English
11. Connected Discourses with Sakka 1. The First Chapter 1. Discourse on Suvīra 247. Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus!” “Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One spoke this: “Formerly, bhikkhus, the Asuras attacked the Devas. Then, bhikkhus, Sakka, king of the Devas, addressed the deva-son Suvīra: ‘These Asuras, dear Suvīra, are attacking the Devas. Go, dear Suvīra, counter-attack the Asuras!’ ‘Yes, venerable sir!’ replied the deva-son Suvīra to Sakka, king of the Devas, but he fell into negligence. A second time, bhikkhus, Sakka, king of the Devas, addressed the deva-son Suvīra: ‘These Asuras, dear Suvīra, are attacking the Devas. Go, dear Suvīra, counter-attack the Asuras!’ ‘Yes, venerable sir!’ replied the deva-son Suvīra to Sakka, king of the Devas, but he fell into negligence a second time. A third time, bhikkhus, Sakka, king of the Devas, addressed the deva-son Suvīra: ‘These Asuras, dear Suvīra, are attacking the Devas. Go, dear Suvīra, counter-attack the Asuras!’ ‘Yes, venerable sir!’ replied the deva-son Suvīra to Sakka, king of the Devas, but he fell into negligence a third time. Then, bhikkhus, Sakka, king of the Devas, addressed the deva-son Suvīra with a verse: “Where one attains happiness without rising up, without effort, Suvīra, go there, and bring me there too.” “Where the lazy one, not rising up, does not do his duties, where all desires are fulfilled, that boon, Sakka, show me.” “Where the lazy one, not rising up, attains ultimate happiness, Suvīra, go there, and bring me there too.” “By no action, O chief of devas, Sakka, may we find that happiness which is sorrowless, free from distress. Grant me that boon, O Sakka!” “If there is anyone who lives anywhere without action, that indeed is the path to Nibbāna. Go there, Suvīra, and bring me there too!” “Indeed, monks, Sakka, the king of devas, living off the fruit of his own merit, ruling the kingdom and sovereignty of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, will be an advocate of energetic effort. Here, monks, it would be fitting that you, having gone forth in such a well-proclaimed Dhamma and Vinaya, should strive, should exert yourselves, should endeavor for the attainment of what is not yet attained, for the realization of what is not yet realized, for the direct experience of what is not yet directly experienced.” 2. The Susīma Sutta At Sāvatthī. There the Blessed One addressed the monks, saying, “Monks!” “Venerable sir,” those monks replied to the One. The Blessed One said this: “Formerly, monks, the asuras attacked the devas. Then, monks, Sakka, the king of devas, addressed the devaputta Susīma, saying, ‘These asuras, dear Susīma, are attacking the devas. Go, dear Susīma, counter the asuras!’ ‘Yes, venerable sir,’ monks, the devaputta Susīma, having assented to Sakka, the king of devas, became negligent. A second time, monks, Sakka, the king of devas, addressed the devaputta Susīma… (and) a second time he became negligent. A third time, monks, Sakka, the king of devas, addressed the devaputta Susīma… (and) a third time he became negligent. Then, monks, Sakka, the king of devas, addressed the devaputta Susīma with a verse: “Where one attains happiness without striving, without effort, go there, Susīma, and bring me there too!” “For one who is lazy, not striving, and does not do what needs to be done, grant me that boon, O Sakka, of the fulfillment of all desires!” “Ya The lazy, the unenergetic, attains extreme happiness. Susīma, go there, and bring the bed right there." "By not doing, chief of devas, Sakka, may we find that happiness; Sorrowless, free from distress, Sakka, grant me that boon." "If there is by not doing anyone anywhere who does not live, Indeed, that is the path to Nibbāna. Susīma, go there, and bring the bed right there." "Indeed, monks, Sakka, king of devas, living off the fruit of his own merit, ruling the sovereignty and dominion of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, will be a praiser of energetic effort. Here, monks, it would be fitting that you, having gone forth in such a well-proclaimed Dhamma and Discipline, should rise up, strive, and exert yourselves for the attainment of what is not yet attained, for the comprehension of what is not yet comprehended, for the realization of what is not yet realized." 3. The Dhajagga Sutta 249. At Sāvatthī. There, indeed, the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks!" "Venerable sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One spoke thus: "Formerly, monks, a battle between devas and asuras was arrayed. Then, monks, Sakka, king of devas, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa devas: 'If, friends, for devas gone to battle, fear or terror or horripilation should arise, at that time, you should look at my banner. For when you look at my banner, whatever fear or terror or horripilation there may be, that will disappear.' 'If you do not look at my banner, then you should look at the banner of Pajāpati, the king of devas. For when you look at the banner of Pajāpati, the king of devas, whatever fear or terror or horripilation there may be, that will disappear.' 'If you do not look at the banner of Pajāpati, the king of devas, then you should look at the banner of Varuṇa, the king of devas. For when you look at the banner of Varuṇa, the king of devas, whatever there will be fear, or terror, or horripilation, it will be dispelled.’ ‘If you do not look at the banner-top of Varuna, the king of devas, then you should look at the banner-top of Isana, the king of devas. For when you look at the banner-top of Isana, the king of devas, whatever fear, or terror, or horripilation there may be, it will be dispelled.’” “Now, monks, when one looks at the banner-top of Sakka, the lord of devas, or when one looks at the banner-top of Pajapati, the king of devas, or when one looks at the banner-top of Varuna, the king of devas, or when one looks at the banner-top of Isana, the king of devas, whatever fear, or terror, or horripilation there may be, it might be dispelled, or it might not be dispelled. “Why is that? For Sakka, monks, the lord of devas, is not free from lust, not free from hatred, not free from delusion; he is fearful, terrified, anxious, and prone to flee. “But I, monks, say this: ‘If, monks, when you have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, there should arise fear, or terror, or horripilation, then at that time you should recollect me: “Indeed, the Blessed One is an Arahant, a Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, endowed with knowledge and conduct, a Fortunate One, a Knower of the world, an unsurpassed Trainer of persons to be tamed, a Teacher of devas and humans, a Buddha, a Blessed One.” For when you recollect me, monks, whatever fear, or terror, or horripilation there may be, it will be dispelled. “If you do not recollect me, then you should recollect the Dhamma: ‘The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, onward-leading, to be personally experienced by the wise.’ For when you recollect the Dhamma, monks, whatever fear, or terror, or horripilation there may be, it will be dispelled. “If you do not recollect the Dhamma, then you should recollect the Sangha: ‘The Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing well, the Sangha of the Blessed One’s disciples is practicing uprightly, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the right way, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the straight way, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the proper way, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the dutiful way, that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight individual persons— this Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. For when you recollect the Sangha, monks, whatever fear, or terror, or horripilation there may be, that will be abandoned. For what reason? For the Tathagata, monks, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, is rid of lust, rid of hatred, rid of delusion, fearless, unterrified, unfrightened, unfleeing. This the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Sugata, the Teacher, then said further: In the forest, at the root of a tree, or in an empty house, monks, recollect the Perfectly Awakened One; no fear will come to you. If you do not recollect the Buddha, the chief of the world, the bull among men, then recollect the Dhamma, leading to liberation, well-taught. If you do not recollect the Dhamma, leading to liberation, well-taught, then recollect the Sangha, the unsurpassed field of merit. Thus, for those recollecting the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, monks, fear, or terror, or horripilation will not be. 4. Vepacitti Sutta 250. Thus have I heard. At Savatthi. On one occasion, monks, a battle between devas and asuras was arrayed. Then, monks, Vepacitti, the asura king, addressed the asuras, saying: "If, friends, when the battle between devas and asuras is arrayed, the asuras should conquer, and the devas be defeated, then you should bind Sakka, king of the devas, with five-fold neck bonds, and bring him to me in the asura city." And Sakka, king of the devas, monks, addressed the Tavatimsa devas, saying: "If, friends, when the battle between devas and asuras is arrayed, the devas should conquer, and the asuras be defeated, then you should bind Vepacitti, the asura king, with five-fold neck bonds, "having bound him, bring him to me in the Sudhammā assembly hall." Now, monks, in that battle, the devas won, the asuras were defeated. Then, monks, the Tāvatiṃsa devas, having bound Vepacitti, the lord of asuras, with five-fold neck bonds, brought him to Sakka, the lord of devas,