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9. The Āṭānāṭiya Sutta The First Recitation Section 275. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Gijjhakūṭa mountain. Then the Four Great Kings, with a mighty army of yakkhas, with a mighty army of gandhabbas, with a mighty army of kumbhaṇḍas, and with a mighty army of nāgas, having set up protection in the four directions, having set up a guard in the four directions, having set up a barricade in the four directions, when the night was far advanced, with resplendent beauty, illuminating the entire Gijjhakūṭa mountain, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Some of those yakkhas also paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side; some exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and having concluded their courteous and memorable talk, sat down to one side; some, having saluted the Blessed One with joined palms, sat down to one side; some announced their name and clan and sat down to one side; some remained silent and sat down to one side. 276. Seated to one side, Vessavaṇa the Great King said to the Blessed One: "There are, venerable sir, exalted yakkhas who are displeased with the Blessed One. There are, venerable sir, exalted yakkhas who are pleased with the Blessed One. There are, venerable sir, middling yakkhas who are displeased with the Blessed One. There are, venerable sir, middling yakkhas who are pleased with the Blessed One. There are, venerable sir, lowly yakkhas who are displeased with the Blessed One. There are, venerable sir, lowly yakkhas who are pleased with the Blessed One. But for the most part, venerable sir, the yakkhas are displeased with the Blessed One. What is the reason for this? For the Blessed One, venerable sir, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from the destruction of living beings, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from taking what is not given, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from sexual misconduct, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from false speech, teaches the Dhamma for abstaining from intoxicating drinks and drugs which are the basis of heedlessness. But for the most part, But, venerable sir, the yakkhas are not abstaining from the destruction of life, not abstaining from taking what is not given, not abstaining from misconduct in sensual pleasures, not abstaining from false speech, not abstaining from intoxicating drinks and drugs, which are a basis for heedlessness. To them, that is disagreeable, displeasing. Indeed, venerable sir, there are disciples of the Blessed One who resort to remote forest and wilderness dwellings, quiet, without noise, secluded from people, suitable for seclusion. Therein dwell powerful yakkhas, who are not pleased with this teaching of the Blessed One. For their appeasement, venerable sir, let the Blessed One learn the Āṭānāṭiya protection for the safety, protection, non-harming, and comfortable living of monks, nuns, male lay followers, and female lay followers. The Blessed One assented by silence. Then King Vessavaṇa, knowing the Blessed One's assent, at that time spoke this Āṭānāṭiya protection – Homage to Vipassī, the one with vision, the glorious one. And homage to Sikhī, who has compassion for all beings. And homage to Vessabhū, the purified, the ascetic; Homage to Kakusandha, who crushed Māra's army. Homage to Koṇāgamana, the brahmin, the accomplished one; And homage to Kassapa, completely liberated in every way. Homage to Aṅgīrasa, the glorious son of the Sakyas; Who taught this Dhamma, the dispeller of all suffering. And those in the world who are extinguished, who saw things as they truly are; Those people are without slander, great, free from fear. For the welfare of devas and humans, they pay homage to Gotama; Endowed with knowledge and conduct, the great one, free from fear. From where the rising The sun rises, the great orb of the sun. When it rises, the night ceases; When the sun has risen, it is called 'day'. "There is a deep lake there, the ocean with river water; Thus they know it there, 'the ocean with river water'. "This is 'the eastern direction', so people call it; The direction which is protected by that glorious great king. "The lord of the Gandharvas, named 'Dhataraṭṭha'; He delights in dancing and singing, surrounded by Gandharvas. "His sons are many, of one name, I have heard; Eighty, ten, and one, named Indra, of great power. And they, seeing the Buddha, the Buddha, kinsman of the sun; From afar they pay homage, to the great one, free from fear. "Homage to you, noblest of men, homage to you, best of men; You look with skill, even non-humans revere you; This we have heard repeatedly, therefore we speak thus. "'Worship the Victor Gotama, we worship the Victor Gotama; Endowed with knowledge and conduct, we worship the Buddha Gotama.' 279. "Where the departed are called, slanderers, backbiters. Murderers, cruel ones, thieves, deceitful people. "This is 'the southern direction', so people call it; The direction which is protected by that glorious great king. "The lord of the Kumbhaṇḍas, named 'Virūḷha'; He delights in dancing and singing, surrounded by Kumbhaṇḍas. "His sons are many, of one name, I have heard; Eighty, ten, and one, named Indra, of great power. And they, seeing the Buddha, the Buddha, kinsman of the sun; From afar they pay homage, to the great one, free from fear. "Homage to you, noblest of men, homage to you, best of men; You look with skill, even non-humans revere you; This we have heard repeatedly, therefore we speak thus. "'Worship the Victor Gotama, we worship the Victor Gotama; Endowed with knowledge and conduct, we worship the Buddha Gotama." the highest.’ 280. “Where the sun goes down, the great orb of the sun. When it goes down, the day ceases; When the sun has gone down, it is called ‘night’. “There is also a deep lake there, the ocean with river water; Thus they know it there, ‘the ocean with river water’. “‘This is the western direction,’ so people say; The direction that he protects, that glorious great king. “Lord of the nāgas, named ‘Virūpakkha’; He delights in dancing and singing, surrounded by nāgas. “His sons are many, of one name, I have heard; Eighty-one, Inda-named, of great power. “And they, seeing the Buddha, the Buddha, kinsman of the sun; From afar they bow down, to the great one, free from fear. “Homage to you, noble man, homage to you, supreme man; You look with skill, even non-humans revere you; This we have heard repeatedly, therefore we speak thus. “‘Revere Gotama, the Conqueror, we revere Gotama, the Conqueror; Endowed with knowledge and conduct, we revere Gotama, the Buddha.’ 281. “Where Uttarakuru is, the great, beautiful Mount Neru. Humans are born there, without possessiveness, without grasping. “They do not sow seeds, nor do ploughs move; Humans consume uncultivated, ripened rice. “Without husk, without chaff, pure, fragrant rice grains; Having cooked them in a Tuṇḍikīra pot, then they eat their meal. “Making a cow a one-hoofed animal, they go in every direction; Making an animal a one-hoofed animal, they go in every direction. “Making a woman a vehicle, they go in every direction; Making a man a vehicle, they go in every direction. “Making a maiden a vehicle, they go in every direction; Making a boy a vehicle, they go in every direction. “They, having mounted vehicles, travel around all directions; The messengers of that king. “By elephant…” For him, horses, A divine chariot was ready; Palaces and palanquins, For the glorious great king. And his cities were, Built in the sky; Āṭānāṭā, Kusināṭā, Parakusināṭā, Nāṭasuriyā, Parakusiṭanāṭā. To the north, Kasivanta, And beyond the multitude of people; Ninety-nine Ambaraambaravatīs, Āḷakamandā by name, the royal capital. Indeed, friend, the great king Kuvera Has a royal capital named Visāṇā; Therefore, the great king Kuvera Is called 'Vessavaṇa'. Approaching, they proclaim: Tatolā, Tattalā, Tatotalā; Ojasi, Tejasi, Tatojasī; Sūro, Rājā, Ariṭṭho, Nemi. There is also a lake named Dharaṇī, From which clouds rain; From which the rains descend, And an assembly hall there named Sālavatī. Where the yakkhas gather, There are trees bearing fruit perpetually; Filled with various flocks of birds, Resounding with peacocks and cranes; And sweet-voiced cuckoos and others. Here are the sounds of Jīvañjīvaka birds, And Oṭṭhavacittaka birds; Cocks, Kuḷīraka birds, And Pokkharasātaka birds in the forest. Here are the sounds of parrots and mynahs, And Daṇḍamāṇavaka birds; That Kuvera's lotus pond Is always beautiful, at all times. "This is the northern direction," So people declare it; The direction which is protected By that glorious great king. And the lord of the yakkhas, Named 'Kuvera'; He delights in dancing and singing, Surrounded by yakkhas. He also has many sons, All with one name, I have heard; Eighty, ten, and one, Named Inda, of great power. And they, seeing the Buddha, The Buddha, kinsman of the sun; From afar they pay homage, To the great one, free from decay. Homage to you, noblest of men, Homage to you, supreme man; You look with skill, Even non-humans venerate you; This we have heard repeatedly, Therefore, we speak thus. 'Venerate the Conqueror Gotama, We venerate the Conqueror Gotama; Endowed with knowledge and conduct...' Perfected, we revere the Buddha Gotama. This, indeed, friend, is the Āṭānāṭiya protection for monks, for nuns, for laymen, for laywomen, for their guarding, for their protection, for non-harming, for comfortable dwelling. 282. Whosoever, friend, whether a monk or a nun, or a layman or a laywoman, this Āṭānāṭiya protection will have well-grasped, completed, mastered. If that non-human, whether a yakkha or a yakkhiṇī, or a yakkha-child (male) or a yakkha-child (female), or a yakkha-minister or a yakkha-assembly member or a yakkha-attendant, or a gandhabba or a gandhabbī,