English
At that time, a battle between devas and asuras had arisen. Then, monks, it occurred to those ascetics, virtuous, of good conduct – ‘The devas are righteous, the asuras are unrighteous. There might be danger for us from the asuras. What if we were to approach Sambara, the king of asuras, and ask for a gift of safety?’ ” “Then, monks, those ascetics, virtuous, of good conduct – just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm, or flex an extended arm – vanished from their leaf-huts on the seashore and appeared before Sambara, the king of asuras. Then, monks, those ascetics, virtuous, of good conduct, addressed Sambara, the king of asuras, with a verse – “Ascetics have come to Sambara, asking for a gift of safety; For you are free to give, either fear or safety.” “There is no safety for ascetics to the wicked, to those who serve the powerful. To those who seek safety, I give only fear to you.” “To those who seek safety, you give only fear to us. We accept this from you; may your fear be endless. As one sows a seed, so one reaps the fruit. One who does good, good; one who does evil, evil. The seed, dear one, you have sown, you will experience its fruit.” Then, bhikkhus, those virtuous ascetics of good conduct, having cursed Sambara, the lord of asuras—just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm or flex an extended arm—even so, they vanished before Sambara, the lord of asuras, and reappeared in their leaf-huts on the seashore. Then, bhikkhus, Sambara, the lord of asuras, cursed by those virtuous ascetics of good conduct, indeed started up three times in the night. The First Chapter. Its Summary: Suvīra and Susīma, Dhajagga and Vepacitti, Subhāsita and Jaya, Kulāvaka and Nadubbhiya, Verocana, the lord of asuras, the ascetics and the forest, and the ascetics of the sea. 2. The Second Chapter 1. The Vatapada Sutta 257. At Sāvatthī. “Sakka, bhikkhus, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, had seven vows fully undertaken, by the undertaking of which Sakka attained Sakka-hood. What are these seven vows? ‘As long as I live, I will support my mother and father. As long as I live, I will honor the elders in my family. As long as I live, I will be gentle in speech. As long as I live, I will not be a slanderer. As long as I live, I will dwell at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, open-handed, pure-handed, delighting in giving, devoted to charity, delighting in sharing gifts. As long as I live, I will be truthful in speech. As long as I live, I will be free from anger—even if anger should arise in me, I will quickly subdue it.’ Bhikkhus, these seven vows were fully undertaken by Sakka, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being. were undertaken, by the undertaking of which Sakka attained Sakka-hood.” “The being who supports mother and father, who reveres the elders in the family; Who is gentle, speaks kindly, who abandons backbiting. “Who is diligent in overcoming stinginess, who is truthful, who conquers anger— Him, indeed, the Tāvatiṃsa gods call a good person.” 2. Sakkanāmasutta 258. At Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Grove. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, when he was formerly a human being, was a young man named Magha, therefore he is called Maghavā. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, when he was formerly a human being, gave gifts previously, therefore he is called Purindada. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, when he was formerly a human being, gave gifts respectfully, therefore he is called Sakka. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, when he was formerly a human being, gave lodging, therefore he is called Vāsava. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, thinks of a thousand matters in an instant, therefore he is called Sahassakkha. “Monks, Sujā, an Asura maiden, is the consort of Sakka, the lord of gods, therefore he is called Sujampati. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, rules the sovereignty, the dominion, of the Tāvatiṃsa gods, therefore he is called Devānaminda. “Monks, Sakka, the lord of gods, when he was formerly a human being, had undertaken seven vows completely, by the undertaking of which Sakka attained Sakka-hood. Which are the seven vows? ‘As long as I live, may I be a supporter of mother and father; as long as I live, may I revere the elders in the family; as long as I live, may I be gentle in speech; as long as I live, may I be free from backbiting speech; as long as I live, may I dwell in a house with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, open-handed, pure-handed, delighting in giving, responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of gifts; as long as I live, may I be truthful in speech; as long as I live, may I be free from anger – even if anger arises in me…” should arise, quickly he should remove it." "Monks, these seven vows were fully undertaken and observed by Sakka, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being. By undertaking these, Sakka attained the state of Sakka." "A being who supports mother and father, Who honors the elders in the family; Gentle, with kindly speech, Who abandons backbiting. Engaged in overcoming stinginess, Truthful, a man who conquers anger; Him, indeed, the Tāvatiṃsa devas Call a good person." 3. The Discourse to Mahāli 259. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Then Mahāli the Licchavī approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahāli the Licchavī said to the Blessed One: "Has Sakka, lord of devas, been seen by the Blessed One, sir?" "Sakka, lord of devas, has been seen by me, Mahāli," "Surely, sir, that must have been an imitation of Sakka. For Sakka, lord of devas, is difficult to see, sir," "I know Sakka, Mahāli, and I know the qualities that make one a Sakka, by undertaking which qualities Sakka attained the state of Sakka. "Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, was a young man named Magha; therefore he is called Maghavā. "Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, gave gifts respectfully; therefore he is called Sakka. "Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, gave gifts in the past; therefore he is called Purindada. "Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, gave a dwelling; therefore he is called Vāsava. "Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas, thinks of a thousand matters in a moment; therefore he is called Sahassakkha. "Sujā, an asura maiden, is the consort of Sakka, Mahāli, the lord of devas; therefore he is called Sujampati." is called. “Sakko, Mahāli, the lord of devas, rules over the devas of Tāvatiṃsa with sovereignty and dominion; therefore he is called the lord of devas. “Sakko, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, had completely undertaken seven vows, by the undertaking of which Sakko attained the state of Sakka. Which are the seven vows? ‘As long as I live, I will support my parents; as long as I live, I will revere the elders in the family; as long as I live, I will be gentle in speech; as long as I live, I will not be backbiting in speech; as long as I live, I will dwell at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, open-handed, pure-handed, delighting in giving, responsive to requests, delighting in sharing gifts; as long as I live, I will be truthful in speech; as long as I live, I will be free from anger – even if anger should arise in me, I will quickly suppress it.’ ‘Sakko, Mahāli, the lord of devas, when he was formerly a human being, had completely undertaken these seven vows, by the undertaking of which Sakko attained the state of Sakka.’ “A being who supports parents, Who reveres the elders in the family; Who is gentle, speaks kindly, Who abandons backbiting. “Engaged in overcoming stinginess, Truthful, a man who conquers anger; Him, indeed, the Tāvatiṃsa devas Call a good person.” 4. The Discourse on the Poor Man 260. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying, “Bhikkhus.” “Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: “Formerly, bhikkhus, a certain man in this very Rājagaha was a human pauper, a human wretch, a human unfortunate. He undertook faith in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathāgata, he undertook morality, he undertook learning, he undertook generosity, he undertook wisdom. Having undertaken faith in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathāgata, having undertaken morality, having undertaken learning, having undertaken generosity, having undertaken wisdom— having undertaken, with the breaking of the body, after death, he reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and in fame. There, monks, the Tāvatiṃsa gods grumbled, were annoyed, and complained: ‘It is indeed amazing, sirs, it is indeed wonderful, sirs! This divine being, formerly a human, was a poor human, a wretched human, a miserable human; yet with the breaking of the body, after death, he reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the Tāvatiṃsa gods. He outshines the other gods in beauty and in fame.’” “Then, monks, Sakka, the lord of the gods, addressed the Tāvatiṃsa gods: ‘Do not, sirs, grumble about this divine being. This divine being, sirs, formerly a human, undertook faith in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata; he undertook virtue; he undertook learning; he undertook generosity; he undertook wisdom. Having undertaken faith in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, having undertaken virtue, having undertaken learning, having undertaken generosity, having undertaken wisdom, with the breaking of the body, after death,