Samayasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.37

Linked Discourses 1.37

4. Satullapakāyikavagga

4. The Host of a Hundred Felicities

Samayasutta

The Congregation

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones.

dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.

And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of mendicants.

Atha kho catunnaṁ suddhāvāsakāyikānaṁ devatānaṁ etadahosi:

Then four deities of the pure abodes, aware of what was happening, thought:

“ayaṁ kho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;

dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.

Yannūna mayampi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike paccekaṁ gāthaṁ bhāseyyāmā”ti.

“Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”

Atha kho tā devatā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—suddhāvāsesu devesu antarahitā bhagavato purato pāturahesuṁ.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha.

Atha kho tā devatā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Mahāsamayo pavanasmiṁ,

“There’s a great congregation in the woods,

Devakāyā samāgatā;

where heavenly hosts have assembled.

Āgatamha imaṁ dhammasamayaṁ,

We’ve come to this righteous congregation

Dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan”ti.

to see the invincible Saṅgha!”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṁsu,

“The mendicants there are immersed in samādhi,

Cittamattano ujukaṁ akaṁsu;

they’ve straightened their own minds.

Sārathīva nettāni gahetvā,

Like a charioteer holding the reins,

Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitā”ti.

the astute ones protect their senses.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Chetvā khīlaṁ chetvā palighaṁ,

“They snapped the post and snapped the cross-bar,

Indakhīlaṁ ūhacca manejā;

unstirred, they tore out Indra’s pillar.

Te caranti suddhā vimalā,

They live pure and immaculate,

Cakkhumatā sudantā susunāgā”ti.

the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Ye keci buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatāse,

“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge

Na te gamissanti apāyabhūmiṁ;

won’t go to a plane of loss.

Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ,

After giving up this human body,

Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī”ti.

they swell the heavenly host.”