THE VIRTUOUS AND THE WISE DO NO EVIL FOR ANY GAIN
At one time the Buddha was staying at the Jetavana monastery in Sāvatti which was donated to the Buddha by the chief benefactor Anāthapindika.
In Savatti, there was a householder named Dhammika who was living with his pregnant wife. One day, he said to his wife that he wished to become a monk. But his wife pleaded with him to stay at home until their child was born. When the child was born, he again said to his wife that he wished to be a monk. His wife then pleaded with him to wait until the child began walking. Dhammika thought that there was no point in asking his wife’s permission to become a monk and that he should work for his own liberation. Then he left home and became a monk. He obtained instruction from the Buddha on a suitable meditation object and by meditating diligently, he soon gained enlightenment as an Arahant.
A few years after becoming an Arahant, he visited his home to teach the doctrine to his wife and son. After listening to his teaching, his son became a monk and gained enlightenment as an Arahant. Then his former wife thought now that both her husband and son had left home to become monks, she should also leave home and become a nun. So she also left home and became a nun and soon gained enlightenment as an Arahant.
On one occasion, the Buddha attended the congregation of the monks when the monks said to the Buddha how Dhammika left home to become a monk and soon became an Arahant, and how with his help, his son and wife also became Arahants. Then the Buddha said to the monks:
“Monks, a wise man does not wish for wealth and prosperity by doing any evil, whether it is for himself or anyone else. He only works for his own liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsāra), by comprehending the Dhamma and living according to the Dhamma.”
Then the Buddha recited the following verse which is recorded as the 84th verse of the Dhammapada.
“Na attahetu na parassa hetu,
na puttamicche na dhanaṁ na ratthaṁ,
na iccheyya adhammena samiddhimattano,
sa sīlavā paññavā dhammiko siyā.”
“Not for one’s own sake or another’s sake,
not desiring a child, wealth or a kingdom,
he should not wish for success through unfair ways,
such a one is indeed virtuous, wise and righteous.”