Deep Commentary

This verse was spoken regarding the mother of Kumara Kassapa. Unknowingly pregnant before becoming a nun, she was falsely accused of breaking her vows but was later cleared. Years later, seeing her son (now also a monk), she rushed to him with motherly affection. To cut her worldly attachment, he spoke to her coldly. Deeply hurt, she realized that even her own son could not be relied upon, and she resolved to depend entirely on herself. Through intense personal effort, she soon attained liberation. The commentary emphasizes a core Buddhist truth: absolute self-reliance. The Buddha taught, 'Be a lamp unto yourselves.' No external savior, deity, or even the Buddha himself can grant liberation or carry our burdens. Each individual must carve their own path, choosing virtue and practicing diligently, as we are the sole architects of our own destiny.