sutta » an » an8 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.70

Bhūmicālasutta

Earthquakes

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,

“gaṇhāhi, ānanda, nisīdanaṁ.
“Ānanda, get your sitting cloth.

Yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.
Let’s go to the Cāpāla shrine for the day’s meditation.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā nisīdanaṁ ādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.

Atha kho bhagavā yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla shrine, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:

“Ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtakaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ.
“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-shrines are all lovely.

Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, ākaṅkhamāno so, ānanda, kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā. Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā”ti.
The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ;
But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign.

na bhagavantaṁ yāci:
He didn’t beg the Buddha,

“tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ, tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā …pe…
For a second time …

tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
And for a third time, the Buddha said to him:

“ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī, ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtakaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ.
“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-shrines are all lovely.

Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, ākaṅkhamāno so, ānanda, kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā …pe… ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā”ti.
The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ;
But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign.

na bhagavantaṁ yāci:
He didn’t beg the Buddha,

“tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ, tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of sympathy for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda,

“gaccha tvaṁ, ānanda, yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti.
“Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā bhagavato avidūre aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi.
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before sitting at the root of a tree close by.

Atha kho māro pāpimā acirapakkante āyasmante ānande bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked said to the Buddha:

“Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
“Sir, may the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhū na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have monk disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teachings; not until they practice appropriately, living in line with the teaching; not until they’ve learned their tradition, and explain, teach, assert, establish, clarify, analyze, and reveal; not until they can legitimately and completely refute the doctrines of others that come up, and teach with a demonstrable basis.’

Etarahi, bhante, bhikkhū bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such monk disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
May the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One now be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhuniyo na sāvikā bhavissanti …pe…
‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

yāva me upāsakā na sāvakā bhavissanti …pe…
‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

yāva me upāsikā na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti, uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

Etarahi, bhante, upāsikā bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā pattayogakkhemā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti, uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such laywoman disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
Sir, may the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me idaṁ brahmacariyaṁ na iddhañceva bhavissati phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ, yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitan’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not be fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’

Etarahi, bhante, bhagavato brahmacariyaṁ iddhañceva phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ, yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitaṁ.
Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, parinibbātu sugato. Parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato”ti.
Sir, may the Blessed One now be fully extinguished! May the Holy One be fully extinguished! Now is the time for the full extinguishment of the Buddha.”

“Appossukko tvaṁ, pāpima, hohi. Naciraṁ tathāgatassa parinibbānaṁ bhavissati.
“Relax, Wicked One. The full extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Ito tiṇṇaṁ māsānaṁ accayena tathāgato parinibbāyissatī”ti.
Three months from now the Realized One will be fully extinguished.”

Atha kho bhagavā cāpāle cetiye sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossaji.
So at the Cāpāla Tree-shrine the Buddha, mindful and aware, surrendered the life force.

Ossaṭṭhe ca bhagavatā āyusaṅkhāre mahābhūmicālo ahosi bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.
When he did so there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Tulamatulañca sambhavaṁ,
“Comparing the incomparable <j>with the creation of prolonged life,

Bhavasaṅkhāramavassaji muni;
the sage surrendered the life force.

Ajjhattarato samāhito,
Happy inside, serene,

Abhindi kavacamivattasambhavan”ti.
he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.”

Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi:
Then Venerable Ānanda thought,

“mahā vatāyaṁ bhūmicālo;
“That was a really big earthquake!

sumahā vatāyaṁ bhūmicālo bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.
That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky!

Ko nu kho hetu, ko paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā”ti?
What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

“mahā vatāyaṁ, bhante, bhūmicālo;
“Sir, that was a really big earthquake!

sumahā vatāyaṁ, bhante, bhūmicālo bhiṁsanako salomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.
That was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky!

Ko nu kho, bhante, hetu, ko paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā”ti?
What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a great earthquake?”

“Aṭṭhime, ānanda, hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
“Ānanda, there are these eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.

Katame aṭṭha?
What eight?

Ayaṁ, ānanda, mahāpathavī udake patiṭṭhitā; udakaṁ vāte patiṭṭhitaṁ; vāto ākāsaṭṭho hoti. So, ānanda, samayo yaṁ mahāvātā vāyanti; mahāvātā vāyantā udakaṁ kampenti; udakaṁ kampitaṁ pathaviṁ kampeti.
This great earth is grounded on water, the water is grounded on air, and the air stands in space. At a time when a great wind blows, it stirs the water, and the water stirs the earth.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, paṭhamo hetu, paṭhamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the first cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā iddhimā cetovasippatto devatā vā mahiddhikā mahānubhāvā. Tassa parittā pathavīsaññā bhāvitā hoti, appamāṇā āposaññā. So imaṁ pathaviṁ kampeti saṅkampeti sampakampeti sampavedheti.
Furthermore, there is an ascetic or brahmin with psychic power who has achieved mastery of the mind, or a god who is mighty and powerful. They’ve developed a limited perception of earth and a limitless perception of water. They make the earth shake and rock and tremble.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, dutiyo hetu, dutiyo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the second cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā bodhisatto tusitā kāyā cavitvā sato sampajāno mātukucchiṁ okkamati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening passes away from the host of joyful gods, he’s conceived in his mother’s belly, mindful and aware. Then the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, tatiyo hetu, tatiyo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the third cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā bodhisatto sato sampajāno mātukucchismā nikkhamati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening comes out of his mother’s belly mindful and aware, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, catuttho hetu, catuttho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the fourth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambujjhati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the Realized One realizes the supreme perfect awakening, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, pañcamo hetu, pañcamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the fifth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavatteti, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the Realized One rolls forth the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, chaṭṭho hetu, chaṭṭho paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the sixth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossajjati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the Realized One, mindful and aware, surrenders the life force, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, sattamo hetu, sattamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the seventh cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, yadā tathāgato anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyati, tadāyaṁ pathavī kampati saṅkampati sampakampati sampavedhati.
Furthermore, when the Realized One becomes fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles.

Ayaṁ, ānanda, aṭṭhamo hetu, aṭṭhamo paccayo mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāya.
This is the eighth cause and reason for a great earthquake.

Ime kho, ānanda, aṭṭha hetū, aṭṭha paccayā mahato bhūmicālassa pātubhāvāyā”ti.
These are the eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.”

Dasamaṁ.

Bhūmicālavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Icchā alañca saṅkhittaṁ,

gayā abhibhunā saha;

Vimokkho dve ca vohārā,

parisā bhūmicālenāti.