sutta » sn » sn6 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.5

Aññatarabrahmasutta

A Certain Divinity A Certain Brahmā (Another View)

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa brahmuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti:
Now at that time a certain divinity had the following harmful misconception:
Now on that occasion the following evil speculative view had arisen in a certain brahmā:

“natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo idha āgaccheyyā”ti.
“No ascetic or brahmin can come here!”
“There is no ascetic or brahmin who can come here. ”

Atha kho bhagavā tassa brahmuno cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.
Then the Buddha knew what that divinity was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that realm of divinity.
Then, having known with his own mind the reflection in that brahmā’s mind, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Blessed One disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that brahmā world.

Atha kho bhagavā tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā.
Then the Buddha sat cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.
The Blessed One sat cross-legged in the air above that brahmā, having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi:
Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought,
Then it occurred to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?
“Where is the Buddha staying at present?”
“Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?”

Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisinnaṁ tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.
With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, he saw the Buddha seated cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.
With the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna saw the Blessed One sitting cross-legged in the air above that brahmā, having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.
Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that realm of divinity.
Having seen this, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that brahmā world.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno puratthimaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.
Then Mahāmoggallāna—positioning himself in the east, below the Buddha—sat cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna stationed himself in the eastern quarter and sat cross-legged in the air above that brahmā—though lower than the Blessed One—having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmato mahākassapassa etadahosi:
Then Venerable Mahākassapa …
Then it occurred to the Venerable Mahākassapa:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?
“Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?”

Addasā kho āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā …pe…
With the divine eye … the Venerable Mahākassapa saw the Blessed One sitting cross-legged in the air above that brahmā…

disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.
Having seen this, … the Venerable Mahākassapa disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that brahmā world.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.
positioned himself in the south …
Then the Venerable Mahākassapa stationed himself in the southern quarter and sat cross-legged in the air above that brahmā—though lower than the Blessed One—having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmato mahākappinassa etadahosi:
Venerable Mahākappina …
Then it occurred to the Venerable Mahākappina:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?
“Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?”

Addasā kho āyasmā mahākappino bhagavantaṁ dibbena cakkhunā …pe… tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.
With the divine eye … the Venerable Mahākappina saw the Blessed One sitting cross-legged in the air above that brahmā… .

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe…
Having seen this, …

evameva—jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.
The Venerable Mahākappina disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that brahmā world.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākappino pacchimaṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.
positioned himself in the west …
Then the Venerable Mahākappina stationed himself in the western quarter and sat cross-legged in the air above that brahmā—though lower than the Blessed One—having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmato anuruddhassa etadahosi:
Venerable Anuruddha …
Then it occurred to the Venerable Anuruddha:

“kahaṁ nu kho bhagavā etarahi viharatī”ti?
“Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?”

Addasā kho āyasmā anuruddho …pe… tejodhātuṁ samāpannaṁ.
With the divine eye … the Venerable Anuruddha saw the Blessed One sitting cross-legged in the air above that brahmā…

Disvāna—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.
Having seen this, … the Venerable Anuruddha disappeared from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that brahmā world.

Atha kho āyasmā anuruddho uttaraṁ disaṁ nissāya tassa brahmuno upari vehāsaṁ pallaṅkena nisīdi tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā nīcataraṁ bhagavato.
positioned himself in the north, below the Buddha, sitting cross-legged in the air above that Divinity, having entered upon the fire element.
Then the Venerable Anuruddha stationed himself in the northern quarter and sat cross-legged in the air above that brahmā—though lower than the Blessed One—having entered into meditation on the fire element.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ brahmānaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that Divinity in verse:
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed that brahmā in verse:

“Ajjāpi te āvuso sā diṭṭhi,
“Sir, do you still have the same view
“Today, friend, do you still hold that view,

Yā te diṭṭhi pure ahu;
that you had in the past?
The view that you formerly held?

Passasi vītivattantaṁ,
Or do you see the radiance
Do you see the radiance

Brahmaloke pabhassaran”ti.
transcending the realm of divinity?”
Surpassing that in the brahmā world?”

“Na me mārisa sā diṭṭhi,
“Good sir, I don’t have that view
“I no longer hold that view, dear sir,

yā me diṭṭhi pure ahu;
that I had in the past.
The view that I formerly held.

Passāmi vītivattantaṁ,
I see the radiance
Indeed I see the radiance

brahmaloke pabhassaraṁ;
transcending the realm of divinity.
Surpassing that in the brahmā world.

Svāhaṁ ajja kathaṁ vajjaṁ,
So how could I say today
Today how could I maintain,

ahaṁ niccomhi sassato”ti.
that I am permanent and eternal?”
‘I am permanent and eternal’?”

Atha kho bhagavā taṁ brahmānaṁ saṁvejetvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—tasmiṁ brahmaloke antarahito jetavane pāturahosi.
Having inspired a sense of awe in the Divinity, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, the Buddha vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in Jeta’s Grove.
Then, having stirred up a sense of urgency in that brahmā, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Blessed One disappeared from that brahmā world and reappeared in Jeta’s Grove.

Atha kho so brahmā aññataraṁ brahmapārisajjaṁ āmantesi:
Then that Divinity addressed a member of his retinue,
Then that brahmā addressed one member of his assembly thus:

“ehi tvaṁ, mārisa, yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ evaṁ vadehi:
“Please, good sir, go up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and say to him:
“Come now, dear sir, approach the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and say to him:

‘atthi nu kho, mārisa moggallāna, aññepi tassa bhagavato sāvakā evaṁmahiddhikā evaṁmahānubhāvā;
‘Moggallāna my good sir, are there any other disciples of the Buddha who have power and might
‘Sir Moggallāna, are there any other disciples of the Blessed One that are as powerful and mighty ”

seyyathāpi bhavaṁ moggallāno kassapo kappino anuruddho’”ti?
comparable to misters Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina, and Anuruddha?’”
as Masters Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina , and Anuruddha?’

“Evaṁ, mārisā”ti kho so brahmapārisajjo tassa brahmuno paṭissutvā yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca:
“Yes, good sir,” replied that retinue member. He went to Moggallāna and asked as instructed.
“Yes, dear sir, ” that member of Brahmā’s assembly replied. Then he approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and asked him:

“atthi nu kho, mārisa moggallāna, aññepi tassa bhagavato sāvakā evaṁmahiddhikā evaṁmahānubhāvā;
“Sir Moggallāna, are there any other disciples of the Blessed One that are as powerful and mighty

seyyathāpi bhavaṁ moggallāno kassapo kappino anuruddho”ti?
as Masters Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina , and Anuruddha?”

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ brahmapārisajjaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Mahāmoggallāna addressed that member of the retinue of Divinity in verse:
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed that member of Brahmā’s assembly in verse:

“Tevijjā iddhipattā ca,
“There are many disciples of the Buddha
Triple-knowledge bearers with spiritual powers,

cetopariyāyakovidā;
who have the three knowledges,
Skilled in the course of others’ minds.

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,
and have attained psychic power, <j>expert in reading minds,
Who are arahants with taints destroyed,

bahū buddhassa sāvakā”ti.
they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.”
“Many are the disciples of the Buddha ”

Atha kho so brahmapārisajjo āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā yena so brahmā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ brahmānaṁ etadavoca:
Then that member of the retinue of Divinity, having approved and agreed with what Mahāmoggallāna said, went to that Divinity and said to him,
Then that member of Brahmā’s assembly, having delighted and rejoiced in the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s statement, approached that brahmā and told him:

“āyasmā, mārisa, mahāmoggallāno evamāha:
“Good sir, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:
“Dear sir, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna speaks thus:

‘Tevijjā iddhipattā ca,
‘There are many disciples of the Buddha
Triple-knowledge bearers with spiritual powers,

cetopariyāyakovidā;
who have the three knowledges,
Skilled in the course of others’ minds.

Khīṇāsavā arahanto,
and have attained psychic power, <j>expert in reading minds,

bahū buddhassa sāvakā’”ti.
they’re perfected ones with defilements ended.’”
“‘Many are the disciples of the Buddha.’”

Idamavoca so brahmapārisajjo.
That’s what that member of the retinue of Divinity said.
This is what that member of Brahmā’s assembly said.

Attamano ca so brahmā tassa brahmapārisajjassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.
Satisfied, that Divinity approved what the member of his retinue said.
Elated, that brahmā delighted in his statement.