Deep Commentary

These three verses were taught by the Buddha at Kỳ Viên Monastery, accompanied by a story recounted to the assembly. According to the accounts, after Magandiya was rejected by the Buddha, she felt deeply insulted and wounded in her pride. She harbored intense secret hatred. Later, as a queen, she resolved to take revenge. She hired poor, uneducated, and unruly individuals to publicly insult and verbally abuse the Buddha when he came for alms. When the Buddha and Ananda approached that town for alms, the townspeople and hired troublemakers verbally abused them severely. The Buddha remained calm, while Ananda suggested moving elsewhere. The Buddha instructed him not to flee but to remain until the hostility subsided, explaining that, like a war elephant enduring arrows from all directions, one must cultivate patience in the face of adversity. He taught that perseverance and tolerance are essential for spiritual accomplishment, comparing a practitioner to a battle-tested elephant who remains steadfast despite attacks. The Buddha emphasized that challenges and trials reveal the strength of patience, and without cultivating inner resilience, one cannot overcome obstacles. He also explained that internal defilements must be subdued before external disturbances can be endured. The story illustrates that the truly disciplined practitioner, like a war elephant, meets adversity with calm, composed patience, remaining unaffected by insults or attacks, exemplifying the ultimate endurance and inner strength necessary for liberation.