SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.10 Hermits by the Ocean

Linked Discourses 11.10 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.10

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.10 Hermits by the Ocean – Samuddakasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, several hermits who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.

Tena kho pana samayena devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

Then the hermits thought,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tesaṁ isīnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ etadahosi:

‘The gods are principled, the demons are unprincipled.

‘dhammikā kho devā, adhammikā asurā.

We may be at risk from the demons.

Siyāpi no asurato bhayaṁ.

Why don’t we approach Sambara, lord of demons, and beg him for a pledge of safety.’

Yannūna mayaṁ sambaraṁ asurindaṁ upasaṅkamitvā abhayadakkhiṇaṁ yāceyyāmā’ti.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, those hermits vanished from those leaf huts on the ocean shore and reappeared in Sambara’s presence.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu antarahitā sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe pāturahesuṁ.

Then those hermits addressed Sambara in verse:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

‘The hermits have come to Sambara

‘Isayo sambaraṁ pattā,

to beg for a pledge of safety.

yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ;

For you can give them what you wish,

Kāmaṅkaro hi te dātuṁ,

whether danger or safety.’

bhayassa abhayassa vā’ti.

‘There is no safety for hermits,

‘Isīnaṁ abhayaṁ natthi,

the hated associates of Sakka!

duṭṭhānaṁ sakkasevinaṁ;

Though you beg me for your safety,

Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

I’ll only give you fear!’

bhayameva dadāmi vo’ti.

‘Though we beg you for our safety,

‘Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

you give us only fear.

bhayameva dadāsi no;

This is what we get from you:

Paṭiggaṇhāma te etaṁ,

may endless peril come to you!

akkhayaṁ hotu te bhayaṁ.

Whatever kind of seed you sow,

Yādisaṁ vapate bījaṁ,

that is the fruit you reap.

tādisaṁ harate phalaṁ;

A doer of good gets good,

Kalyāṇakārī kalyāṇaṁ,

a doer of bad gets bad.

pāpakārī ca pāpakaṁ;

You have sown your own seed, friend,

Pavuttaṁ tāta te bījaṁ,

now you’ll experience the fruit.’

phalaṁ paccanubhossasī’ti.

Then those hermits, having cursed Sambara, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Sambara’s presence and reappeared in those leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ abhisapitvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe antarahitā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu pāturahesuṁ.

But after being cursed by the hermits, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva,

dhajaggaṁ vepacittino;

Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva,

kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ;

Verocana asurindo,