SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 1 Connected Discourses With Deities – Devatāsaṁyutta > SN 1.11 The Garden of Delight

Linked Discourses 1.11 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.11

2. The Garden of Delight – 2. Nandanavagga

SN 1.11 The Garden of Delight – Nandanasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, a certain deity of the company of the Thirty-Three was amusing themselves in the Garden of Delight, escorted by a band of nymphs, and supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation. On that occasion they recited this verse:

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññatarā tāvatiṁsakāyikā devatā nandane vane accharāsaṅghaparivutā dibbehi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricārayamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

‘They don’t know pleasure

‘Na te sukhaṁ pajānanti,

who don’t see the Garden of Delight!

ye na passanti nandanaṁ;

It’s the abode of lordly gods,

Āvāsaṁ naradevānaṁ,

the glorious host of Thirty!’

tidasānaṁ yasassinan’ti.

When they had spoken, another deity replied with this verse:

Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, aññatarā devatā taṁ devataṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:

‘Fool, don’t you understand

‘Na tvaṁ bāle pajānāsi,

the saying of the perfected ones:

yathā arahataṁ vaco;

All conditions are anicca,

Aniccā sabbasaṅkhārā,

their nature is to rise and fall;

uppādavayadhammino;

having arisen, they cease;

Uppajjitvā nirujjhanti,

their stilling is true bliss.’”

tesaṁ vūpasamo sukho’”ti.