AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.127 With Hatthaka

Numbered Discourses 3.127 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.127

13. Kusināra – 13. Kusināravagga

AN 3.127 With Hatthaka – Hatthakasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Then, late at night, the glorious god Hatthaka, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha. Thinking,

Atha kho hatthako devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā:

1.3

“I will stand before the Buddha,” he sank and melted down, and wasn’t able to stay still.

“bhagavato purato ṭhassāmī”ti osīdatimeva saṁsīdatimeva, na sakkoti saṇṭhātuṁ.

1.4

It’s like when ghee or oil is poured on sand, it sinks and melts down, and can’t remain stable.

Seyyathāpi nāma sappi vā telaṁ vā vālukāya āsittaṁ osīdatimeva saṁsīdatimeva, na saṇṭhāti;

1.5

evamevaṁ hatthako devaputto:

1.6

“bhagavato purato ṭhassāmī”ti osīdatimeva saṁsīdatimeva, na sakkoti saṇṭhātuṁ.

2.1

Then the Buddha said to Hatthaka,

Atha kho bhagavā hatthakaṁ devaputtaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“Hatthaka, manifest in a solid life-form.”

“oḷārikaṁ, hatthaka, attabhāvaṁ abhinimmināhī”ti.

2.3

“Yes, sir,” replied Hatthaka. He manifested in a solid life-form, bowed to the Buddha, and stood to one side.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti, kho hatthako devaputto bhagavato paṭissutvā oḷārikaṁ attabhāvaṁ abhinimminitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

2.4

The Buddha said to him,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho hatthakaṁ devaputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

3.1

“Hatthaka, I wonder whether you still rehearse now the teachings that you rehearsed when you were a human being?”

“Ye te, hatthaka, dhammā pubbe manussabhūtassa pavattino ahesuṁ, api nu te te dhammā etarahi pavattino”ti?

3.2

“I still rehearse now the teachings that I rehearsed as a human being.

“Ye ca me, bhante, dhammā pubbe manussabhūtassa pavattino ahesuṁ, te ca me dhammā etarahi pavattino;

3.3

And I also rehearse teachings that I didn’t rehearse as a human being.

ye ca me, bhante, dhammā pubbe manussabhūtassa nappavattino ahesuṁ, te ca me dhammā etarahi pavattino.

3.4

Just as the Buddha these days lives crowded by monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen; by rulers and their ministers, and teachers of other paths and their disciples,

Seyyathāpi, bhante, bhagavā etarahi ākiṇṇo viharati bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi rājūhi rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi;

3.5

so I live crowded by the gods.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, ākiṇṇo viharāmi devaputtehi.

3.6

The gods come from far away, thinking, ‘We’ll hear the teaching in the presence of Hatthaka.’

Dūratopi, bhante, devaputtā āgacchanti hatthakassa devaputtassa santike ‘dhammaṁ sossāmā’ti.

3.7

Sir, I passed away without getting enough of three things.

Tiṇṇāhaṁ, bhante, dhammānaṁ atitto appaṭivāno kālaṅkato.

3.8

What three?

Katamesaṁ tiṇṇaṁ?

3.9

Seeing the Buddha;

Bhagavato ahaṁ, bhante, dassanassa atitto appaṭivāno kālaṅkato;

3.10

hearing the true teaching;

saddhammasavanassāhaṁ, bhante, atitto appaṭivāno kālaṅkato;

3.11

and serving the Saṅgha.

saṅghassāhaṁ, bhante, upaṭṭhānassa atitto appaṭivāno kālaṅkato.

3.12

I passed away without getting enough of these three things.

Imesaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ atitto appaṭivāno kālaṅkatoti.

4.1

I could never get enough

Nāhaṁ bhagavato dassanassa,

4.2

of seeing the Buddha,

Tittimajjhagā kudācanaṁ;

4.3

serving the Saṅgha,

Saṅghassa upaṭṭhānassa,

4.4

or hearing the teaching.

Saddhammasavanassa ca.

5.1

Training in the higher ethics,

Adhisīlaṁ sikkhamāno,

5.2

loving to hear the true teaching,

saddhammasavane rato;

5.3

Hatthaka has gone to the Aviha realm

Tiṇṇaṁ dhammānaṁ atitto,

5.4

without getting enough of these three things.”

hatthako avihaṁ gato”ti.

5.5

Pañcamaṁ.