AN 6 The Book of the Sixes – Chakkanipāta > AN 6.42 With Nāgita

Numbered Discourses 6.42 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.42

4. Deities – 4. Devatāvagga

AN 6.42 With Nāgita – Nāgitasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhū when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Icchānaṅgala.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena icchānaṅgalaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari.

1.3

He stayed in a forest near Icchānaṅgala.

Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe.

1.4

The brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala heard:

Assosuṁ kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā:

1.5

“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Icchānaṅgala. He is staying in a forest near Icchānaṅgala.

“samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe.

1.6

He has this good reputation:

Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:

1.7

‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno …pe… buddho bhagavā’ti.

1.8

He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased; and he explains a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ …pe… arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

1.9

Then, when the night had passed, they took many different foods and went to the forest near Icchānaṅgala, where they stood outside the gates making a dreadful racket.

Atha kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā tassā rattiyā accayena pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhaṁsu uccāsaddā mahāsaddā.

2.1

Now, at that time Venerable Nāgita was the Buddha’s attendant.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgito bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti.

2.2

Then the Buddha said to Nāgita,

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ āmantesi:

2.3

“Nāgita, who’s making that dreadful racket? You’d think it was fishermen hauling in a catch!”

“ke pana te, nāgita, uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?

2.4

“Sir, it’s these brahmins and householders of Icchānaṅgala. They’ve brought many different foods, and they’re standing outside the gates wanting to offer it specially to the Buddha and the bhikkhu Saṅgha.”

“Ete, bhante, icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā bhagavantaṁyeva uddissa bhikkhusaṅghañcā”ti.

2.5

“Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me.

“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso.

2.6

There are those who can’t get the bliss of renunciation, the bliss of seclusion, the bliss of peace, the bliss of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can.

Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī,

2.7

Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.”

so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyyā”ti.

3.1

“Sir, may the Blessed One please relent now! May the Holy One relent!

“Adhivāsetu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; adhivāsetu, sugato;

3.2

Now is the time for the Buddha to relent.

adhivāsanakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

3.3

Wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders will incline the same way, as will the people of town and country.

Yena yeneva dāni, bhante, bhagavā gamissati, tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca.

3.4

It’s like when it rains heavily and the water flows downhill.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, thullaphusitake deve vassante yathāninnaṁ udakāni pavattanti;

3.5

In the same way, wherever the Buddha now goes, the brahmins and householders will incline the same way, as will the people of town and country.

evamevaṁ kho, bhante, yena yeneva dāni bhagavā gamissati, tanninnāva bhavissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca.

3.6

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

3.7

Because of the Buddha’s ethics and wisdom.”

Tathā hi, bhante, bhagavato sīlapaññāṇan”ti.

4.1

“Nāgita, may I never become famous. May fame not come to me.

“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, mā ca mayā yaso.

4.2

There are those who can’t get the bliss of renunciation, the bliss of seclusion, the bliss of peace, the bliss of awakening when they want, without trouble or difficulty like I can.

4.3

Let them enjoy the filthy, lazy pleasure of possessions, honor, and popularity.

so taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyya.

5.1

Take a bhikkhu living within a village who I see sitting immersed in samādhi.

Idhāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ.

5.2

I think to myself:

Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti:

5.3

‘Now a monastery worker, a novice, or a fellow practitioner will make this venerable fall from samādhi.’

‘idānimaṁ āyasmantaṁ ārāmiko vā upaṭṭhahissati samaṇuddeso vā taṁ tamhā samādhimhā cāvessatī’ti.

5.4

So I’m not pleased that that bhikkhu is living within a village.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.

6.1

Take a bhikkhu in the wilderness who I see sitting nodding in meditation.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe pacalāyamānaṁ nisinnaṁ.

6.2

I think to myself:

Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti:

6.3

‘Now this venerable, having dispelled that sleepiness and weariness, will focus just on the unified perception of wilderness.’

‘idāni ayamāyasmā imaṁ niddākilamathaṁ paṭivinodetvā araññasaññaṁyeva manasi karissati ekattan’ti.

6.4

So I’m pleased that that bhikkhu is living in the wilderness.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

7.1

Take a bhikkhu in the wilderness who I see sitting without being immersed in samādhi.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe asamāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ.

7.2

I think to myself:

Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti:

7.3

‘Now if this venerable’s mind is not immersed in samādhi they will immerse it, or if it is immersed in samādhi, they will preserve it.’

‘idāni ayamāyasmā asamāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ samādahissati, samāhitaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti.

7.4

So I’m pleased that that bhikkhu is living in the wilderness.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

8.1

Take a bhikkhu in the wilderness who I see sitting immersed in samādhi.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ araññe samāhitaṁ nisinnaṁ.

8.2

I think to myself:

Tassa mayhaṁ, nāgita, evaṁ hoti:

8.3

‘Now this venerable will free the unfreed mind or preserve the freed mind.’

‘idāni ayamāyasmā avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimocessati, vimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ anurakkhissatī’ti.

8.4

So I’m pleased that that bhikkhu is living in the wilderness.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

9.1

Take a bhikkhu who I see living within a village receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi gāmantavihāriṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

9.2

Enjoying possessions, honor, and popularity they neglect retreat, and they neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ nikāmayamāno riñcati paṭisallānaṁ riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni;

9.3

They come down to villages, towns, and capital cities and make their home there.

gāmanigamarājadhāniṁ osaritvā vāsaṁ kappeti.

9.4

So I’m not pleased that that bhikkhu is living within a village.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno na attamano homi gāmantavihārena.

10.1

Take a bhikkhu who I see in the wilderness receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Idha panāhaṁ, nāgita, bhikkhuṁ passāmi āraññikaṁ lābhiṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.

10.2

Fending off possessions, honor, and popularity they don’t neglect retreat, and they don’t neglect remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.

So taṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ paṭipaṇāmetvā na riñcati paṭisallānaṁ na riñcati araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni.

10.3

So I’m pleased that that bhikkhu is living in the wilderness.

Tenāhaṁ, nāgita, tassa bhikkhuno attamano homi araññavihārena.

11.1

Nāgita, when I’m walking along a road and I don’t see anyone ahead or behind I feel relaxed, even if I need to urinate or defecate.”

Yasmāhaṁ, nāgita, samaye addhānamaggappaṭipanno na kañci passāmi purato vā pacchato vā, phāsu me, nāgita, tasmiṁ samaye hoti antamaso uccārapassāvakammāyā”ti.

11.2

Dvādasamaṁ.

11.3

Devatāvaggo catuttho.

12.0

Tassuddānaṁ

12.1

Sekhā dve aparihāni,

12.2

Moggallāna vijjābhāgiyā;

12.3

Vivādadānattakārī nidānaṁ,

12.4

Kimiladārukkhandhena nāgitoti.