Sutta Pitaka
Samyutta Nikāya
Division I –– Sagātha
Book 2 –– Devaputta Saṃyutta
Chapter 2 –– Nānātitthiyavaggo
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
(21) Sivo –– Siva the Son of the Gods
1. I heard thus. Once the Blessed One lived in Sāvatthi in Jeta’s grove in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika.
When the night was waning Siva the son of gods approached the Blessed One, illuminating the complete Jeta’s grove, worshiped the Blessed One and stood on a side and said thus in the presence of the Blessed One:
9. Then the Blessed One said this stanza to Siva the son of gods:
(22) Khemo –– Khema the Son of Gods
Khema, the son of gods standing on a side said this stanza, to the Blessed One:
(23) Seri –– Seri the Son of Gods
3. “Venerable sir, in the past there was a king named Seri. He was a benefactor, who praised giving gifts. That was me, I gave gifts at the four entrances to recluses, Brahmins, beggars, wayfarers and tramps.
4. Venerable sir, when I approached the women’s quarters they said: “Gifts of the lord are given, our gifts are not given. Good! If we too give gifts because of our lord and make merit.
5. Venerable sir, then it occurred to me, I am a benefactor, I praise giving gifts. When they say, we want to give gifts, what shall I do? I gave the first entrance to the queens in the harem. There the queens gave gifts and my gifts were put aside
6. Venerable sir, then I approached the subordinate warrior kings, they said: “Gifts of me’lord are given, gifts of the ladies in the harem are given, our gifts are not given. Good! If we too give gifts because of our lord and make merit.
Venerable sir, then it occurred to me, I am a benefactor, I praise giving gifts. When they say, we want to give gifts, what shall I do? I gave the second entrance to the subordinate warrior kings. There, the sub ordinate warrior kings gave gifts and my gifts were put aside
7. Venerable sir, then I approached the forces they said: “Gifts of me’lord are given, gifts of the queens are given, gifts of the warrior subordinates are given, our gifts are not given. Good! If we too give gifts because of our lord and make merit.
Venerable sir, then it occurred to me, I am a benefactor, I praise giving gifts. When they say, we want to give gifts, what shall I do? I gave the third entrance to the forces. There the forces gave gifts and my gifts were put aside
8. Venerable sir, then I approached the Brahmin householders they said: “Gifts of me’lord are given, gifts of the queens are given, gifts of the warrior subordinates are given, gifts of the forces are given, our gifts are not given. Good! If we too give gifts because of our lord and make merit.
Venerable sir, then it occurred to me, I am a benefactor, I praise giving gifts. When they say, we want to give gifts, what shall I do? I gave the fourth entrance to the Brahmin householders. There the Brahmin householders gave gifts and my gifts were put aside
9. Then I approached the general public and they said, the gifts of the king are not given anywhere
Then, venerable sir, I said to those people: “Friends, of the wealth arising from the external states, give half to the treasury and with the other half give gifts to recluses, Brahmins, beggars, wayfarers and tramps.
10. Venerable sir, giving gifts and doing merit in this manner, I can not measure the magnitude of the merits and there results, as it is this much and this much and would have to enjoy heavenly bliss for such a length of time.
11. Indeed, venerable sir, your words, are wonderful.
(24) Ghaṭṭhikaro –– Ghaṭṭikara the Son of the Gods
1. Standing on a side, Ghaṭṭhīkara the son of the gods said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:
The seven bhikkhus are released from the diffused ness of the world.”
8. “As Bhaggava says there was, in the past a lay disciple of the Blessed One Kassapa, who cared for his mother and father.
(25) Jantu –– Jantu the Son of the Gods
I heard thus. At that time many bhikkhus were living in forest huts on the side of the Himalayas in the country of Kosala. They were sportive, arrogant, with loose talk, with roaming and uncontrolled minds.
2. On the fifteenth day of the full moon, Jantu, the son of the gods approached those bhikkhus and said this stanza:
(26) Rohita –– Rohita the Son of the Gods
1. The Blessed One was living in Sāvatthi.
2. Rohita, the son of the gods standing on a side said this in the presence of the Blessed One.
“Venerable sir, is it possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by traveling, to the end of the world?”
3. “Friend, I say, it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by traveling, to the end of the world.”
4. “Venerable sir, these are good words of the Blessed One. ‘Friend, I say it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by traveling, to the end of the world’
5. Venerable sir, in the past there was a sage named Rohita, the son of Bhoja. He was very powerful and travelled, through the air.
Venerable sir, it was me and I had a speed similar to the speed of a well trained archer who could split a palm, shooting with his bow and bring it down in no time.
6. If I put one foot in the eastern ocean, the other was in the western, such was my span. And I had a wish like this, by walking I shall arrive at the end of the world.
7. Venerable sir, endowed with that speed and span of walking, I, a being with a life span of a hundred years and living a hundred years, did not stop other than for eating drinking, enjoying food, for urinating and excreting, other than to dispel sleepiness and tiredness. Yet I died before reaching the end of the world, at the end of the hundred years.
8. Venerable sir, these words of the Blessed One are wonderful and surprising. ‘Friend, I say, it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by traveling, to the end of the world’
9. “Yet, friend, without reaching the end of the world, I say, there is no ending of un –– pleasantness. Yet friend, in this fathom long body, this perceptive form, I appoint the world, its arising, its ceasing and the path leading to its cessation.
(27) Nando –– Nanda the Son of the Gods
Nanda the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza to the Blessed One.
(28) Nandivisalo –– Nandivisala the son of the gods.
Nandivisala, the son of the gods, standing on a side said this stanza to the Blessed One:
(29) Susimo –– Susima the Son of the Gods
1. At Sāvatthi.
2. Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on side. Then the Blessed One said thus to venerable Ānanda:
“Ānanda, is Sāriputta pleased with you too?”
3. “Venerable sir, how could venerable Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way? Venerable sir, venerable Sāriputta is very wise, has a wide understanding, is quick witted, has keen intelligence, has sharp and penetrating wisdom, has few desires, is satisfied, is secluded and without associations, with aroused effort, particular about his observances, speaks gently, exhorts reprovingly, disapproves evil, so why should venerable Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way.”
4. “Ānanda, you are right, how could Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way? Ānanda, Sāriputta, is very wise, has a wide understanding, is quick witted, has keen intelligence, has sharp and penetrating wisdom, has few desires, is satisfied, is secluded and without associations, with aroused effort, particular about his observances, speaks gently, exhorts reprovingly, disapproves evil, so why should Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way?”
5. Then Susima the son of the gods hearing the words, praising venerable Sāriputta accompanied by a large number of sons of gods, approached the Blessed One, worshipped and stood on a side.
6. Standing on a side, Susima the son of the gods said thus to the Blessed One:
“That is so, Blessed One! It’s so, Well Gone One! How could venerable Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way? Venerable sir, venerable Sāriputta is very wise, has a wide understanding, is quick witted, has keen intelligence, has sharp and penetrating wisdom, has few desires, is satisfied, is secluded and without associations, with aroused effort, is particular about his observances, speaks gently, exhorts reprovingly, disapproves evil, so why should venerable Sāriputta be displeased with someone, who is not a fool, not corrupt, not erring and thinks in a constructive way?”
7. Then Susima, the son of the god’s companions, the sons of gods, hearing the words of praise given to venerable Sāriputta were delighted and overjoyed and spoke high and low about venerable Sāriputta making their own manifestations of him.
8. Like the beryl gem with a good birth, cut on the eight sides, placed on an orange blanket would shine and give luster, in the same manner Susima, the son of the god’s companions, the sons of gods hearing the words of praise given to venerable Sāriputta were delighted and overjoyed and spoke high and low about venerable Sāriputta making their own manifestations of him.
9. Like a golden ornament completed by a well accomplished expert goldsmith, placed on an orange blanket would shine and give luster, in the same manner Susima, the son of the god’s companion gods, the sons of gods, hearing the words of praise given to venerable Sāriputta were delighted and overjoyed and spoke high and low about venerable Sāriputta making their own manifestations of him.
10. Like the morning star which shines resplendent in the sky in the last watch of the night, in the same manner Susima, the son of the god’s companions, the sons of gods, hearing the words of praise given to venerable Sāriputta were delighted and overjoyed and spoke high and low about venerable Sāriputta making their own manifestations of him.
11. Like the sun in the Autumn, risen in a cloudless sky and dispelling all darkness would shine and burn, in the same manner Susima, the son of the god’s companions the sons of gods, hearing the words of praise given to venerable Sāriputta were delighted and overjoyed and spoke high and low about venerable Sāriputta making their own manifestations of him.
12. Then Susima the son of the gods said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One, about venerable Sāriputta:
13. The Blessed One in reply to Susima the son of the gods said this stanza:
(30) Nanatitthiya –– Gods with Various Beliefs
1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the squirrels’ sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha.
2. Then a large number of sons of gods, disciples of adherents of other sects such as Asama, Sahali, Nimko, Ākoṭako, Veṭambari and Manava-Gamiyo, when the night was waning, illuminating the whole of the bamboo grove with an effulgent light approached the Blessed One, worshipped and stood on a side.
3. Asama the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One alluding to Purana Kassapa:
4. Sahali the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One alluding to Makkhali Gosāla:
5. Nimko the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One alluding to Nigantha Nataputta:
6. Ākoṭaka the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One alluding to the sects with various beliefs:
7. Then Vetambari the son of the gods as a reply to Ākotaka the son of the gods said this stanza:
8. Then Māra the evil one seized the consciousness of Vetambari, the son of the gods and said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:
9. The Blessed One knowing, that it was Māra the evil one, said this stanza to Māra the evil one
10. Manava Gamini the son of the gods standing on a side said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One alluding to the Blessed One: