Ekadhammasavaṇiya Thera draft

Ekadhammasavaṇiya Thera 01. He was the son of a banker in Setavyā and he went to see the Buddha who was visiting the town and staying in the Siṁsapā-wood. The Buddha preached to him on the impermanence of all component things and at the end of the sermon he became an Arahant. He received his name because he won insight by hearing the Dhamma only once.

In the time of Padumuttara Buddha he was a tree-sprite and, coming across some monks who had lost their way, he looked after them, gave them food and directed them to their destination. After the death of Kassapa Buddha, he was born as the son of Suyāma and great-grandson of Kikī and became king of Benares under the name of Kikī Brahmadatta. Not finding anyone capable of preaching the Dhamma to him, he left his throne in disgust and started on his way to Himavā. As he went along the road, Sakka appeared before him and quoted to him some lines on the impermanence of all things. Satisfied therewith, the king returned to his capital (Thag.v.67; Thag­a.i.151f).

The Apadāna verses regarding this Thera quoted in the Theragāthā Commentary are, in the Apadāna itself (i.152f), attributed to an Elder named Maggasaññaka, with whom he is evidently to be identified. Five kappas ago he became king twelve times under the name of Sacakkhu.

Ekadhammasavaṇiya Thera 02. An Arahant. In the time of Padumuttara he was a Jaṭila of great power. Once when journeying through the air he found his progress suddenly stopped and, on investigation, discovered that below him, on the ground, the Buddha was preaching. He listened to the sermon, which dealt with impermanence, and, returning to his hermitage, meditated on this topic. Later he was born in Tāvatiṁsa. Fifty-one times he reigned as king of heaven for thirty thousand kappas and twenty-one times he was king of men. In this last life he heard a monk in his father’s house preaching a sermon in reference to the impermanence of all component things. At the end of the sermon he remembered his former attainments and, seated there, reached Arahant-ship. He was only seven years old at the time. Ap.ii.385.