Sūcilomasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 10.3

Linked Discourses 10.3

1. Indakavagga

1. With Indaka

Sūcilomasutta

With Spiky

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā gayāyaṁ viharati ṭaṅkitamañce sūcilomassa yakkhassa bhavane.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Gayā on the cut-stone ledge in the haunt of Spiky the native spirit.

Tena kho pana samayena kharo ca yakkho sūcilomo ca yakkho bhagavato avidūre atikkamanti.

Now at that time the native spirits Shaggy and Spiky were passing by not far from the Buddha.

Atha kho kharo yakkho sūcilomaṁ yakkhaṁ etadavoca:

So Shaggy said to Spiky,

“eso samaṇo”ti.

“That’s an ascetic.”

“Neso samaṇo, samaṇako eso.

“That’s no ascetic, he’s a faker!

Yāva jānāmi yadi vā so samaṇo yadi vā pana so samaṇako”ti.

I’ll soon find out whether he’s an ascetic or a faker.”

Atha kho sūcilomo yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato kāyaṁ upanāmesi.

Then Spiky went up to the Buddha and leaned up against his body,

Atha kho bhagavā kāyaṁ apanāmesi.

but the Buddha pulled away.

Atha kho sūcilomo yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Spiky said to the Buddha,

“bhāyasi maṁ, samaṇā”ti?

“Are you afraid, ascetic?”

“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, bhāyāmi;

“No, respectable sir, I’m not afraid.

api ca te samphasso pāpako”ti.

But your touch is nasty.”

“Pañhaṁ taṁ, samaṇa, pucchissāmi.

“I will ask you a question, ascetic.

Sace me na byākarissasi, cittaṁ vā te khipissāmi, hadayaṁ vā te phālessāmi, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipissāmī”ti.

If you don’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane, or explode your heart, or grab you by the feet and throw you to the far shore of the Ganges!”

“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo me cittaṁ vā khipeyya hadayaṁ vā phāleyya pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipeyya;

“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me.

api ca tvaṁ, āvuso, puccha yadā kaṅkhasī”ti. (…)

But anyway, ask what you wish.”

“Rāgo ca doso ca kutonidānā,

“Where do greed and hate come from?

Aratī ratī lomahaṁso kutojā;

From where spring discontent, desire, and terror?

Kuto samuṭṭhāya manovitakkā,

Where do the mind’s thoughts originate,

Kumārakā dhaṅkamivossajantī”ti.

like a crow let loose by boys.”

“Rāgo ca doso ca itonidānā,

“Greed and hate come from here;

Aratī ratī lomahaṁso itojā;

from here spring discontent, desire, and terror;

Ito samuṭṭhāya manovitakkā,

here’s where the mind’s thoughts originate,

Kumārakā dhaṅkamivossajanti.

like a crow let loose by boys.

Snehajā attasambhūtā,

Born of affection, originating in oneself,

nigrodhasseva khandhajā;

like prop roots sprouting from a banyan;

Puthū visattā kāmesu,

the many kinds of attachment to sensual pleasures

māluvāva vitatā vane.

are like camel’s foot creeper
creeping through the woods.

Ye naṁ pajānanti yatonidānaṁ,

Those who understand where they come from

Te naṁ vinodenti suṇohi yakkha;

dispel them—listen up, spirit!

Te duttaraṁ oghamimaṁ taranti,

They cross this flood so hard to cross,

Atiṇṇapubbaṁ apunabbhavāyā”ti.

not crossed before, so as to not be reborn.”