SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 10 Connected Discourses with Spirits – Yakkhasaṁyutta > SN 10.5 With Sānu

Linked Discourses 10.5 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 10.5

1. With Indaka – 1. Indakavagga

SN 10.5 With Sānu – Sānusutta

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

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Now at that time a certain lay woman had a son named Sānu who had been possessed by a native spirit.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā upāsikāya sānu nāma putto yakkhena gahito hoti.

And as that lay woman wept, on that occasion she recited these verses:

Atha kho sā upāsikā paridevamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“I have heard this from the perfected ones.

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,

The native spirits will not mess with anyone

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;

who leads the spiritual life

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,

by observing the sabbath

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ.

complete in all eight factors

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,

on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye;

and the eighth day of the fortnight,

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,

as well as on the fortnight of special displays.

iti me arahataṁ sutaṁ;

But now today I see

Sā dāni ajja passāmi,

native spirits messing with Sānu.”

yakkhā kīḷanti sānunā”ti.

“What you heard from the perfected ones is right.

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,

The native spirits will not mess with anyone

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;

who leads the spiritual life

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,

by observing the sabbath

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;

complete in all eight factors

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,

on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye.

and the eighth day of the fortnight,

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,

as well as on the fortnight of special displays.

sāhu te arahataṁ sutaṁ;

When Sānu regains consciousness tell him

Sānuṁ pabuddhaṁ vajjāsi,

this saying of the native spirits:

yakkhānaṁ vacanaṁ idaṁ;

Don’t do bad deeds

Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

either openly or in secret.

āvi vā yadi vā raho.

If you should do a bad deed,

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

or you’re doing one now,

karissasi karosi vā;

you won’t be freed from suffering,

Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,

though you fly away and flee.”

uppaccāpi palāyato”ti.

“Mum, they cry for the dead,

“Mataṁ vā amma rodanti,

or for one who’s alive but has disappeared.

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;

I’m alive and you can see me,

Jīvantaṁ amma passantī,

so mum, why do you weep for me?”

kasmā maṁ amma rodasī”ti.

“Son, they cry for the dead,

“Mataṁ vā putta rodanti,

or for one who’s alive but has disappeared.

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;

But someone who has given up sensual pleasures

Yo ca kāme cajitvāna,

only to come back here again:

punarāgacchate idha;

they cry for them as well,

Taṁ vāpi putta rodanti,

for though still alive they’re really dead.

puna jīvaṁ mato hi so.

My dear, you’ve been rescued from hot coals,

Kukkuḷā ubbhato tāta,

and you want to plunge right back in them!

kukkuḷaṁ patitumicchasi;

My dear, you’ve been rescued from the abyss,

Narakā ubbhato tāta,

and you want to plunge right back there!

narakaṁ patitumicchasi.

Keep pushing forward, it’s what’s best for you!

Abhidhāvatha bhaddante,

Who have I got to complain to?

kassa ujjhāpayāmase;

When your things have been saved from a fire,

Ādittā nīhataṁ bhaṇḍaṁ,

would you want them to be burnt again?”

puna ḍayhitumicchasī”ti.