SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 6 Connected Discourses With Brahmā Gods – Brahmasaṁyutta > SN 6.5 A Certain Brahmā

Linked Discourses 6.5 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.5

1. The Appeal – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 6.5 A Certain Brahmā – Aññatarabrahmasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Now at that time a certain Brahmā had the following harmful misconception:

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa brahmuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti:

“No ascetic or brahmin can come here!”

“natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo idha āgaccheyyā”ti.

Then the Buddha knew what that Brahmā was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that Brahmā realm.

Atha kho bhagavā tassa brahmuno cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

Then the Buddha sat cross-legged in the air above that Brahmā, having entered upon the fire element.

Atha kho bhagavā tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought,

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:

“Where is the Buddha staying at present?”

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?

With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, he saw the Buddha seated cross-legged in the air above that Brahmā, having entered upon the fire element.

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisinnaṁ tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that Brahmā realm.

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

Then Mahāmoggallāna—positioning himself in the east, below the Buddha—sat cross-legged in the air above that Brahmā, having entered upon the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno puratthimaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.

Then Venerable Mahākassapa …

Atha kho āyasmato mahākassapassa etadahosi:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?

Addasā kho āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā …pe…

disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

positioned himself in the south …

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.

Venerable Mahākappina …

Atha kho āyasmato mahākappinassa etadahosi:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?

Addasā kho āyasmā mahākappino bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā …pe… tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe…

evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

positioned himself in the west …

Atha kho āyasmā mahākappino pacchimaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.

Venerable Anuruddha …

Atha kho āyasmato anuruddhassa etadahosi:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?

Addasā kho āyasmā anuruddho …pe… tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

positioned himself in the north, below the Buddha, sitting cross-legged in the air above that Brahmā, having entered upon the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmā anuruddho uttaraṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.

Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that Brahmā in verse:

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ brahmānaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Sir, do you still have the same view

“Ajjāpi te āvuso sā diṭṭhi,

that you had in the past?

Yā te diṭṭhi pure ahu;

Or do you see the radiance

Passasi vītivattantaṁ,

transcending the Brahmā realm?”

Brahmaloke pabhassaran”ti.

“Good sir, I don’t have that view

“Na me mārisa sā diṭṭhi,

that I had in the past.

yā me diṭṭhi pure ahu;

I see the radiance

Passāmi vītivattantaṁ,

transcending the Brahmā realm.

brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ;

So how could I say today

Svāhaṁ ajja kathaṁ vajjaṁ,

that I am permanent and eternal?”

ahaṁ niccomhi sassato”ti.

Having inspired a sense of awe in the Brahmā, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the Buddha vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in Jeta’s Grove.

Atha kho bhagavā taṁ brahmānaṁ saṁvejetvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—tasmiṁ brahmaloke antarahito jetavane pāturahosi.

Then that Brahmā addressed a member of his retinue,

Atha kho so brahmā aññataraṁ brahmapārisajjaṁ āmantesi:

“Please, good sir, go up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and say to him:

“ehi tvaṁ, mārisa, yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ evaṁ vadehi:

‘Moggallāna my good sir, are there any other disciples of the Buddha who have power and might

‘atthi nu kho, mārisa moggallāna, aññepi tassa bhagavato sāvakā evaṁmahiddhikā evaṁmahānubhāvā;

comparable to the masters Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina, and Anuruddha?’”

seyyathāpi bhavaṁ moggallāno kassapo kappino anuruddho’”ti?

“Yes, good sir,” replied that retinue member. He went to Moggallāna and asked as instructed.

“Evaṁ, mārisā”ti kho so brahmapārisajjo tassa brahmuno paṭissutvā yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:

“atthi nu kho, mārisa moggallāna, aññepi tassa bhagavato sāvakā evaṁmahiddhikā evaṁmahānubhāvā;

seyyathāpi bhavaṁ moggallāno kassapo kappino anuruddho”ti?

Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that member of Brahmā’s retinue in verse:

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ brahmapārisajjaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“There are many disciples of the Buddha

“Tevijjā iddhipattā ca,

who have the three knowledges,

cetopariyāyakovidā;

and have attained psychic power, expert in reading minds,

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,

they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.”

bahū buddhassa sāvakā”ti.

Then that member of Brahmā’s retinue, having approved and agreed with what Mahāmoggallāna said, went to that Brahmā and said to him,

Atha kho so brahmapārisajjo āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā yena so brahmā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ brahmānaṁ etadavoca:

“Good sir, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

“āyasmā, mārisa, mahāmoggallāno evamāha:

‘There are many disciples of the Buddha

‘Tevijjā iddhipattā ca,

who have the three knowledges,

cetopariyāyakovidā;

and have attained psychic power, expert in reading minds,

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,

they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.’”

bahū buddhassa sāvakā’”ti.

That’s what that member of Brahmā’s retinue said.

Idamavoca so brahmapārisajjo.

Satisfied, that Brahmā was happy with what the member of his retinue said.

Attamano ca so brahmā tassa brahmapārisajjassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.