sutta » sn » sn6 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.12

Devadattasutta

About Devadatta Devadatta

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak not long after Devadatta had left.

Atha kho brahmā sahampati abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ pabbataṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
Then, late at night, the beautiful divinity Sahampati, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,
Then, when the night had advanced, Brahmā Sahampati, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Mount Vulture Peak, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sahampati devadattaṁ ārabbha bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
Standing to one side, referring to Devadatta, he recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Phalaṁ ve kadaliṁ hanti,
“The banana tree is destroyed by its own fruit,
“As its own fruit brings destruction

phalaṁ veḷuṁ phalaṁ naḷaṁ;
as are the bamboo and the reed.
To the plantain, bamboo, and reed,

Sakkāro kāpurisaṁ hanti,
Honor destroys a sinner,
So do honours destroy the scoundrel,

gabbho assatariṁ yathā”ti.
as pregnancy destroys a mule.”
As its embryo destroys the mule.”