The Story of Sumanadevi (Dhammapada 1 : 18)

I. Yamaka Vagga –Twin Verses

Verse 18:
Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy;
one who performs meritorious deeds is happy in both existences.
Happily he exclaims: “I have done meritorious deeds."
He is happier still when he is reborn in a higher world (suggati).
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While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered Verse (18) of this book, with reference to Sumanadevi, the youngest daughter of Anathapindika.

In Savatthi, at the house of Anathapindika and the house of Visakha, two thousand bhikkhus were served with food daily. At the house of Visakha, the offering of alms-food was supervised by her granddaughter. At the house of Anathapindika, the supervision was done, first by the eldest daughter, next by the second daughter and finally by Sumanadevi, the youngest daughter. The two elder sisters attained Sotapatti Fruition by listening to the Dhamma, while serving food to the bhikkhus. Sumanadevi did even better and she attained Sakadagami Fruition.

Later, Sumanadevi fell ill and on her death-bed she asked for her father. Her father came, and she addressed her father as "younger brother" (Kanittha bhatika) and passed away soon after. Her form of address kept her father wondering and made him uneasy and depressed, thinking that his daughter was delirious and not in her right senses at the time of her death. So, he approached the Buddha and reported to him about his daughter, Sumanadevi. Then the Buddha told the noble rich man that his daughter was in her right senses and fully self-possessed at the time of her passing away.

When asked why she spoke like that, the Buddha replied, 'It is because of your lower spiritual position; indeed your daughter held a higher position than you did in the attainment of the path (magga) and fruition (phala); you are only a Sotapanna but your daughter was a Sakadagami, it was because of her higher position in the attainment of path and fruition that she spoke to you in that way'. The banker asked, 'Is that so Lord ?', and the Buddha affirmed saying 'It is so'. When asked 'Where is she reborn at present?' the Buddha said, 'In the Tusita heaven, O householder'. Then the banker made this remark, 'Lord, having rejoiced here in this world in the midst of kinsmen, now again, after passing away, my daughter has been reborn in a place of joy.' Thereupon the Buddha told him, 'Yes banker, the diligent, whether they are householders or samanas, surely rejoice in this world as well as in the next', and uttered this stanza.

"Idha nandati pecca nandati

katapuñño ubhayattha nandati

“puññaṃ me katan” ti nandati

bhiyyo nandati suggatiṃ gato."

Here he is happy, hereafter he is happy;

one who performs meritorious deeds is happy in both existences.

Happily he exclaims: “I have done meritorious deeds."

He is happier still when he is reborn in a higher world (suggati).