SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 2 Connected Discourses on Gods – Devaputtasaṁyutta > SN 2.5 With Dāmali

Linked Discourses 2.5 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.5

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 2.5 With Dāmali – Dāmalisutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Then, late at night, the glorious god Dāmali, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Atha kho dāmali devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho dāmali devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“This is what should be done by a brahmin:

“Karaṇīyametaṁ brāhmaṇena,

unrelenting striving.

Padhānaṁ akilāsunā;

Then, with the giving up of sensual pleasures,

Kāmānaṁ vippahānena,

they won’t hope to be reborn.”

Na tenāsīsate bhavan”ti.

“The brahmin has nothing left to do,”

“Natthi kiccaṁ brāhmaṇassa,

said the Buddha to Dāmali,

(dāmalīti bhagavā)

“for they’ve completed their task.

Katakicco hi brāhmaṇo;

So long as a person fails to gain a footing in the river,

Yāva na gādhaṁ labhati nadīsu,

they strive with every limb.

Āyūhati sabbagattebhi jantu;

But someone who has gained a footing and stands on dry land

Gādhañca laddhāna thale ṭhito yo,

need not strive, for they have reached the far shore.

Nāyūhatī pāragato hi sova.

Dāmali, this is a simile for the brahmin,

Esūpamā dāmali brāhmaṇassa,

alert, a meditator who has ended defilements.

Khīṇāsavassa nipakassa jhāyino;

Since they’ve reached the end of rebirth and death,

Pappuyya jātimaraṇassa antaṁ,

they need not strive, for they have reached the far shore.”

Nāyūhatī pāragato hi so”ti.