Sāmakasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.21

Numbered Discourses 6.21

3. Anuttariyavagga

3. Unsurpassable

Sāmakasutta

At Sāma Village

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati sāmagāmake pokkharaṇiyāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans near the little village of Sāma, by a lotus pond.

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire lotus pond, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“Tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

“Sir, three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.

Katame tayo?

What three?

Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—

Relishing work, talk, and sleep.

ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These three qualities lead to the decline of a mendicant.”

Idamavoca sā devatā.

That is what that deity said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the Teacher concurred.

Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then that deity, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding:

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ pokkharaṇiyaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:

‘tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame tayo?

Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā—

ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā.

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Tesaṁ vo, bhikkhave, alābhā tesaṁ dulladdhaṁ, ye vo devatāpi jānanti kusalehi dhammehi parihāyamāne.

“It’s unfortunate for those of you who even the deities know are declining in skillful qualities.

Aparepi, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniye dhamme desessāmi.

I will teach you three more qualities that lead to decline.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā?

“And what, mendicants, are three qualities that lead to decline?

Saṅgaṇikārāmatā, dovacassatā, pāpamittatā—

Enjoyment of company, being hard to admonish, and having bad friends.

ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā.

These three qualities lead to decline.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyiṁsu kusalehi dhammehi.

Whether in the past, future, or present, all those who decline in skillful qualities do so because of these six qualities.”

Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi.

Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehī”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.