Chapter One · SN 2.2–2.10

SN 2.2 · With Kassapa (2nd)

SN 2.2 · Dutiyakassapasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Standing to one side, the godling Kassapa spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kassapo devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“If a mendicant is a meditator, freed in mind,and if they desire the heart’s fulfillment—having known the arising and passing of the world,good-hearted, independent, that is their reward.”

“Bhikkhu siyā jhāyī vimuttacitto,Ākaṅkhe ce hadayassānupattiṁ;Lokassa ñatvā udayabbayañca,Sucetaso anissito tadānisaṁso”ti.

SN 2.3 · With Māgha

SN 2.3 · Māghasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Māgha, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and addressed the Buddha in verse:

Atha kho māgho devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“When what is slain do you sleep at ease?When what is slain is there no sorrow?What is the one thingwhose killing you approve?”

“Kiṁsu chetvā sukhaṁ seti,kiṁsu chetvā na socati;Kissassu ekadhammassa,vadhaṁ rocesi gotamā”ti.

“When anger’s slain you sleep at ease.When anger’s slain there is no sorrow.Anger has a poisonous rootand a sweet tip, O Smiter of the Constrictor.The noble ones praise its killing,for when it’s slain there is no sorrow.”

“Kodhaṁ chetvā sukhaṁ seti,kodhaṁ chetvā na socati;Kodhassa visamūlassa,madhuraggassa vatrabhū;Vadhaṁ ariyā pasaṁsanti,tañhi chetvā na socatī”ti.

SN 2.4 · With Maghada

SN 2.4 · Māgadhasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Standing to one side, the godling Maghada addressed the Buddha in verse:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgadho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“How many lamps are therethat light up the world?We’ve come to ask the Buddha;how are we to understand this?”

“Kati lokasmiṁ pajjotā,yehi loko pakāsati;Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

“There are four lamps in the world,a fifth is not found.The sun blazes by day,the moon radiates at night,

“Cattāro loke pajjotā,pañcamettha na vijjati;Divā tapati ādicco,rattimābhāti candimā.

while a fire illuminates bothby day and by night.But a Buddha is the best of blazes:this is the supreme radiance.”

Atha aggi divārattiṁ,tattha tattha pakāsati;Sambuddho tapataṁ seṭṭho,esā ābhā anuttarā”ti.

SN 2.5 · With Dāmali

SN 2.5 · Dāmalisutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Dāmali, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho dāmali devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho dāmali devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“This is what should be done by a brahmin:unrelenting striving.Then, with the giving up of sensual pleasures,they won’t hope to be reborn.”

“Karaṇīyametaṁ brāhmaṇena,Padhānaṁ akilāsunā;Kāmānaṁ vippahānena,Na tenāsīsate bhavan”ti.

“The brahmin has nothing left to do,”said the Buddha to Dāmali,“for they’ve completed their task.So long as a personage fails to gain a footing in the river,they swim with every limb.But someone who has gained a footing <j>and stands on dry landneed not swim, <j>for they have reached the far shore.

“Natthi kiccaṁ brāhmaṇassa,(dāmalīti bhagavā)Katakicco hi brāhmaṇo;Yāva na gādhaṁ labhati nadīsu,Āyūhati sabbagattebhi jantu;Gādhañca laddhāna thale ṭhito yo,Nāyūhatī pāragato hi sova.

Dāmali, this is a simile for the brahmin,alert, a meditator who has ended defilements.Since they’ve reached the end of rebirth and death,they need not swim, <j>for they have reached the far shore.”

Esūpamā dāmali brāhmaṇassa,Khīṇāsavassa nipakassa jhāyino;Pappuyya jātimaraṇassa antaṁ,Nāyūhatī pāragato hi so”ti.

SN 2.6 · With Kāmada

SN 2.6 · Kāmadasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Standing to one side, the godling Kāmada said to the Buddha, “It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!”

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kāmado devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “dukkaraṁ, bhagavā, sudukkaraṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“They do it even though it’s hard,”said the Buddha to Kāmada,“the stable trainees with ethics, and immersion.For one who has entered the homeless life,contentment brings happiness.”

“Dukkaraṁ vāpi karonti,(kāmadāti bhagavā)Sekhā sīlasamāhitā;Ṭhitattā anagāriyupetassa,Tuṭṭhi hoti sukhāvahā”ti.

“Such contentment, Blessed One, is hard to find.”

“Dullabhā, bhagavā, yadidaṁ tuṭṭhī”ti.

“They find it even though it’s hard,”said the Buddha to Kāmada,“those who love to settle the mind;whose minds love to meditateday and night.”

“Dullabhaṁ vāpi labhanti,(kāmadāti bhagavā)Cittavūpasame ratā;Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,Bhāvanāya rato mano”ti.

“But it’s hard, Blessed One, to immerse this mind in samādhi.”

“Dussamādahaṁ, bhagavā, yadidaṁ cittan”ti.

“They become immersed in samādhi <j>even though it’s hard,”said the Buddha to Kāmada,“those who love calming the faculties.Having cut through the net of Death,the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way.”

“Dussamādahaṁ vāpi samādahanti,(kāmadāti bhagavā)Indriyūpasame ratā;Te chetvā maccuno jālaṁ,Ariyā gacchanti kāmadā”ti.

“But this path, Blessed One, is rough and hard to travel.”

“Duggamo, bhagavā, visamo maggo”ti.

“Though it’s rough, hard to travel,the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way.The ignoble fall headfirston a rough path.But the path of the noble ones is smooth,for the noble ones are smooth amid the rough.”

“Duggame visame vāpi,Ariyā gacchanti kāmada;Anariyā visame magge,Papatanti avaṁsirā;Ariyānaṁ samo maggo,Ariyā hi visame samā”ti.

SN 2.7 · With Pañcālacaṇḍa

SN 2.7 · Pañcālacaṇḍasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Standing to one side, the godling Pañcālacaṇḍa spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho pañcālacaṇḍo devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“The opening amid confinementwas discovered by the Buddha of vast intelligence,who awakened to absorption,the sage, the solitary boss bull.”

“Sambādhe vata okāsaṁ,Avindi bhūrimedhaso;Yo jhānamabujjhi buddho,Paṭilīnanisabho munī”ti.

“Even amid confinement they understand,”said the Buddha to Pañcālacaṇḍa,“the principle for attaining extinguishment.Those who have acquired mindfulnessare perfectly serene in samādhi.”

“Sambādhe vāpi vindanti,(pañcālacaṇḍāti bhagavā)Dhammaṁ nibbānapattiyā;Ye satiṁ paccalatthaṁsu,Sammā te susamāhitā”ti.

SN 2.8 · With Tāyana

SN 2.8 · Tāyanasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Tāyana, formerly a religious founder, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho tāyano devaputto purāṇatitthakaro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho tāyano devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Cut the stream, striving!Cast aside sensual pleasures, brahmin.A sage who doesn’t give up sensual pleasuresis not reborn in a unified state.

“Chinda sotaṁ parakkamma,kāme panuda brāhmaṇa;Nappahāya munī kāme,nekattamupapajjati.

If one is to do what should be done,one should staunchly strive.For the life gone forth when laxly ledjust stirs up dust all the more.

Kayirā ce kayirāthenaṁ,daḷhamenaṁ parakkame;Sithilo hi paribbājo,bhiyyo ākirate rajaṁ.

A bad deed is better left undone,for it will plague you later on.A good deed is better done,one that does not plague you.

Akataṁ dukkaṭaṁ seyyo,pacchā tapati dukkaṭaṁ;Katañca sukataṁ seyyo,yaṁ katvā nānutappati.

When kusa grass is wrongly graspedit only cuts the hand.So too, the ascetic life, when wrongly taken,drags you to hell.

Kuso yathā duggahito,hatthamevānukantati;Sāmaññaṁ dupparāmaṭṭhaṁ,nirayāyūpakaḍḍhati.

Any lax act,any corrupt observance,or suspicious spiritual life,is not very fruitful.”

Yaṁ kiñci sithilaṁ kammaṁ,saṅkiliṭṭhañca yaṁ vataṁ;Saṅkassaraṁ brahmacariyaṁ,na taṁ hoti mahapphalan”ti.

That is what the godling Tāyana said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Idamavoca tāyano devaputto; idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Mendicants, tonight, the glorious godling Tāyana, formerly a religious founder, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in my presence.” The Buddha repeated the verses in full, adding:

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ tāyano nāma devaputto purāṇatitthakaro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhikkhave, tāyano devaputto mama santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“That is what the godling Tāyana said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there. Mendicants, learn the verses of Tāyana! Memorize the verses of Tāyana! Remember the verses of Tāyana! These verses are beneficial and relate to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, tāyano devaputto, idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Uggaṇhātha, bhikkhave, tāyanagāthā; pariyāpuṇātha, bhikkhave, tāyanagāthā; dhāretha, bhikkhave, tāyanagāthā. Atthasaṁhitā, bhikkhave, tāyanagāthā ādibrahmacariyikā”ti.

SN 2.9 · The Moon

SN 2.9 · Candimasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time the Moon God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of titans. Then the Moon God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time spoke this verse:

Tena kho pana samayena candimā devaputto rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti. Atha kho candimā devaputto bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Homage to you, Buddha, hero!You’re free in every way.I’ve wandered into confinement:be my refuge!”

“Namo te buddha vīratthu,vippamuttosi sabbadhi;Sambādhapaṭipannosmi,tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā”ti.

Then the Buddha addressed Rāhu in verse concerning the Moon God:

Atha kho bhagavā candimaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“The Moon God has gone for refugeto the Realized One, the perfected one.The Buddhas have compassion for the world—so Rāhu, release the Moon!”

“Tathāgataṁ arahantaṁ,candimā saraṇaṁ gato;Rāhu candaṁ pamuñcassu,buddhā lokānukampakā”ti.

Then Rāhu, having released the Moon, rushed to see Vepacitti, lord of titans and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck. Vepacitti addressed him in verse:

Atha kho rāhu asurindo candimaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena vepacitti asurindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho rāhuṁ asurindaṁ vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Why the rush?Rāhu, you released the Moonand came here looking like you’re in shock:why do you stand there so scared?”

“Kiṁ nu santaramānova,rāhu candaṁ pamuñcasi;Saṁviggarūpo āgamma,kiṁ nu bhītova tiṭṭhasī”ti.

“My head would have exploded in seven pieces,I would have found no happiness in life,if, when enchanted by the Buddha’s verse,I had not released the Moon.”

“Sattadhā me phale muddhā,jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe;Buddhagāthābhigītomhi,no ce muñceyya candiman”ti.

SN 2.10 · The Sun

SN 2.10 · Sūriyasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time the Sun God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of titans. Then the Sun God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time spoke this verse:

Tena kho pana samayena sūriyo devaputto rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti. Atha kho sūriyo devaputto bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Homage to you, Buddha, hero!You’re free in every way.I’ve wandered into confinement:be my refuge!”

“Namo te buddha vīratthu,vippamuttosi sabbadhi;Sambādhapaṭipannosmi,tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā”ti.

Then the Buddha addressed Rāhu in verse concerning the Sun God:

Atha kho bhagavā sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“The Sun God has gone for refugeto the Realized One, the perfected one.The Buddhas have compassion for the world—so Rāhu, release the Sun!

“Tathāgataṁ arahantaṁ,sūriyo saraṇaṁ gato;Rāhu sūriyaṁ pamuñcassu,buddhā lokānukampakā.

He is a beacon in the darkness,the dazzling sun, circle of awesome might.Rāhu, do not swallow him as he traverses the sky.Rāhu, release my offspring, the Sun!”

Yo andhakāre tamasi pabhaṅkaro,Verocano maṇḍalī uggatejo;Mā rāhu gilī caramantalikkhe,Pajaṁ mamaṁ rāhu pamuñca sūriyan”ti.

Then Rāhu, having released the Sun, rushed to see Vepacitti, lord of titans and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck. Vepacitti addressed him in verse:

Atha kho rāhu asurindo sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena vepacitti asurindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho rāhuṁ asurindaṁ vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Why the rush?Rāhu, you released the Sunand came here looking like you’re in shock:why do you stand there so scared?”

“Kiṁ nu santaramānova,rāhu sūriyaṁ pamuñcasi;Saṁviggarūpo āgamma,kiṁ nu bhītova tiṭṭhasī”ti.

“My head would have exploded in seven pieces,I would have found no joy in life,if, when enchanted by the Buddha’s verse,I had not released the Sun.”

“Sattadhā me phale muddhā,jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe;Buddhagāthābhigītomhi,no ce muñceyya sūriyan”ti.