sutta » sn » sn2 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.9

Candimasutta

Candimā The Moon

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena candimā devaputto rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti.
Now on that occasion the young deva Candimā had been seized by Rāhu, lord of the asuras.
Now at that time the Moon God had been seized by Rāhu, lord of titans.

Atha kho candimā devaputto bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then, recollecting the Blessed One, the young deva Candimā on that occasion recited this verse:
Then the Moon God, recollecting the Buddha, at that time recited this verse:

“Namo te buddha vīratthu,
“Let homage be to you, the Buddha! O hero,
“Homage to you, Buddha, hero!

vippamuttosi sabbadhi;
you are everywhere released.
You’re free in every way.

Sambādhapaṭipannosmi,
I have fallen into captivity,
I’ve wandered into confinement:

tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā”ti.
So please be my refuge.”
be my refuge!”

Atha kho bhagavā candimaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then, referring to the young deva Candimā, the Blessed One addressed Rāhu, lord of the asuras, in verse:
Then the Buddha addressed Rāhu in verse concerning the Moon God:

“Tathāgataṁ arahantaṁ,
“To the Tathāgata, the Arahant.
“The Moon God has gone for refuge

candimā saraṇaṁ gato;
Candimā has gone for refuge
to the Realized One, the perfected one.

Rāhu candaṁ pamuñcassu,
Release Candimā, O Rāhu,
The Buddhas have compassion for the world—

buddhā lokānukampakā”ti.
Buddhas have compassion for the world.”
so Rāhu, release the Moon!”

Atha kho rāhu asurindo candimaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena vepacitti asurindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
Then Rāhu, lord of the asuras, released the young deva Candimā and hurriedly approached Vepacitti, lord of the asuras. Having approached, shocked and terrified, he stood to one side.
Then Rāhu, having released the Moon, rushed to see Vepacitti, lord of titans and stood to one side, shocked and awestruck.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho rāhuṁ asurindaṁ vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then, as he stood there, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, addressed him in verse:
Vepacitti addressed him in verse:

“Kiṁ nu santaramānova,
“Why, Rāhu, did you come in a hurry?
“Why the rush?

rāhu candaṁ pamuñcasi;
Why did you release Candimā?
Rāhu, you released the Moon

Saṁviggarūpo āgamma,
Having come as if in shock,
and came here looking like you’re in shock:

kiṁ nu bhītova tiṭṭhasī”ti.
Why do you stand there frightened?”
why do you stand there so scared?”

“Sattadhā me phale muddhā,
“My head would have split in seven parts,
“My head would have exploded in seven pieces,

jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe;
While living I would have found no ease,
I would have found no happiness in life,

Buddhagāthābhigītomhi,
If, when chanted over by the Buddha’s verse,
if, when enchanted by the Buddha’s spell,

no ce muñceyya candiman”ti.
I had not let go of Candimā. ”
I had not released the Moon.”