Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the Jetta Wood at Anathapindika¡¯s monastery. On that occasion the Venerable Sangamaji had arrived at Savatthi to see the Lord. The former wife of the Venerable Sangamaji, hearing that master Sangamaji had arrived at Savatthi, took her child and went to the Jeta Wood.
Now at that time the Venerable Sangamaji was sitting at the foot of a certain tree to rest during the middle of the day. Then the former wife of the Venerable Sangamaji approached him and spoke these words: ¡°I have a little son, recluse, support me." When this was said the Venerable Sangamaji remained silent. A second and a third time she said: ¡±I have a little son, recluse, support me." And a third time the Veneralbe Sangamaji remained silent.
The the former wife of the Venerable Sangamaji put the child down in front of him and went away, saying: ¡°This is your son, recluse, support him." But the Venerable Sangamaji neither looked at the child nor spoke to him. Then the former wife of the Venerable Sangamaji having gone a short distance, looked back and saw that he was neither looking at the child nor speaking to him. On seeing this she thought: ¡°This recluse does not even want his son!" She returned, took the child, and went away.
With the divine eye which is purified and superhuman the Lord saw that discourteous behaviour on the part of the Venerable Sangamaji's wife.
Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance: