SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 1 Connected Discourses With Deities – Devatāsaṁyutta > SN 1.35 Disdain

Linked Discourses 1.35 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.35

4. The Satullapa Group – 4. Satullapakāyikavagga

SN 1.35 Disdain – Ujjhānasaññisutta

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

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the Disdainful Group, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, and stood in the air.

Atha kho sambahulā ujjhānasaññikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā vehāsaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Standing in the air, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Vehāsaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Someone who pretends

“Aññathā santamattānaṁ,

to be other than they really are,

aññathā yo pavedaye;

is like a cheating gambler

Nikacca kitavasseva,

who enjoys what was gained by theft.

bhuttaṁ theyyena tassa taṁ.

You should only say what you would do;

Yañhi kayirā tañhi vade,

you shouldn’t say what you wouldn’t do.

yaṁ na kayirā na taṁ vade;

The wise will recognize

Akarontaṁ bhāsamānaṁ,

one who talks without doing.”

parijānanti paṇḍitā”ti.

“Not just by speaking,

“Na yidaṁ bhāsitamattena,

nor solely by listening,

ekantasavanena vā;

are you able to progress

Anukkamitave sakkā,

on this hard path,

yāyaṁ paṭipadā daḷhā;

by which wise ones practicing absorption

Yāya dhīrā pamuccanti,

are released from Māra’s bonds.

jhāyino mārabandhanā.

The wise certainly don’t act like that,

Na ve dhīrā pakubbanti,

for they understand the way of the world.

viditvā lokapariyāyaṁ;

The wise are extinguished by understanding,

Aññāya nibbutā dhīrā,

they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.”

tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.

Then those deities landed on the ground, bowed with their heads at the Buddha’s feet and said,

Atha kho tā devatāyo pathaviyaṁ patiṭṭhahitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“We have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of us to imagine we could attack the Buddha!

“accayo no, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yā mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ āsādetabbaṁ amaññimhā.

Please, sir, accept our mistake for what it is, so we will restrain ourselves in future.”

Tāsaṁ no, bhante, bhagavā accayaṁ accayato paṭiggaṇhātu āyatiṁ saṁvarāyā”ti.

At that, the Buddha smiled.

Atha kho bhagavā sitaṁ pātvākāsi.

Then those deities, becoming even more disdainful, flew up in the air.

Atha kho tā devatāyo bhiyyoso mattāya ujjhāyantiyo vehāsaṁ abbhuggañchuṁ.

One deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“If you don’t give your pardon

“Accayaṁ desayantīnaṁ,

when a mistake is confessed,

yo ce na paṭigaṇhati;

with hidden anger and heavy hate,

Kopantaro dosagaru,

you’re stuck in your enmity.”

sa veraṁ paṭimuñcatī”ti.

“If no mistake is found,

“Accayo ce na vijjetha,

if no-one’s gone astray,

nocidhāpagataṁ siyā;

and enmities are settled,

Verāni na ca sammeyyuṁ,

then who could have been unskillful?”

kenīdha kusalo siyā”ti.

“Who makes no mistakes?

“Kassaccayā na vijjanti,

Who doesn’t go astray?

kassa natthi apāgataṁ;

Who doesn’t fall into confusion?

Ko na sammohamāpādi,

Who is the wise one that’s ever mindful?”

ko ca dhīro sadā sato”ti.

“The Realized One, the Buddha,

“Tathāgatassa buddhassa,

compassionate for all beings:

sabbabhūtānukampino;

that’s who makes no mistakes,

Tassaccayā na vijjanti,

and that’s who doesn’t go astray.

tassa natthi apāgataṁ;

He doesn’t fall into confusion,

So na sammohamāpādi,

for he’s the wise one, ever mindful.

sova dhīro sadā satoti.

If you don’t give your pardon

Accayaṁ desayantīnaṁ,

when a mistake is confessed,

yo ce na paṭigaṇhati;

with hidden anger and heavy hate,

Kopantaro dosagaru,

you’re stuck in your enmity.

sa veraṁ paṭimuñcati;

I don’t approve of such enmity,

Taṁ veraṁ nābhinandāmi,

and so I pardon your mistake.”

paṭiggaṇhāmi voccayan”ti.