sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.41

Ādittasutta

On Fire Ablaze

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
Thus have I heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapiṇḍika’s Park.

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,
Then, when the night had advanced, a certain devatā of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Ādittasmiṁ agārasmiṁ,
“When your house is on fire,
“When one’s house is ablaze

yaṁ nīharati bhājanaṁ;
you rescue the pot
The vessel taken out

Taṁ tassa hoti atthāya,
that’s useful,
Is the one that is useful,

no ca yaṁ tattha ḍayhati.
not the one that’s burnt.
Not the one left burnt inside.

Evaṁ ādittako loko,
And as the world is on fire
“So when the world is ablaze

jarāya maraṇena ca;
with old age and death,
With the fires of aging and death,

Nīharetheva dānena,
you should rescue by giving,
One should take out one’s wealth by giving:

dinnaṁ hoti sunīhataṁ.
for what’s given is rescued.
What is given is well salvaged.

Dinnaṁ sukhaphalaṁ hoti,
What’s given has happiness as its fruit,
“What is given yields pleasant fruit,

nādinnaṁ hoti taṁ tathā;
but not what isn’t given.
But not so what is not given.

Corā haranti rājāno,
Bandits take it, or rulers,
Thieves take it away, or kings,

aggi ḍahati nassati.
it’s consumed by fire, or lost.
It gets burnt by fire or is lost.

Atha antena jahati,
Then in the end this corpse is cast off,
“Then in the end one leaves the body

Sarīraṁ sapariggahaṁ;
along with all your possessions.
Along with one’s possessions.

Etadaññāya medhāvī,
Knowing this, a clever person
Having understood this, the wise person

Bhuñjetha ca dadetha ca;
would enjoy what they have and also give it away.
Should enjoy himself but also give.

Datvā ca bhutvā ca yathānubhāvaṁ,
After giving and using according to their means,
Having given and enjoyed as fits his means,

Anindito saggamupeti ṭhānan”ti.
blameless, they go to a heavenly place.”
Blameless he goes to the heavenly state. ”