---
title: "Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta"
author: "The Buddha"
translator: "Bhikkhu Sujato"
languages: [pi, en]
shelf: "Pali Canon"
section: 5 of 28
url: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/5/
cite: "The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato, Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta, section 5. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/5/"
---

# Numbered Discourses: The Threes · Aṅguttara Nikāya · Tikanipāta

*The Buddha, tr. Bhikkhu Sujato*

Teachings grouped in threes: the Kālāma discourse on what to believe, the three fires, the messengers of the gods.

> Pali: the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka (Buddha Jayanti edition, 2500), from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

> English: Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral’s bilara-data, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the segment numbers the two texts share, gathered into paragraphs; verse keeps its lines.

## 5. Messengers of the Gods · AN 3.31–3.38

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/5/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/pali-anguttara-nikaya-3/5/#p-N

[¶0] AN 3.31 · With Divinity

> Pali: AN 3.31 · Sabrahmakasutta

[¶1] “Mendicants, a family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with divinity. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with the first tutors. A family where the children honor their parents in their home is said to live with those worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods.

> Pali: “Sabrahmakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Sapubbācariyakāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti. Sāhuneyyāni, bhikkhave, tāni kulāni yesaṁ puttānaṁ mātāpitaro ajjhāgāre pūjitā honti.

[¶2] ‘Divinity’ is a term for your parents.

> Pali: ‘Brahmā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

[¶3] ‘First tutors’ is a term for your parents.

> Pali: ‘Pubbācariyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

[¶4] ‘Worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods’ is a term for your parents.

> Pali: ‘Āhuneyyā’ti, bhikkhave, mātāpitūnaṁ etaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

[¶5] Why is that? Parents are very helpful to their children, they raise them, nurture them, and show them the world.

> Pali: Taṁ kissa hetu? Bahukārā, bhikkhave, mātāpitaro puttānaṁ, āpādakā posakā, imassa lokassa dassetāroti.

[¶6] Parents are said to be ‘divinity’
and ‘first tutors’, it’s said.
They’re worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods <j>from their children,
for they love their offspring.

> Pali: Brahmāti mātāpitaro,
pubbācariyāti vuccare;
Āhuneyyā ca puttānaṁ,
pajāya anukampakā.

[¶7] Therefore an astute person
would revere them and honor them
with food and drink,
clothes and bedding,
anointing and bathing,
and by washing their feet.

> Pali: Tasmā hi ne namasseyya,
sakkareyya ca paṇḍito;
Annena atha pānena,
vatthena sayanena ca;
Ucchādanena nhāpanena,
pādānaṁ dhovanena ca.

[¶8] Because they look after
their parents like this,
in this life they’re praised by the astute,
and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”

> Pali: Tāya naṁ pāricariyāya,
mātāpitūsu paṇḍitā;
Idheva naṁ pasaṁsanti,
pecca sagge pamodatī”ti.

[¶9] > Pali: Paṭhamaṁ.

[¶10] AN 3.32 · With Ānanda

> Pali: AN 3.32 · Ānandasutta

[¶11] Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

[¶12] “Could it be, sir, that a mendicant might gain a state of immersion such that there’s no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body; and no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for externally for all signs; and that they’d live having attained the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit are no more?”

> Pali: “Siyā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhuno tathārūpo samādhipaṭilābho yathā imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu; yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja vihareyyā”ti?

[¶13] “It could be, Ānanda, that a mendicant gains a state of immersion such that they have no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body; and no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for externally for all signs; and that they’d live having attained the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit are no more.”

> Pali: “Siyā, ānanda, bhikkhuno tathārūpo samādhipaṭilābho yathā imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu; yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja vihareyyā”ti.

[¶14] “But how could this be, sir?”

> Pali: “Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, siyā bhikkhuno tathārūpo samādhipaṭilābho yathā imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu; yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja vihareyyā”ti?

[¶15] “Ānanda, it’s when a mendicant thinks: ‘This is peaceful; this is sublime—that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.’

> Pali: “Idhānanda, bhikkhuno evaṁ hoti: ‘etaṁ santaṁ etaṁ paṇītaṁ yadidaṁ sabbasaṅkhārasamatho sabbūpadhipaṭinissaggo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānan’ti.

[¶16] That’s how, Ānanda, a mendicant might gain a state of immersion such that there’s no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body; and no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for externally for all signs; and that they’d live having achieved the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit are no more.

> Pali: Evaṁ kho, ānanda, siyā bhikkhuno tathārūpo samādhipaṭilābho yathā imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā nāssu; yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja vihareyyāti.

[¶17] And Ānanda, this is what I was referring to in ‘The Way to the Far Shore’, in ‘The Questions of Puṇṇaka’ when I said:

> Pali: Idañca pana metaṁ, ānanda, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ pārāyane puṇṇakapañhe:

[¶18] ‘Having appraised the world high and low,
there is nothing in the world that disturbs them.
Peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, <j>with no need for hope—
they’ve crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.’”

> Pali: ‘Saṅkhāya lokasmiṁ paroparāni,
Yassiñjitaṁ natthi kuhiñci loke;
Santo vidhūmo anīgho nirāso,
Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī’”ti.

[¶19] > Pali: Dutiyaṁ.

[¶20] AN 3.33 · With Sāriputta

> Pali: AN 3.33 · Sāriputtasutta

[¶21] Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Maybe I’ll teach Dhamma in brief, maybe in detail, maybe both in brief and in detail. But it’s hard to find anyone who understands.”

> Pali: Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “saṅkhittenapi kho ahaṁ, sāriputta, dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ; vitthārenapi kho ahaṁ, sāriputta, dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ; saṅkhittavitthārenapi kho ahaṁ, sāriputta, dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ; aññātāro ca dullabhā”ti.

[¶22] “Now is the time, Blessed One! Now is the time, Holy One! Let the Buddha teach Dhamma in brief, in detail, and both in brief and in detail. There will be those who understand the teaching!”

> Pali: “Etassa, bhagavā, kālo, etassa, sugata, kālo yaṁ bhagavā saṅkhittenapi dhammaṁ deseyya, vitthārenapi dhammaṁ deseyya, saṅkhittavitthārenapi dhammaṁ deseyya. Bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro”ti.

[¶23] “So, Sāriputta, you should train like this: ‘There’ll be no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body; and no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit externally for all signs; and we’ll live having achieved the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit are no more.’ That’s how you should train.

> Pali: “Tasmātiha, sāriputta, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na bhavissanti, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na bhavissanti, yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharissāmā’ti. Evañhi kho, sāriputta, sikkhitabbaṁ.

[¶24] When a mendicant has no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit for this conscious body; and no I-making, mine-making, or underlying tendency to conceit externally for all signs; and they live having attained the freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom where I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit are no more— they’re called a mendicant who has cut off craving, cast off the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.

> Pali: Yato ca kho, sāriputta, bhikkhuno imasmiñca saviññāṇake kāye ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti, bahiddhā ca sabbanimittesu ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti, yañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharato ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā na honti tañca cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ upasampajja viharati; ayaṁ vuccati, sāriputta: ‘bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassa’.

[¶25] And Sāriputta, this is what I was referring to in ‘The Way to the Far Shore’, in ‘The Questions of Udaya’ when I said:

> Pali: Idañca pana metaṁ, sāriputta, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ pārāyane udayapañhe:

[¶26] ‘The giving up of both
sensual desires and displeasures,
the casting aside of dullness,
and the prevention of remorse;

> Pali: ‘Pahānaṁ kāmasaññānaṁ,
domanassāna cūbhayaṁ;
Thinassa ca panūdanaṁ,
kukkuccānaṁ nivāraṇaṁ.

[¶27] pure equanimity and mindfulness,
preceded by investigation of principles—
this, I declare, is liberation by enlightenment,
the smashing of ignorance.’”

> Pali: Upekkhāsatisaṁsuddhaṁ,
dhammatakkapurejavaṁ;
Aññāvimokkhaṁ pabrūmi,
avijjāya pabhedanan’”ti.

[¶28] > Pali: Tatiyaṁ.

[¶29] AN 3.34 · Sources

> Pali: AN 3.34 · Nidānasutta

[¶30] “Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds. What three? Greed, hate, and delusion are sources that give rise to deeds.

> Pali: “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Lobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, doso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, moho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya.

[¶31] Any deed that emerges from greed—born, sourced, and originated from greed—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, lobhapakataṁ kammaṁ lobhajaṁ lobhanidānaṁ lobhasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

[¶32] Any deed that emerges from hate—born, sourced, and originated from hate—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dosapakataṁ kammaṁ dosajaṁ dosanidānaṁ dosasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

[¶33] Any deed that emerges from delusion—born, sourced, and originated from delusion—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, mohapakataṁ kammaṁ mohajaṁ mohanidānaṁ mohasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

[¶34] Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. They’re sown in a well-prepared, productive field, and the heavens provide plenty of rain. Then those seeds would grow, increase, and mature.

> Pali: Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sārādāni sukhasayitāni sukhette suparikammakatāya bhūmiyā nikkhittāni. Devo ca sammādhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evassu tāni, bhikkhave, bījāni vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyyuṁ.

[¶35] In the same way, any deed that emerges from greed—born, sourced, and originated from greed—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

> Pali: Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ lobhapakataṁ kammaṁ lobhajaṁ lobhanidānaṁ lobhasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

[¶36] Any deed that emerges from hate …

> Pali: Yaṁ dosapakataṁ kammaṁ …pe…

[¶37] Any deed that emerges from delusion—born, sourced, and originated from delusion—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. These are three sources that give rise to deeds.

> Pali: yaṁ mohapakataṁ kammaṁ mohajaṁ mohanidānaṁ mohasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

[¶38] Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds. What three? Contentment, love, and understanding are sources that give rise to deeds.

> Pali: Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Alobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, adoso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, amoho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya.

[¶39] Any deed that emerges from contentment—born, sourced, and originated from contentment—is given up when greed is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, alobhapakataṁ kammaṁ alobhajaṁ alobhanidānaṁ alobhasamudayaṁ, lobhe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

[¶40] Any deed that emerges from love—born, sourced, and originated from love—is abandoned when hate is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, adosapakataṁ kammaṁ adosajaṁ adosanidānaṁ adosasamudayaṁ, dose vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

[¶41] Any deed that emerges from understanding—born, sourced, and originated from understanding—is abandoned when delusion is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, amohapakataṁ kammaṁ amohajaṁ amohanidānaṁ amohasamudayaṁ, mohe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

[¶42] Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not damaged by wind and sun, fertile, and well-kept. But someone would burn them with fire, reduce them to ashes, and whisk away the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream. Then those seeds would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sārādāni sukhasayitāni. Tāni puriso agginā ḍaheyya. Agginā ḍahitvā masiṁ kareyya. Masiṁ karitvā mahāvāte vā ophuṇeyya nadiyā vā sīghasotāya pavāheyya. Evassu tāni, bhikkhave, bījāni ucchinnamūlāni tālāvatthukatāni anabhāvaṅkatāni āyatiṁ anuppādadhammāni.

[¶43] In the same way, any deed that emerges from contentment—born, sourced, and originated from contentment—is abandoned when greed is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ alobhapakataṁ kammaṁ alobhajaṁ alobhanidānaṁ alobhasamudayaṁ, lobhe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

[¶44] Any deed that emerges from love … Any deed that emerges from understanding—born, sourced, and originated from understanding—is abandoned when delusion is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

> Pali: Yaṁ adosapakataṁ kammaṁ …pe… yaṁ amohapakataṁ kammaṁ amohajaṁ amohanidānaṁ amohasamudayaṁ, mohe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti …pe… āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

[¶45] These are three sources that give rise to deeds.

> Pali: Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāyāti.

[¶46] When an ignorant person acts
out of greed, hate, or delusion,
any deeds they have done,
a little or a lot,
are to be experienced right here,
not in any other place.

> Pali: Lobhajaṁ dosajañceva,
mohajañcāpaviddasu;
Yaṁ tena pakataṁ kammaṁ,
appaṁ vā yadi vā bahuṁ;
Idheva taṁ vedaniyaṁ,
vatthu aññaṁ na vijjati.

[¶47] So a wise person,
a mendicant arousing knowledge
of the outcome of greed, hate, and delusion,
would abandon all bad destinies.”

> Pali: Tasmā lobhañca dosañca,
mohajañcāpi viddasu;
Vijjaṁ uppādayaṁ bhikkhu,
sabbā duggatiyo jahe”ti.

[¶48] > Pali: Catutthaṁ.

[¶49] AN 3.35 · With Hatthaka

> Pali: AN 3.35 · Hatthakasutta

[¶50] So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, on a mat of leaves by a cow-path in a rosewood grove.

> Pali: Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati gomagge siṁsapāvane paṇṇasanthare.

[¶51] Then as Hatthaka of Āḷavī was going for a walk he saw the Buddha sitting on that mat of leaves. He went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said, “Sir, I trust the Buddha slept well?”

> Pali: Atha kho hatthako āḷavako jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno addasa bhagavantaṁ gomagge siṁsapāvane paṇṇasanthare nisinnaṁ. Disvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho hatthako āḷavako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kacci, bhante bhagavā, sukhamasayitthā”ti?

[¶52] “Yes, prince, I slept well. I am one of those who sleep at ease in the world.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, kumāra, sukhamasayitthaṁ. Ye ca pana loke sukhaṁ senti, ahaṁ tesaṁ aññataro”ti.

[¶53] “The winter nights are cold, sir, and it’s the week of mid-winter, when the snow falls. Rough is the ground trampled under the cows’ hooves, and thin is the mat of leaves. The leaves are sparse on the trees, the ocher robes are cold, and cold blows the north wind. And yet the Buddha says, ‘Yes, prince, I slept well. I am one of those who sleep at ease in the world.’”

> Pali: “Sītā, bhante, hemantikā ratti, antaraṭṭhako himapātasamayo, kharā gokaṇṭakahatā bhūmi, tanuko paṇṇasantharo, viraḷāni rukkhassa pattāni, sītāni kāsāyāni vatthāni, sīto ca verambho vāto vāyati. Atha ca pana bhagavā evamāha: ‘evaṁ, kumāra, sukhamasayitthaṁ. Ye ca pana loke sukhaṁ senti, ahaṁ tesaṁ aññataro’”ti.

[¶54] “Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think? Take the case of a householder or his son, who lives in a bungalow, plastered inside and out, draft-free, with door fastened and window shuttered. His couch is spread with woolen covers—shag-piled, pure white, or embroidered with flowers—and spread with a fine deer hide. It has a canopy above and red pillows at both ends. An oil lamp is burning there, while his four wives attend to him in all manner of agreeable ways. What do you think, prince, would he sleep at ease, or not? Or how do you see this?”

> Pali: “Tena hi, kumāra, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kumāra, idhassa gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā kūṭāgāraṁ ullittāvalittaṁ nivātaṁ phusitaggaḷaṁ pihitavātapānaṁ. Tatrassa pallaṅko gonakatthato paṭikatthato paṭalikatthato kadalimigapavarapaccattharaṇo sauttaracchado ubhato lohitakūpadhāno; telappadīpo cettha jhāyeyya; catasso ca pajāpatiyo manāpāmanāpena paccupaṭṭhitā assu. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kumāra, sukhaṁ vā so sayeyya no vā? Kathaṁ vā te ettha hotī”ti?

[¶55] “He would sleep at ease, sir. Of those who sleep at ease in the world, he would be one.”

> Pali: “Sukhaṁ so, bhante, sayeyya. Ye ca pana loke sukhaṁ senti, so tesaṁ aññataro”ti.

[¶56] “What do you think, prince? Is it not possible that a fever born of greed—physical or mental—might arise in that householder or householder’s son, burning him so he sleeps badly?”

> Pali: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kumāra, api nu tassa gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā uppajjeyyuṁ rāgajā pariḷāhā kāyikā vā cetasikā vā yehi so rāgajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyyā”ti?

[¶57] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti.

[¶58] “The greed that burns that householder or householder’s son, making them sleep badly, has been cut off at the root by the Realized One, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. That’s why I sleep at ease.

> Pali: “Yehi kho so, kumāra, gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā rāgajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyya, so rāgo tathāgatassa pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo. Tasmāhaṁ sukhamasayitthaṁ.

[¶59] What do you think, prince? Is it not possible that a fever born of hate … or a fever born of delusion—physical or mental—might arise in that householder or householder’s son, burning him so he sleeps badly?”

> Pali: Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, kumāra, api nu tassa gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā uppajjeyyuṁ dosajā pariḷāhā …pe… mohajā pariḷāhā kāyikā vā cetasikā vā yehi so mohajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyyā”ti?

[¶60] “Yes, sir.”

> Pali: “Evaṁ, bhante”ti.

[¶61] “The delusion that burns that householder or householder’s son, making them sleep badly, has been cut off at the root by the Realized One, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. That’s why I sleep at ease.

> Pali: “Ye hi kho so, kumāra, gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā mohajehi pariḷāhehi pariḍayhamāno dukkhaṁ sayeyya, so moho tathāgatassa pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo. Tasmāhaṁ sukhamasayitthanti.

[¶62] A brahmin who is fully quenched
always sleeps at ease.
Sensual pleasures slip off them,
they’re cooled, free of attachments.

> Pali: Sabbadā ve sukhaṁ seti,
brāhmaṇo parinibbuto;
Yo na limpati kāmesu,
sītibhūto nirūpadhi.

[¶63] Since they’ve cut off all clinging,
and removed the stress from the heart,
the peaceful sleep at ease,
having found peace of mind.”

> Pali: Sabbā āsattiyo chetvā,
vineyya hadaye daraṁ;
Upasanto sukhaṁ seti,
santiṁ pappuyya cetaso”ti.

[¶64] > Pali: Pañcamaṁ.

[¶65] AN 3.36 · Messengers of the Gods

> Pali: AN 3.36 · Devadūtasutta

[¶66] “There are, mendicants, these three messengers of the gods. What three?

> Pali: “Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, devadūtāni. Katamāni tīṇi?

[¶67] Firstly, someone does bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. The wardens of hell take them by the arms and present them to King Yama, saying, ‘Your Majesty, this person did not pay due respect to their mother and father, ascetics and brahmins, or honor the elders in the family. May Your Majesty punish them!’

> Pali: Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati. So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā, vācāya duccaritaṁ caritvā, manasā duccaritaṁ caritvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā nānābāhāsu gahetvā yamassa rañño dassenti: ‘ayaṁ, deva, puriso amatteyyo apetteyyo asāmañño abrahmañño, na kule jeṭṭhāpacāyī. Imassa devo daṇḍaṁ paṇetū’ti.

[¶68] King Yama pursues, presses, and grills them about the first messenger of the gods: ‘My man, did you not see the first messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati: ‘ambho, purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

[¶69] They say, ‘I saw nothing, sir.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶70] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did you not see among human beings an elderly woman or a man—eighty, ninety, or a hundred years old—bent double, crooked, leaning on a staff, trembling as they walk, ailing, past their prime, with teeth broken, hair grey and scanty or bald, skin wrinkled, and limbs blotchy?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā āsītikaṁ vā nāvutikaṁ vā vassasatikaṁ vā jātiyā jiṇṇaṁ gopānasivaṅkaṁ bhoggaṁ daṇḍaparāyaṇaṁ pavedhamānaṁ gacchantaṁ āturaṁ gatayobbanaṁ khaṇḍadantaṁ palitakesaṁ vilūnaṁ khallitasiraṁ valitaṁ tilakāhatagattan’ti?

[¶71] They say, ‘I saw that, sir.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶72] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature— “I, too, am liable to grow old. I’m not exempt from old age. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho, purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi— ahampi khomhi jarādhammo jaraṁ anatīto, handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi, kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

[¶73] They say, ‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante. Pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶74] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind. Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence. That bad deed wasn’t done by your mother, father, brother, or sister. It wasn’t done by friends and colleagues, by relatives and kin, by the deities, or by ascetics and brahmins. That bad deed was done by you alone, and you alone will experience the result.’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho, purisa, pamādatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā. Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ. Taṁ kho pana te etaṁ pāpakammaṁ neva mātarā kataṁ, na pitarā kataṁ, na bhātarā kataṁ, na bhaginiyā kataṁ, na mittāmaccehi kataṁ, na ñātisālohitehi kataṁ, na devatāhi kataṁ, na samaṇabrāhmaṇehi kataṁ; atha kho tayāvetaṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ, tvaññevetassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedissasī’ti.

[¶75] King Yama grills them about the second messenger of the gods: ‘My man, did you not see the second messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā paṭhamaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā, dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati: ‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

[¶76] They say, ‘I saw nothing, sir.’ King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did you not see among human beings a woman or a man, sick, suffering, gravely ill, collapsed in their own urine and feces, being picked up by some and put down by others?’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā ābādhikaṁ dukkhitaṁ bāḷhagilānaṁ, sake muttakarīse palipannaṁ semānaṁ, aññehi vuṭṭhāpiyamānaṁ, aññehi saṁvesiyamānan’ti?

[¶77] They say, ‘I saw that, sir.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶78] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature— “I, too, am liable to become sick. I’m not exempt from sickness. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi: “ahampi khomhi byādhidhammo byādhiṁ anatīto, handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā”’ti?

[¶79] They say, ‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante. Pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶80] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind. Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence. That bad deed wasn’t done by your mother, father, brother, or sister. It wasn’t done by friends and colleagues, by relatives and kin, by the deities, or by ascetics and brahmins. That bad deed was done by you alone, and you alone will experience the result.’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, pamādatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā. Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ. Taṁ kho pana te etaṁ pāpakammaṁ neva mātarā kataṁ, na pitarā kataṁ, na bhātarā kataṁ, na bhaginiyā kataṁ, na mittāmaccehi kataṁ, na ñātisālohitehi kataṁ, na devatāhi kataṁ, na samaṇabrāhmaṇehi kataṁ; atha kho tayāvetaṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ. Tvaññevetassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedissasī’ti.

[¶81] King Yama grills them about the third messenger of the gods: ‘My man, did you not see the third messenger of the gods that appeared among human beings?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā dutiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā, tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjati samanugāhati samanubhāsati: ‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ pātubhūtan’ti?

[¶82] They say, ‘I saw nothing, sir.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāddasaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶83] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did you not see among human beings a woman or a man, dead for one, two, or three days, bloated, livid, and festering?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, na tvaṁ addasa manussesu itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā ekāhamataṁ vā dvīhamataṁ vā tīhamataṁ vā uddhumātakaṁ vinīlakaṁ vipubbakajātan’ti?

[¶84] They say, ‘I saw that, sir.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘addasaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶85] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, did it not occur to you—being sensible and mature— “I, too, am liable to die. I’m not exempt from death. I’d better do good by way of body, speech, and mind”?’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, tassa te viññussa sato mahallakassa na etadahosi— ahampi khomhi maraṇadhammo maraṇaṁ anatīto, handāhaṁ kalyāṇaṁ karomi kāyena vācāya manasā’ti?

[¶86] They say, ‘I couldn’t, sir. I was negligent.’

> Pali: So evamāha: ‘nāsakkhissaṁ, bhante. Pamādassaṁ, bhante’ti.

[¶87] King Yama says to them, ‘My man, because you were negligent, you didn’t do good by way of body, speech, and mind. Well, they’ll definitely punish you to fit your negligence. That bad deed wasn’t done by your mother, father, brother, or sister. It wasn’t done by friends and colleagues, by relatives and kin, by the deities, or by ascetics and brahmins. That bad deed was done by you alone, and you alone will experience the result.’

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā evamāha: ‘ambho purisa, pamādatāya na kalyāṇamakāsi kāyena vācāya manasā. Taggha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, tathā karissanti yathā taṁ pamattaṁ. Taṁ kho pana te etaṁ pāpakammaṁ neva mātarā kataṁ, na pitarā kataṁ, na bhātarā kataṁ, na bhaginiyā kataṁ, na mittāmaccehi kataṁ, na ñātisālohitehi kataṁ, na devatāhi kataṁ, na samaṇabrāhmaṇehi kataṁ; atha kho tayāvetaṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ. Tvaññevetassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedissasī’”ti.

[¶88] After grilling them about the third messenger of the gods, King Yama falls silent. The wardens of hell punish them with the five-fold crucifixion. They drive red-hot stakes through the hands and feet, and another in the middle of the chest. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated.

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, yamo rājā tatiyaṁ devadūtaṁ samanuyuñjitvā samanugāhitvā samanubhāsitvā tuṇhī hoti. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā pañcavidhabandhanaṁ nāma kāraṇaṁ karonti. Tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ hatthe gamenti. Tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ dutiyasmiṁ hatthe gamenti. Tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ pāde gamenti. Tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ dutiyasmiṁ pāde gamenti. Tattaṁ ayokhilaṁ majjhe urasmiṁ gamenti. So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vediyati, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

[¶89] The wardens of hell throw them down and hack them with axes. …

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā saṁvesetvā kudhārīhi tacchanti. So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vediyati, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti.

[¶90] They hang them upside-down and hack them with hatchets. …

> Pali: Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā uddhampādaṁ adhosiraṁ gahetvā vāsīhi tacchanti …pe…

[¶91] They harness them to a chariot, and drive them back and forth across burning ground, blazing and glowing. …

> Pali: tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā rathe yojetvā ādittāya bhūmiyā sampajjalitāya sajotibhūtāya sārentipi paccāsārentipi …pe…

[¶92] They make them climb up and down a big mountain of burning coals, blazing and glowing. …

> Pali: tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā mahantaṁ aṅgārapabbataṁ ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ āropentipi oropentipi …pe…

[¶93] The wardens of hell turn them upside down and throw them in a red-hot copper pot, burning, blazing, and glowing. There they’re seared in boiling scum, and they’re swept up and down and round and round. And there they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings—but they don’t die until that bad deed is eliminated. The wardens of hell toss them into the Great Hell.

> Pali: tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā uddhampādaṁ adhosiraṁ gahetvā tattāya lohakumbhiyā pakkhipanti, ādittāya sampajjalitāya sajotibhūtāya. (…) So tattha pheṇuddehakaṁ paccamāno sakimpi uddhaṁ gacchati, sakimpi adho gacchati, sakimpi tiriyaṁ gacchati. So tattha dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vediyati, na ca tāva kālaṁ karoti yāva na taṁ pāpakammaṁ byantīhoti. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, nirayapālā mahāniraye pakkhipanti.

[¶94] Now, about that Great Hell:

> Pali: So kho pana, bhikkhave, mahānirayo—

[¶95] ‘Four are its corners, four its doors,
neatly divided section by section.
Surrounded by an iron wall,
of iron is its roof.

> Pali: Catukkaṇṇo catudvāro,
vibhatto bhāgaso mito;
Ayopākārapariyanto,
ayasā paṭikujjito.

[¶96] The ground is even made of iron,
it burns with fierce fire.
The heat forever radiates
a hundred leagues around.’

> Pali: Tassa ayomayā bhūmi,
Jalitā tejasā yutā;
Samantā yojanasataṁ,
Pharitvā tiṭṭhati sabbadāti.

[¶97] Once upon a time, King Yama thought, ‘Those who do such bad deeds in the world receive these many different punishments. Oh, I hope I may be reborn as a human being! And that a Realized One—a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha—arises in the world! And that I may pay homage to the Buddha! Let that Buddha teach me Dhamma, so that I may understand his teaching!’

> Pali: Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, yamassa rañño etadahosi: ‘ye kira, bho, loke pāpakāni kammāni karonti te evarūpā vividhā kammakāraṇā karīyanti. Aho vatāhaṁ manussattaṁ labheyyaṁ, tathāgato ca loke uppajjeyya arahaṁ sammāsambuddho, tañcāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāseyyaṁ. So ca me bhagavā dhammaṁ deseyya, tassa cāhaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ ājāneyyan’ti.

[¶98] Now, I don’t say this because I’ve heard it from some other ascetic or brahmin. I only say it because I’ve known, seen, and realized it for myself.

> Pali: Taṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, na aññassa samaṇassa vā brāhmaṇassa vā sutvā evaṁ vadāmi, api ca kho, bhikkhave, yadeva me sāmaṁ ñātaṁ sāmaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sāmaṁ viditaṁ tadevāhaṁ vadāmīti.

[¶99] When warned by the gods’ messengers,
those sons of Manu who are negligent
sorrow for a long time
when they go to that wretched place.

> Pali: Coditā devadūtehi,
ye pamajjanti māṇavā;
Te dīgharattaṁ socanti,
hīnakāyūpagā narā.

[¶100] When warned by the gods’ messengers,
the good and true persons here
never neglect
the teaching of the Noble One.

> Pali: Ye ca kho devadūtehi,
santo sappurisā idha;
Coditā nappamajjanti,
ariyadhamme kudācanaṁ.

[¶101] Seeing the danger in grasping,
the origin of birth and death,
the unattached are freed
with the ending of birth and death.

> Pali: Upādāne bhayaṁ disvā,
jātimaraṇasambhave;
Anupādā vimuccanti,
jātimaraṇasaṅkhaye.

[¶102] Happy, they’ve come to a safe place,
quenched in this very life.
They’ve gone beyond all enmities and fears,
and risen above all suffering.”

> Pali: Te appamattā sukhino,
diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;
Sabbaverabhayātītā,
sabbadukkhaṁ upaccagun”ti.

[¶103] > Pali: Chaṭṭhaṁ.

[¶104] AN 3.37 · The Four Great Kings (1st)

> Pali: AN 3.37 · Catumahārājasutta

[¶105] “On the eighth day of the fortnight, mendicants, the ministers and councillors of the four great kings wander about the world, thinking: ‘Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents, ascetics and brahmins, honoring the elders in their families, observing and keeping vigil on the sabbath, and making merit.’

> Pali: “Aṭṭhamiyaṁ, bhikkhave, pakkhassa catunnaṁ mahārājānaṁ amaccā pārisajjā imaṁ lokaṁ anuvicaranti: ‘kacci bahū manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karontī’ti.

[¶106] And on the fourteenth day of the fortnight, the sons of the four great kings wander about the world, thinking: ‘Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit.’

> Pali: Cātuddasiṁ, bhikkhave, pakkhassa catunnaṁ mahārājānaṁ puttā imaṁ lokaṁ anuvicaranti: ‘kacci bahū manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karontī’ti.

[¶107] And on the fifteenth day sabbath, the four great kings themselves wander about the world, thinking: ‘Hopefully most humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit.’

> Pali: Tadahu, bhikkhave, uposathe pannarase cattāro mahārājāno sāmaññeva imaṁ lokaṁ anuvicaranti: ‘kacci bahū manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karontī’ti.

[¶108] If only a few humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit, the four great kings address the gods of the thirty-three, seated together in the Hall of Clear Right: ‘Only a few humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit.’ Then the gods of the thirty-three are disappointed, thinking, ‘The heavenly hosts will dwindle, while the titan hosts will swell!’

> Pali: Sace, bhikkhave, appakā honti manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karonti. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, cattāro mahārājāno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sudhammāya sabhāya sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ārocenti: ‘appakā kho, mārisā, manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karontī’ti. Tena kho, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā anattamanā honti: ‘dibbā vata, bho, kāyā parihāyissanti, paripūrissanti asurakāyā’ti.

[¶109] But if many humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit, the four great kings address the gods of the thirty-three, seated together in the Hall of Clear Right: ‘Many humans are paying due respect to their parents … and making merit.’ Then the gods of the thirty-three are pleased, thinking, ‘The heavenly hosts will swell, while the titan hosts will dwindle!’

> Pali: Sace pana, bhikkhave, bahū honti manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karonti. Tamenaṁ, bhikkhave, cattāro mahārājāno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sudhammāya sabhāya sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ārocenti: ‘bahū kho, mārisā, manussā manussesu matteyyā petteyyā sāmaññā brahmaññā kule jeṭṭhāpacāyino uposathaṁ upavasanti paṭijāgaronti puññāni karontī’ti. Tena, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā attamanā honti: ‘dibbā vata bho kāyā paripūrissanti, parihāyissanti asurakāyā’ti.

[¶110] Once upon a time, Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse:

> Pali: Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

[¶111] ‘Whoever wants to be like me
would observe the sabbath
complete in all eight factors,
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
as well as on the fortnightly special displays.’

> Pali: ‘Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;
Uposathaṁ upavaseyya,
yopissa mādiso naro’ti.

[¶112] But that verse was poorly sung by Sakka, lord of gods, not well sung; poorly spoken, not well spoken. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of gods, is not free of greed, hate, and delusion.

> Pali: Sā kho panesā, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthā duggītā na sugītā dubbhāsitā na subhāsitā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sakko hi, bhikkhave, devānamindo avītarāgo avītadoso avītamoho.

[¶113] But for a mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—it is appropriate to say:

> Pali: Yo ca kho so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo vusitavā brahmacariyo katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto, tassa kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno kallaṁ vacanāya:

[¶114] ‘Whoever wants to be like me
would observe the sabbath,
complete in all eight factors,
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
as well as on the fortnightly special displays.’

> Pali: ‘Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;
Uposathaṁ upavaseyya,
yopissa mādiso naro’ti.

[¶115] Why is that? Because that mendicant is free of greed, hate, and delusion.”

> Pali: Taṁ kissa hetu? So hi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vītarāgo vītadoso vītamoho”ti.

[¶116] > Pali: Sattamaṁ.

[¶117] AN 3.38 · The Four Great Kings (2nd)

> Pali: AN 3.38 · Dutiyacatumahārājasutta

[¶118] “Once upon a time, mendicants, Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse:

> Pali: “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

[¶119] ‘Whoever wants to be like me
would observe the sabbath
complete in all eight factors,
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
as well as on the fortnightly special displays.’

> Pali: ‘Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;
Uposathaṁ upavaseyya,
yopissa mādiso naro’ti.

[¶120] But that verse was poorly sung by Sakka, lord of gods, not well sung; poorly spoken, not well spoken. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of gods, is not exempt from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. He is not exempt from suffering, I say.

> Pali: Sā kho panesā, bhikkhave, sakkena devānamindena gāthā duggītā na sugītā dubbhāsitā na subhāsitā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sakko hi, bhikkhave, devānamindo aparimutto jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, ‘aparimutto dukkhasmā’ti vadāmi.

[¶121] But for a mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—it is appropriate to say:

> Pali: Yo ca kho so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto, tassa kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno kallaṁ vacanāya:

[¶122] ‘Whoever wants to be like me
would observe the sabbath,
complete in all eight factors,
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
as well as on the fortnightly special displays.’

> Pali: ‘Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;
Uposathaṁ upavaseyya,
yopissa mādiso naro’ti.

[¶123] Why is that? Because that mendicant is exempt from rebirth, old age, and death, from sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. He is exempt from suffering, I say.”

> Pali: Taṁ kissa hetu? So hi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu parimutto jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, ‘parimutto dukkhasmā’ti vadāmī”ti.

[¶124] > Pali: Aṭṭhamaṁ.