SN 22-34 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With the Aggregates – Khandhavaggasaṁyutta > SN 22 Connected Discourses on the Aggregates – Khandhasaṁyutta > SN 22.78 The Lion

Linked Discourses 22.78 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.78

8. Itchy – 8. Khajjanīyavagga

SN 22.78 The Lion – Sīhasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Bhikkhū, towards evening the lion, king of beasts, emerges from his den, yawns, looks all around the four quarters, and roars his lion’s roar three times. Then he sets out on the hunt.

“Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā sāyanhasamayaṁ āsayā nikkhamati; āsayā nikkhamitvā vijambhati; vijambhitvā samantā catuddisā anuviloketi; samantā catuddisā anuviloketvā tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ nadati; tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ naditvā gocarāya pakkamati.

And whatever animals hear the roar of the lion, king of beasts, are typically filled with fear, awe, and terror. They return to their lairs, be they in a hole, the water, or a wood; and the birds take to the air.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, tiracchānagatā pāṇā sīhassa migarañño nadato saddaṁ suṇanti; yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti; bilaṁ bilāsayā pavisanti; dakaṁ dakāsayā pavisanti; vanaṁ vanāsayā pavisanti; ākāsaṁ pakkhino bhajanti.

Even the royal elephants, bound with strong harness in the villages, towns, and capital cities, break apart their bonds, and urinate and defecate in terror as they flee here and there.

Yepi te, bhikkhave, rañño nāgā gāmanigamarājadhānīsu, daḷhehi varattehi baddhā, tepi tāni bandhanāni sañchinditvā sampadāletvā bhītā muttakarīsaṁ cajamānā, yena vā tena vā palāyanti.

That’s how powerful is the lion, king of beasts, among animals, how illustrious and mighty.

Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā tiracchānagatānaṁ pāṇānaṁ, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo.

In the same way, when a Realized One arises in the world—perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed—he teaches the Dhamma:

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yadā tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So dhammaṁ deseti:

‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the ending of form.

‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;

Such is feeling …

iti vedanā …

Such is perception …

iti saññā …

Such are saṅkhāra …

iti saṅkhārā …

Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the ending of consciousness.’

iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.

Now, there are gods who are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy, living for ages in their divine palaces. When they hear this teaching by the Realized One, they’re typically filled with fear, awe, and terror.

Yepi te, bhikkhave, devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā uccesu vimānesu ciraṭṭhitikā tepi tathāgatassa dhammadesanaṁ sutvā yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti:

‘Oh no! It turns out we’re anicca, though we thought we were permanent!

‘aniccāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā niccamhāti amaññimha.

It turns out we don’t last, though we thought we were everlasting!

Addhuvāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā dhuvamhāti amaññimha.

It turns out we’re short-lived, though we thought we were eternal!

Asassatāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā sassatamhāti amaññimha.

It turns out that we’re anicca, not lasting, short-lived, and included within identity.’

Mayampi kira, bho, aniccā addhuvā asassatā sakkāyapariyāpannā’ti.

That’s how powerful is the Realized One in the world with its gods, how illustrious and mighty.”

Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato sadevakassa lokassa, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe…

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

etadavoca satthā:

“The Buddha, the teacher without a peer

“Yadā buddho abhiññāya,

in all the world with its gods,

dhammacakkaṁ pavattayi;

rolls forth the Wheel of Dhamma

Sadevakassa lokassa,

from his own insight:

satthā appaṭipuggalo.

identity, its cessation,

Sakkāyañca nirodhañca,

the origin of identity,

sakkāyassa ca sambhavaṁ;

and the noble eightfold path

Ariyañcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

And then the long-lived gods,

Yepi dīghāyukā devā,

so beautiful and glorious,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

are afraid and full of terror,

Bhītā santāsamāpāduṁ,

like the other beasts when they hear a lion.

sīhassevitare migā.

‘We haven’t transcended identity!

Avītivattā sakkāyaṁ,

It turns out we’re anicca!’

aniccā kira bho mayaṁ;

So they say when they hear the word

Sutvā arahato vākyaṁ,

of the perfected one, free and poised.”

vippamuttassa tādino”ti.