The Goddess of Repentance

Anathapindika followed the Buddha so devotedly that his fortune dwindled away, and a goddess tried to stop him. But because he held firm to his faith, his wealth was restored, and the goddess was forced to repent.

Night fell, and the city of Shravasti sank into stillness. In the vast mansion of the wealthy merchant Anathapindika, a faint oil lamp glowed from the main hall, casting his shadow upon the wall. He sat there, his brows heavy with worry, gently stroking a cup of tea that had long gone cold.

He was one of the richest merchants in all of India, the man who had once bought an entire forest from Prince Jeta in order to make offerings to the Buddha. But now his family fortune was draining away like receding water. Failed trading ventures, debts that could not be collected, and then the store of gold buried by the riverbank, swept away by the flood. Everything seemed to happen at once, and he could not help but feel a pang of sorrow.

It was only three years after the Buddha attained enlightenment that he had the conditions to meet him. From that moment on, he devoted himself to making offerings and giving alms without cease. His faith in the Three Jewels was complete, yet his wealth kept wearing away. People began to mock him: "He is rich but foolish, always giving his money away for nothing." He would only smile and say nothing, though at times a doubt arose in his heart: "Perhaps I have been wrong?"

That night, as he sat lost in thought, a soft light appeared. A woman of graceful beauty, draped in a thin shawl, stood before him. She spoke, her voice full of pity:

"I am the goddess who has guarded the gate of your home for many years. Since the day you began following the Buddha, I have watched your wealth dwindle away. Listen to me: stop making offerings, stop inviting the Buddha. Following the Buddha will only bring you misfortune."

The merchant looked straight into her eyes, his voice low but firm:

"You speak falsely and offend the Three Jewels. From this day on, I no longer permit you to dwell here. Go."

The goddess was stunned, never expecting him to be so resolute. She bowed her head, gathered up her small child, and quietly left the familiar eaves. From then on she wandered everywhere with no place to rest. When she asked the city god of Shravasti for shelter, she was refused: "You harbored ill will toward the World-Honored One; I cannot help you." Ascending to the Heaven of the Four Great Kings, she received the same cold reply: "You have insulted the Buddha. Go." She suffered greatly and was filled with remorse.

Finally, she sought out Sakka, the king of the gods. Seeing that her heart had recognized its fault, he instructed her:

"If you truly wish to repent, return and help Anathapindika restore his fortune. That is how you may atone for your wrong."

The goddess obeyed, using her divine power to touch the hearts of the merchant's debtors. Those who had once borrowed money for their businesses and were now prosperous suddenly woke one night feeling compelled to repay their old debts. They came in crowds, returning gold and silver, and his storehouses gradually filled once more. Not stopping there, she also guided fishermen to recover the jars of gold buried in the riverbed, returning them to their rightful owner.

Within just a few months, the merchant's fortune was almost entirely restored. One night, the goddess appeared again. This time she knelt down, tears welling in her eyes:

"I misunderstood, and I offended the Buddha and the Sangha. Now I wish to repent. Please forgive me."

The merchant gently helped her up and said kindly:

"Come with me to see the World-Honored One. Only by repenting before him will your wrongdoing truly be dissolved."

The goddess followed him. When they came before the Buddha, she revealed herself, knelt and bowed, and confessed all her faults. The Buddha listened with compassion, and then taught:

"The wicked seem blessed while their karma has not yet ripened. Only when the karma ripens do they come to know their wrong. The good are scorned while their fruits have not yet ripened. Only when the wholesome fruits ripen is it clear that they are worthy of reverence."

Having repented, the goddess felt her heart grow light, and from then on she honored and trusted the Three Jewels with all her being. As for Anathapindika, by holding firm to his faith, he not only recovered his wealth but also earned the respect of those who had once mocked him.

The Meaning of the Story

This story reminds us: when doing good deeds, do not be discouraged by hardship or criticism. A wholesome fruit, before it ripens, shows no result, but once it ripens, its fragrance naturally spreads. Conversely, the wicked may think themselves clever, but when their karma ripens, they will recognize their mistakes. Hold firm to your faith, live in accordance with the truth of the path, and do not let momentary fortune or misfortune shake your resolve.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.