SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 2 Connected Discourses on Gods – Devaputtasaṁyutta > SN 2.10 The Sun

Linked Discourses 2.10 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.10

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 2.10 The Sun – Sūriyasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time the Sun God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of demons.

Tena kho pana samayena sūriyo devaputto rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti.

Then the Sun God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time recited this verse:

Atha kho sūriyo devaputto bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Homage to you, Buddha, hero!

“Namo te buddha vīratthu,

You’re everywhere free.

vippamuttosi sabbadhi;

I’ve wandered into confinement:

Sambādhapaṭipannosmi,

be my refuge!”

tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā”ti.

Then the Buddha addressed Rāhu in verse concerning the Sun God:

Atha kho bhagavā sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“The Sun God has gone for refuge

“Tathāgataṁ arahantaṁ,

to the Realized One, the perfected one.

sūriyo saraṇaṁ gato;

The Buddhas have compassion for the world—

Rāhu sūriyaṁ pamuñcassu,

so Rāhu, release the Sun!

buddhā lokānukampakā.

He is a beacon in the darkness,

Yo andhakāre tamasi pabhaṅkaro,

the blazing sun, circle of magnificent flame.

Verocano maṇḍalī uggatejo;

Rāhu, do not swallow him as he traverses the sky.

Mā rāhu gilī caramantalikkhe,

Rāhu, release my offspring, the Sun!”

Pajaṁ mamaṁ rāhu pamuñca sūriyan”ti.

Then Rāhu, having released the Sun, rushed to see Vepacitti, lord of demons and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck.

Atha kho rāhu asurindo sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena vepacitti asurindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Vepacitti addressed him in verse:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho rāhuṁ asurindaṁ vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Why the rush?

“Kiṁ nu santaramānova,

Rāhu, you released the Sun

rāhu sūriyaṁ pamuñcasi;

and came here looking like you’re in shock:

Saṁviggarūpo āgamma,

why do you stand there so scared?”

kiṁ nu bhītova tiṭṭhasī”ti.

“My head would have exploded in seven pieces,

“Sattadhā me phale muddhā,

I would have found no joy in life,

jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe;

if, when enchanted by the Buddha’s spell,

Buddhagāthābhigītomhi,

I had not released the Sun.”

no ce muñceyya sūriyan”ti.

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve kassapā ca māgho ca,

Māgadho dāmali kāmado;