SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 2 Connected Discourses on Gods – Devaputtasaṁyutta > SN 2.30 The Disciples of Various Sectarians

Linked Discourses 2.30 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.30

3. Various Sectarians – 3. Nānātitthiyavagga

SN 2.30 The Disciples of Various Sectarians – Nānātitthiyasāvakasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Then, late at night, several glorious gods lit up the entire Bamboo Grove. They were Asama, Sahalī, Niṅka, Ākoṭaka, Vetambarī, and Māṇavagāmiya, and all of them were disciples of various sectarian teachers. They went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

Atha kho sambahulā nānātitthiyasāvakā devaputtā asamo ca sahali ca nīko ca ākoṭako ca vegabbhari ca māṇavagāmiyo ca abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ veḷuvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Standing to one side, the god Asama recited this verse about Pūraṇa Kassapa in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho asamo devaputto pūraṇaṁ kassapaṁ ārabbha bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“In injuring and killing here,

“Idha chinditamārite,

in beating and extortion,

Hatajānīsu kassapo;

Kassapa saw no evil,

Na pāpaṁ samanupassati,

nor any merit for oneself.

Puññaṁ vā pana attano;

What he taught should truly be trusted,

Sa ve vissāsamācikkhi,

he’s worthy of esteem as Teacher.”

Satthā arahati mānanan”ti.

Then the god Sahalī recited this verse about Makkhali Gosala in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho sahali devaputto makkhaliṁ gosālaṁ ārabbha bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Through mortification in disgust of sin he became well restrained.

“Tapojigucchāya susaṁvutatto,

He gave up arguing with people.

Vācaṁ pahāya kalahaṁ janena;

Refraining from false speech, he spoke the truth.

Samosavajjā virato saccavādī,

Surely such a man does no wrong!”

Na hi nūna tādisaṁ karoti pāpan”ti.

Then the god Niṅka recited this verse about Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho nīko devaputto nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ ārabbha bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Disgusted at sin, an alert bhikkhu,

“Jegucchī nipako bhikkhu,

well restrained in the four controls;

Cātuyāmasusaṁvuto;

explaining what is seen and heard:

Diṭṭhaṁ sutañca ācikkhaṁ,

surely he can be no sinner!”

Na hi nūna kibbisī siyā”ti.

Then the god Ākoṭaka recited this verse about various sectarian teachers in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho ākoṭako devaputto nānātitthiye ārabbha bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Pakudhaka, Kātiyāna, and Nigaṇṭha,

“Pakudhako kātiyāno nigaṇṭho,

as well as this Makkhali and Pūraṇa:

Ye cāpime makkhalipūraṇāse;

Teachers of communities, attained ascetics,

Gaṇassa satthāro sāmaññappattā,

surely they weren’t far from truly good men!”

Na hi nūna te sappurisehi dūre”ti.

Then the god Vetambarī replied to the god Ākoṭaka in verse:

Atha kho vegabbhari devaputto ākoṭakaṁ devaputtaṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:

“Though the wretched jackal howls along,

“Sahācaritena chavo sigālo,

it never equals the lion.

Na kotthuko sīhasamo kadāci;

A naked liar with suspicious conduct,

Naggo musāvādī gaṇassa satthā,

though they teach a community, is not like the good.”

Saṅkassarācāro na sataṁ sarikkho”ti.

Then Māra the Wicked took possession of the god Vetambarī and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Atha kho māro pāpimā begabbhariṁ devaputtaṁ anvāvisitvā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Those dedicated to mortification in disgust of sin,

“Tapojigucchāya āyuttā,

safeguarding their seclusion,

pālayaṁ pavivekiyaṁ;

attached to form,

Rūpe ca ye niviṭṭhāse,

they rejoice in the heavenly realm.

devalokābhinandino;

Indeed, those mortals give correct instructions

Te ve sammānusāsanti,

regarding the next world.”

paralokāya mātiyā”ti.

Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, replied to him in verse:

Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā, māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:

“Whatever forms there are in this world or the world beyond,

“Ye keci rūpā idha vā huraṁ vā,

and those of shining beauty in the sky,

Ye cantalikkhasmiṁ pabhāsavaṇṇā;

all of these you praise, Namuci,

Sabbeva te te namucippasatthā,

like bait tossed out for catching fish.”

Āmisaṁva macchānaṁ vadhāya khittā”ti.

Then the god Māṇavagāmiya recited this verse about the Buddha in his presence:

Atha kho māṇavagāmiyo devaputto bhagavantaṁ ārabbha bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“Of all the mountains of Rājagaha,

“Vipulo rājagahīyānaṁ,

Vipula’s said to be the best.

giri seṭṭho pavuccati;

Seta is the best of the Himalayan peaks,

Seto himavataṁ seṭṭho,

and the sun, of travelers in space.

ādicco aghagāminaṁ.

The ocean is the best of seas,

Samuddo udadhinaṁ seṭṭho,

and the moon, of lights that shine at night.

nakkhattānaṁva candimā;

But in all the world with its gods,

Sadevakassa lokassa,

the Buddha is declared foremost.”

buddho aggo pavuccatī”ti.

Nānātitthiyavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sivo khemo ca serī ca,

Ghaṭī jantu ca rohito;

Nando nandivisālo ca,

The Linked Discourses on Gods are complete.

Susimo nānātitthiyena te dasāti.