SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 11 Connected Discourses with Sakka – Sakkasaṁyutta > SN 11.22 Ugly

Linked Discourses 11.22 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.22

Chapter Three – 3. Tatiyavagga

SN 11.22 Ugly – Dubbaṇṇiyasutta

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.

Tatra kho …pe… etadavoca:

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, there was a native spirit who was ugly and deformed. He sat on the throne of Sakka, lord of gods.

“bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññataro yakkho dubbaṇṇo okoṭimako sakkassa devānamindassa āsane nisinno ahosi.

But the gods of the Thirty-Three complained, grumbled, and objected,

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:

‘It’s incredible, it’s amazing!

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

This ugly and deformed spirit is sitting on the throne of Sakka, the lord of gods.’

Ayaṁ yakkho dubbaṇṇo okoṭimako sakkassa devānamindassa āsane nisinno’ti.

But the more the gods complained, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely that spirit became.

Yathā yathā kho, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti tathā tathā so yakkho abhirūpataro ceva hoti dassanīyataro ca pāsādikataro ca.

So the gods went up to Sakka and told him what had happened, adding,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā yena sakko devānamindo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavocuṁ:

‘idha te, mārisa, aññataro yakkho dubbaṇṇo okoṭimako sakkassa devānamindassa āsane nisinno.

Tatra sudaṁ, mārisa, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:

“acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

Ayaṁ yakkho dubbaṇṇo okoṭimako sakkassa devānamindassa āsane nisinno”ti.

Yathā yathā kho, mārisa, devā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti tathā tathā so yakkho abhirūpataro ceva hoti dassanīyataro ca pāsādikataro cāti.

‘Surely, good sir, that must be the anger-eating spirit!’

So hi nūna, mārisa, kodhabhakkho yakkho bhavissatī’ti.

Then Sakka went up to that spirit, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, raised his joined palms toward the anger-eating spirit, and pronounced his name three times:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo yena so kodhabhakkho yakkho tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā dakkhiṇajāṇumaṇḍalaṁ pathaviyaṁ nihantvā yena so kodhabhakkho yakkho tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā tikkhattuṁ nāmaṁ sāveti:

‘Good sir, I am Sakka, lord of gods! Good sir, I am Sakka, the lord of gods!’

‘sakkohaṁ, mārisa, devānamindo, sakkohaṁ, mārisa, devānamindo’ti.

But the more Sakka pronounced his name, the uglier and more deformed the spirit became,

Yathā yathā kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo nāmaṁ sāvesi tathā tathā so yakkho dubbaṇṇataro ceva ahosi okoṭimakataro ca.

until eventually it vanished right there.

Dubbaṇṇataro ceva hutvā okoṭimakataro ca tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the Thirty-Three, recited this verse:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo sake āsane nisīditvā deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

‘My mind isn’t easily upset;

‘Na sūpahatacittomhi,

I’m not easily drawn into the maelstrom.

nāvattena suvānayo;

I don’t get angry for long,

Na vo cirāhaṁ kujjhāmi,

anger doesn’t last in me.

kodho mayi nāvatiṭṭhati.

When I do get angry I don’t speak harshly,

Kuddhāhaṁ na pharusaṁ brūmi,

nor do I advertise my own virtues.

Na ca dhammāni kittaye;

I carefully restrain myself

Sanniggaṇhāmi attānaṁ,

out of regard for my own welfare.’”

Sampassaṁ atthamattano’”ti.