giant cobra called “Pantaka” protecting the Anavatapta
Lake. He is the owner of the Lake. He may not refuse to give you
water when you mention that it is for a medicinal purpose”.
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 Arahant Anuruddha granted permission to Sumana Samanera
after saying so.

Although Sumana Samanera was only seven years he

possessed a lot of psychic powers. He had performed a lot of
meritorious deeds in previous births. He took leave of Arahant
Anuruddha, sprang into the air and travelled about twelve thousand
kilometers.

That day, the cobra king Pantaka was waiting near the Lake
Anawatapta with a group wishing to bathe. He saw Sumana
Samanera coming towards the Lake.

Immediately a malicious thought arose in the mind of the

cobra king. He went to Sumana Samanera and asked him angrily
“Why have you come?”

“I have come to take some water from Lake Anavatapta”. When

Sumana Samanera said so the cobra king got into the form of a giant
cobra and covered the Lake with his hood and said “Will not give
you water. Take if you can”

Then Sumana Samanera said “Do not get angry cobra king. I
came about 12,000 kilometers in search of your Lake to take a pot
of water for a medicine. It is for an ailment of my tutor”.

The cobra king then said “Oh little monk, what are you talking?
Is water available in my Lake only? There is water in the River
Ganges which flows into the sea. Go there and take a pot of water.
You may even take two”.
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 Little Bhikkhu Sumana pleaded again “Oh cobra king, my tutor
is suffering from an acute stomach ache. He is experiencing a big
pain. Only the water from Lake Anavatapta is said to cure it.
Without getting angry please give me a pot of water”

But cobra king did not agree to give a pot of water. “Oh Little
Monk, I presume you are strong. I am happy about it. But as I do not
like to give water you cannot take even a drop of water. Take if you
can” he said with displeasure.

Idea of defeating the cobra king and taking water entered

Sumana Samanera’s mind.

“If so, is it all right if I take water against your will?”

“All right, Take if you can” said the cobra king.

Sumana Samanera thought “It is not fitting for me to take

water secretly. I must let many people realize the power of Lord
Buddha's Disciples and take water”.

Brahmas in Brahma worlds and angels in heavens were

watching this altercation. They discussed “There is a big argument
taking place today between two strong people near the Anavatapta
Lake”.

Some deities said “We are not worried about the Argument.
Let us see who wins”.

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 As soon as the cobra king said “Take if you can”, Sumana
Samanera squeezed the hood of the cobra king and held it under
the water. A fountain of water emerged and rose to the air from the
hood of the cobra king which was held under water. Sumana
Samanera while standing on the head of the cobra king filled the
pot with water which rose to the air.

Gods and Brahmas who saw this amazing feat of the small
Monk were happy and applauded by saying
"Sadhu...Sadhu...Sadhu...".

The cobra king heard the applause of the gods and Brahmas on
being defeated by Little Monk Sumana who possessed much psychic
powers. He felt ashamed. At the same time he developed an angry
feeling towards Bhikkhu Sumana.

Venereble Sumana having filled the pot with water from Lake
Anavatapta sprang into the air and went to Arahant Anuruddha. He
offered the water and said “Sir, I have brought the water. Please
drink it”.

The cobra king could not bear the Shame. He followed Bhikkhu
Sumana but could not catch up with him. Therefore he went to
Arahant Anuruddha and said “This Samanera brought water without
my consent. He took it by harassing me and putting me to shame.
Therefore that water is not appropriate for you to drink”.

Then Arahant Anuruddha summoned Little Sumana and asked

“Little Monk Sumana, is this cobra king saying the truth?”

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 Then Sumana Samanera said “Sir, this cobra king uttered only
unwanted things. He asked me to take water from Ganges which
flowed into the sea. He said he will not give even one drop of water
from Lake Anavatapta.

I pleaded with him two or tree times. He said “Take if you can”
three times. Therefore I brought the water I did not take water by
force. The cobra king is uttering a lie. As such water is not
unsuitable. Because it is suitable please drink it”.

Arahant Anuruddha knows that Arahants do not utter

falsehoods and therefore he drank the water. His illness got cured.

He then turned towards the cobra king and advised him “Oh
cobra king, Although Sumana is young he has immense psychic
powers. You cannot even approach that level. If you have any ill will
towards him please get rid of it. Please beg his pardon”.

The cobra king’s anger got extinguished after hearing Arahant

Anuruddha’s words. He worshipped Sumana Samanera and got his
pardon.

He promised “If you want water from Lake Anavatapta again

please do not trouble yourself. Send me a message and I will bring
the water”. He then went away.

At this time Lord Buddha was residing in 'Poorvarama'

constructed by the devotee Visakha. Arahant Anuruddha set off
with Sumana Samanera to see Lord Buddha.

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 One of the Bhikkhus who was at Poorvarama took the robes
and begging bowl from Arahant Anuruddha and attended to him.

A Samanera (novice Bhikkhu) who did not know of the powers

of Sumana Samanera held him by the hand and shook his head.
Pulled his ear. Said things like “How are you, Samanera kid….. Are
you devoted to the Sasana…..? Don’t you find it difficult to sleep
because you fast at night?” and harassed him.

Lord Buddha became aware of this situation through his divine

eye.

He thought “What this Bhikkhu has done is not correct. He

handles this Samanera like handling a venomous serpent. He does
not know his powers. To prevent such humiliating events in future it
is necessary to make the other Bhikkhus aware of his powers”.

Arahant Anuruddha worshipped Lord Buddha and sat on a side.

While engaged in discussing Dhamma with Arahant Anuruddha Lord
Buddha addressed Ananda Thero.

“Oh Ananda, I wish to wash my feet with water from Lake

Anavatapta. Give pots to the Samaneras and ask them to bring
water from that Lake."

As instructed by Lord Buddha Ananda Thero summoned the

five hundred odd Samaneras who were residing in Poorvarama.

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 Sumana Samanera was among this crowd. Ananda Thero asked
the Samaneras to fall into a line and addressed them one by one.

“Oh Samanera, Lord Buddha wishes to wash his feet with the
water from Lake Anavatapta. Fetch a pot of water from there”.

The first Samanera said it was impossible. The second

Samanera said it was not possible. Third also said the same thing.
Like that all except Sumana Samanera who was the last in the line
mentioned that it was impossible.

When the turn of Sumana Samanera came, he said “It is not

correct to say impossible when water is required to wash Lord
Buddha’s feet. I shall bring water”.

He worshipped Lord Buddha, took his permission and sprang

into the air with a pot made of gold.

The cobra king Pantaka saw Sumana Samanera coming at a

distance and recognized him. He went forward, took the pot from
him, filled it with water from the Lake and said “Sir, you proceed I
will follow you with the pot of water”.

“Oh cobra king, it is not proper to do so. This water is taken on

the orders of Lord Buddha. Therefore the water should be carried by
me”.

He let the cobra king remain behind, took the pot of water,
sprang to the air and arrived at Poorvarama.

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 Lord Buddaha saw Sumana Samanera arriving by air and
addressed the other Bhikkhus.

“Oh monks, see the majesty of Sumana Samanera bringing a

pot of water from Lake Anavatapta. It is like the beauty of a golden
Swan”.

Sumana Samanera worshipped Lord Buddha and paid homage.

Lord Buddha wanted to indicate to the other Bhikkhus the

status of Sumana Samanera and inquired “Oh Sumana Samanera,
How old are you?”

He replied “Sir, I am in my seventh year”.

“Oh monks, although this Sumana Samanera is younger than all

others he is superior in respect of psychic powers. Although I have
seen many Samaneras I have not seen a Samanera with so much
powers” said Lord Buddha.

So dear daughter, dear son, See the level of the psychic powers
of young Sumana Samanera. Coming to think of it you also will be
able to carry out big activities....

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 You must practise to develop virtue and other good qualities
frequently. Then only will your minds get purified. The things that
can be done with a pure mind are beyond imagination.

All these facts were achieved by Sumana Samanera because he

had faith in the noble Triple Gem. From that we can see the
immense power of the Triple Gem. The benefits that will accrue to
you from the Triple Gem are immense.

Therefore my daughter and my son, determine to place

yourself in the refuge of the Triple Gem and discipline yourself in
virtue. The benefits are beyond words.

- The End -

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