Samuddakasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.10

Linked Discourses 11.10

1. Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Samuddakasutta

Seers by the Ocean

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Tena kho pana samayena devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tesaṁ isīnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ etadahosi:

Then the seers thought,

‘dhammikā kho devā, adhammikā asurā.

‘The gods are principled, the titans are unprincipled.

Siyāpi no asurato bhayaṁ.

We may be at risk from the titans.

Yannūna mayaṁ sambaraṁ asurindaṁ upasaṅkamitvā abhayadakkhiṇaṁ yāceyyāmā’ti.

Why don’t we approach Sambara, lord of titans, and beg him for a pledge of safety?’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu antarahitā sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe pāturahesuṁ.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, those seers vanished from those leaf huts on the ocean shore and reappeared in Sambara’s presence.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

Then those seers addressed Sambara in verse:

‘Isayo sambaraṁ pattā,

‘The seers have come to Sambara

yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ;

to beg for a pledge of safety.

Kāmaṅkaro hi te dātuṁ,

For you can give them what you wish,

bhayassa abhayassa vā’ti.

whether danger or safety.’

‘Isīnaṁ abhayaṁ natthi,

‘There is no safety for seers,

duṭṭhānaṁ sakkasevinaṁ;

the hated associates of Sakka!

Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

Though you beg me for your safety,

bhayameva dadāmi vo’ti.

I’ll only give you fear!’

‘Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

‘Though we beg you for our safety,

bhayameva dadāsi no;

you give us only fear.

Paṭiggaṇhāma te etaṁ,

This is what we get from you:

akkhayaṁ hotu te bhayaṁ.

may endless peril come to you!

Yādisaṁ vapate bījaṁ,

Whatever kind of seed you sow,

tādisaṁ harate phalaṁ;

that is the fruit you reap.

Kalyāṇakārī kalyāṇaṁ,

A doer of good gets good,

pāpakārī ca pāpakaṁ;

a doer of bad gets bad.

Pavuttaṁ tāta te bījaṁ,

You, my dear, have sown your own seed,

phalaṁ paccanubhossasī’ti.

now you’ll experience the fruit.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ abhisapitvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe antarahitā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu pāturahesuṁ.

Then those seers, having cursed Sambara, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Sambara’s presence and reappeared in those leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.

But after being cursed by the seers, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva,

dhajaggaṁ vepacittino;

Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva,

kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ;

Verocana asurindo,

isayo araññakañceva;

Isayo ca samuddakāti.