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Homage to that Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. The Suttanta Piṭaka In the Saṃyutta Nikāya The Pāḷi of the Sagāthā Vagga Questions and Answers of the Recitation Question – Friend, at the time of the First Great Recitation, the Dhamma-reciting great elder-chiefs, Mahākassapa and others, the ancient reciters, having first recited the Vinaya Piṭaka, and then reciting the Suttanta Piṭaka, having recited the Dīgha Nikāya and the Majjhima Nikāya, what teaching did they recite next? Answer – Venerable sir, at the time of the First Great Recitation, the Dhamma-reciting ancient elder-chiefs, Mahākassapa and others, having first recited the Vinaya Piṭaka, and then reciting the Suttanta Piṭaka, having recited the Dīgha Nikāya and the Majjhima Nikāya, they then recited the teaching called the Saṃyutta Nikāya, adorned with seven thousand, seven hundred, and sixty-two suttas, and comprising one hundred recitations (bhāṇavāra). Question – Friend, in the Saṃyutta Nikāya, there are five divisions of Saṃyutta: the Sagāthā Vagga, the Nidāna Vagga, the Khandha Vagga, the Saḷāyatana Vagga, and the Mahā Vagga. Among these, which division of Saṃyutta did they recite first? Answer – Venerable sir, among the five divisions of Saṃyutta, they first recited the Sagāthā Vagga division of Saṃyutta. Question – Friend, even in the Sagāthā Vagga, there are eleven Saṃyuttas, such as the Devatā Saṃyutta and others. Among these, which Saṃyutta did they recite first? Answer – Venerable sir, among the eleven Saṃyuttas, they first recited the Devatā Saṃyutta. Question – Friend, even in the Devatā Saṃyutta, there are eight sections (vaggas), such as the Naḷa Vagga and others, and eighty-one suttas, such as the Oghataraṇa Sutta and others. Among these, which section and which sutta did they recite first? Answer – Venerable sir, among the eight sections, they first recited the Naḷa Vagga, and among the eighty-one suttas, they first recited the Oghataraṇa Sutta. Good, good, friend! We too shall now ask the questions that precede the recitation, starting from that point. Begin to bring forth matters for explanation. Connected Discourses with Deities Discourse on Crossing the Flood Question – Friend, by that Blessed One, the knowing, the seeing, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was the Discourse on Crossing the Flood spoken? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning a certain deity. A certain deity, venerable sir, when the night was far advanced, of surpassing beauty, having illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, approached where the Blessed One was. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to the Blessed One: "How, venerable sir, did you cross the flood?" On that occasion, venerable sir, [the Blessed One said]: "Without standing, friend, without striving, I crossed the flood." Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Discourse on Passing Away Question – And the Discourse on Passing Away, friend, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning a certain deity. A certain deity, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "Times pass away, Nights pass over, Life's attributes gradually abandon, Seeing this fear in death, One should do merits bringing happiness." On that occasion, venerable sir, "Times pass away, Nights pass over, Life's attributes gradually abandon, Seeing this fear in death, One seeking peace should abandon worldly allurements." Thus, venerable sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Discourse on the Spear Question – And the Discourse on the Spear, friend, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning a certain deity. A certain deity, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "As if struck by a spear, As if burning on the head; For abandoning sensual passion, A mindful monk should wander." On that occasion, venerable sir, As if struck by a spear, burning as if on fire on the head; For the abandoning of identity view, a mindful monk wanders. Thus, indeed, Venerable Sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. As if struck by a spear, as if on fire on the head; For the abandoning of sensual desire, a mindful monk should wander – As if struck by a spear, as if on fire on the head, For the abandoning of identity view, a mindful monk should wander – Jaṭā Sutta Question – But where, friend, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Jaṭā Sutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, Venerable Sir, it was spoken concerning a certain deity. A certain deity, Venerable Sir, spoke thus to the Blessed One: "Within is tangle, without is tangle, the generation is entangled in tangle; I ask you this, Gotama: who can disentangle this tangle?" In that context, Venerable Sir: A wise person, established in virtue, developing mind and wisdom; An ardent, skillful monk, he can disentangle this tangle. For whom lust and hatred and ignorance are faded away; For those Arahants, whose taints are destroyed, the tangle is disentangled. Thus, and so on, Venerable Sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. A wise person, established in virtue, developing mind and wisdom; An ardent, skillful monk, he can disentangle this tangle – For whom lust and hatred and ignorance are faded away; For those Arahants, whose taints are destroyed, the tangle is disentangled – Where name and form entirely cease; And resistance and perception of form, there this tangle is cut. Accharā Sutta Question – But where, friend, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Accharā Sutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, Venerable Sir, it was spoken concerning a certain devaputta. A certain devaputta, Venerable Sir, spoke thus to the Blessed One: "A forest frequented by throngs of nymphs, and served by hordes of demons; A bewildering wilderness, how will the journey be?" In that context, Venerable Sir: "Straight is that path, fearless is that direction, The chariot is called 'Soundless', equipped with wheels of Dhamma." Shame is his support, Mindfulness his retinue; I call Dhamma the charioteer, Right View the forerunner. Whoever has such a vehicle, Be it woman or man; He indeed with this vehicle, Is close to Nibbāna. Thus, indeed, Venerable Sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Resounding with throngs of nymphs, Haunted by hosts of ghouls; A forest called bewildering, How will the journey be? Discourse on Old Age Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Discourse on Old Age spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, Venerable Sir, it was spoken concerning a certain deity. A certain deity, Venerable Sir, approached the Blessed One and said this: “What indeed is good until old age? What indeed is well-established? What indeed is a gem for humans? What indeed is hard for thieves to steal?” In that context, Venerable Sir— “Virtue indeed is good until old age, Faith is well-established; Wisdom is a gem for humans, Merit is hard for thieves to steal.” Thus, indeed, Venerable Sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. What indeed is good until old age? What indeed is well-established? What indeed is a gem for humans? What indeed is hard for thieves to steal? Connected Discourses with Deities Discourse with Subrahmā Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Discourse with Subrahmā spoken by the Blessed One, the Knower, the Seer, the Arahant, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One? And what kind of benefit from hearing the Dhamma was attained there by the recipient of the Dhamma? Answer – In Rājagaha, Venerable Sir, it was spoken concerning the deity Subrahmā. The deity Subrahmā, Venerable Sir, terrified by the fear of death, approached the Blessed One and said this: “This mind is always agitated, This heart is always disturbed; In troubles not yet arisen, And also in those that have arisen; If there is anything unafraid, Tell it to me, as I ask.” In that context, Venerable Sir. “Not without awakening through austerity, Not without restraint of the senses; Not without the relinquishing of all, Do I see safety for a living being.” Thus, indeed, Venerable Sir, b spoken by the Blessed One. And at the end of the discourse, venerable sir, to the deity Subrahma, on that very seat, the dustless, stainless Dhamma-eye arose: “Whatever is of the nature to arise, all that is of the nature to cease.” This mind is ever agitated, this mind is ever disturbed; In troubles not yet arisen, and also in those that have arisen; If there is one unafraid, tell me, I ask you— Not by wisdom and austerity, not by restraint of the senses; Not by relinquishing all, do I see safety for living beings— Rohitassa Sutta Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Rohitassa Sutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – Venerable sir, it was spoken at Sāvatthī, concerning the deity Rohitassa. Venerable sir, the deity Rohitassa said this to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, where there is no birth, no aging, no death, no passing away, no reappearing, is it possible, venerable sir, by going to know, to see, or to reach the end of the world?” In that context, venerable sir, the Blessed One spoke thus: “Friend, where there is no birth, no aging, no death, no passing away, no reappearing, I do not say that the end of the world can be known, seen, or reached by going.” Kosala Saṃyutta Dahara Sutta Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Dahara Sutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – Venerable sir, it was spoken at Sāvatthī, concerning King Pasenadi of Kosala.