Summary: Anāthapiṇḍika (personal name Sudatta) is the foremost lay benefactor in the Pali Canon, a wealthy merchant of Sāvatthi who purchased the Jetavana grove from Prince Jeta and donated it to the Buddha as the Jetavana monastery — the Buddha's primary residence for most of his teaching career. Anāthapiṇḍika attained stream-entry and became the paradigmatic lay patron.
(This page draws on canonical references; full ingest of cited sources pending.)
Life in the canon
Anāthapiṇḍika was a merchant (seṭṭhi) of Sāvatthi. On first hearing the Buddha at Rājagaha, he attained stream-entry and invited the Buddha to Sāvatthi. He then purchased the Jeta Grove from Prince Jeta — the canonical account (Vin II 158 (cited; not yet ingested)) says he covered the ground with gold coins to meet Jeta's price — and donated it as the Jetavana-ārāma (Jeta's Grove monastery). The Jetavana became the most frequently mentioned monastery in the Sutta Piṭaka; a large portion of the Majjhima Nikāya and other collections is set there.
Anāthapiṇḍika appears in numerous suttas as a generous host and questioner. He is noted as someone who gave lavishly but was sometimes bankrupted and restored, depending on the source. The canonical texts confirm his stream-entry at SN 55.26 (cited; not yet ingested).
His death is given extraordinary canonical treatment: at MN 143 (cited; not yet ingested) (Anāthapiṇḍikovāda Sutta), Sāriputta and Ānanda are called to his deathbed; Sāriputta delivers an intricate teaching on non-attachment to sense faculties, consciousness, and the aggregates. Anāthapiṇḍika weeps on hearing it — he says such teachings are never given to white-clothed lay followers. Sāriputta replies that they are given to those who can bear them.
The Pāpavagga vatthu (Dhp 119:0 — Anāthapiṇḍikaseṭṭhivatthu) attributes Dhp 119 ("even an evildoer sees good things, so long as their evil has not ripened") to a narrative involving Anāthapiṇḍika (commentary — not canonical).
Key teachings given or received
- MN 143 (cited; not yet ingested) — deathbed instruction by Sāriputta: comprehensive teaching on non-clinging to sense faculties, consciousness, and all formations
- AN 5.38 (cited; not yet ingested) — the Buddha's visit and teaching during Anāthapiṇḍika's illness
- SN 55.26 (cited; not yet ingested) — stream-entry confirmed through the four factors of stream-entry
Places associated
- jetavana (page pending) — the monastery he donated to the Buddha; primary base for a large part of the Sutta Piṭaka
- savatthi (page pending) — the city he lived in
Relationships
- Primary benefactor of the Buddha and the Sangha
- Lay disciple of the Buddha; stream-enterer
- Patron of Sāriputta — Sāriputta delivered the deathbed teaching at his home
Related pages
- dhammapada 09 papavagga — Dhp 119 vatthu attribution
- sariputta — teacher at his deathbed
- evil papa — Dhp 119 locus (pāpa ripening — the vagga where his vatthu appears)