AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.32 Non-decline (1st)

Numbered Discourses 6.32 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.32

4. Deities – 4. Devatāvagga

AN 6.32 Non-decline (1st) – Paṭhamaaparihānasutta

1.1

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu.

“Chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

2.2

What six?

Katame cha?

2.3

Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for diligence, and for hospitality.

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

2.4

These six things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu.”

ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

2.5

That’s what that deity said,

Idamavoca sā devatā.

2.6

and the teacher approved.

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

2.7

Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

3.1

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the bhikkhū all that had happened, adding:

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

3.2

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:

3.3

‘chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

3.4

Katame cha?

3.5

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

3.6

ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

3.7

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā.

3.8

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

4.1

“Respect for the Teacher and the teaching,

Satthugaru dhammagaru,

4.2

and keen respect for the Saṅgha;

saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;

4.3

a bhikkhu who respects diligence

Appamādagaru bhikkhu,

4.4

and hospitality

paṭisanthāragāravo;

4.5

can’t decline,

Abhabbo parihānāya,

4.6

and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

nibbānasseva santike”ti.

4.7

Dutiyaṁ.