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Rādha

1. Rādha.– A parrot, brother of Poṭṭhapāda, the Bodhisatta. See the Rādha Jātaka (1). He is identified with Ānanda. J.i.496.

2. Rādha.– The Bodhisatta born as a parrot. See the Rādha Jātaka (2).

3. Rādha.– The Bodhisatta born as a parrot. See the Kāḷabāhu Jātaka.

4. Rādha.– He was a brahmin of Rājagaha who, being neglected by his children in his old age, sought ordination. The monks refused his request on the ground of his age, so he sought the Buddha who, seeing his potential (upanissaya), asked Sāriputta to admit him.¹ Soon after he won Arahantship. He stayed near the Buddha, and, by reason of his skill, the Buddha declared him foremost among those who could inspire speech in others (? paṭibhānakeyyānaṃ).² He thereby earned the name of Paṭibhāniya Thera.³ The Theragāthā (vss.133‑4) contains two verses spoken by him in praise of concentration of the mind. The Rādha Saṃyutta ⁴ contains a large number of suttas taught by the Buddha in answer to Rādha’s questions on various topics. It is said that when the Buddha saw Rādha he felt the inclination to talk on matters dealing with subtle topics, illustrating them with various similes.⁵

In the time of Padumuttara Buddha, Rādha was a householder of Haṃsavatī and held a great almsgiving in honour of the Buddha, wishing to gain pre-eminence in the power of inspiring others to speak. He gave ripe mangoes to Vipassī Buddha ⁶ and, as a result, was born in heaven.

Surādha Thera was his younger brother. Rādha was, for some time, the Buddha’s attendant.⁷

¹ It is probably this incident that is referred to at ThagA.ii.114, where Sāriputta is said to have ordained a poor brahmin named Rādha, but no mention is made of any order from the Buddha. If the reference is to this same thera, Rādha was, for some time, the attendant (pacchāsamana) of Sāriputta, and there is a verse in Thag. (993) spoken to him by Sāriputta, who was pleased with Rādha’s gentle manner. DhA.ii.104 ff. gives more details of the ordination of Rādha. There we are told that he went to the monastery where he performed various duties. However, the monks would not admit him into the Order, and, owing to his disappointment, he grew thin. One day the Buddha, seeing him with his divine-eye, went to him, and hearing of his wish to join the Order, summoned the monks and asked if any of them remembered any favour done by Rādha. Sāriputta mentioned that he had once received a ladleful of Rādha’s own food while begging in Rājagaha. The Buddha then suggested that Sāriputta should listen to Rādha’s request for ordination. After ordination, Rādha grew weary of the food of the refectory, but Sāriputta constantly admonished him and found him most humble; later, he spoke highly of Rādha’s obedience, and the Buddha praised him. It was on Rādha’s account that the Alīnacitta Jātaka was taught. AA.i.179 f. agrees, more or less, with the account given above; so does Ap.ii.485 f.

² A.i.25; ThagA.i.253 f. ³ SA.ii.246. ⁴ S.iii.188‑201; see also Rādha Sutta/

⁵ SA.ii.246; this was because of Radha’s wealth of views (diṭṭhisamudācāra) and unwavering faith (okappaniya-saddhā); AA.i.179; also ThagA.i.254.

⁶ ThagA.i.253; AA.i.180; Ap.ii.484. ⁷ AA.i.163.