sutta » sn » sn6 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.13

Andhakavindasutta

At Andhakavinda Andhakavinda

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā māgadhesu viharati andhakavinde.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Andhakavinda.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans at Andhakavinda.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Now on that occasion the Blessed One was sitting out in the open in the thick darkness of the night while it was drizzling.

Atha kho brahmā sahampati abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ andhakavindaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
Then, late at night, the beautiful divinity Sahampati, lighting up the entirety of Andhakavinda, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,
Then, when the night had advanced, Brahmā Sahampati … approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
Standing to one side, he recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,
“One should frequent secluded lodgings,
“One should resort to remote lodgings,

Careyya saṁyojanavippamokkhā;
and practice to be released from fetters.
Practise for release from the fetters.

Sace ratiṁ nādhigaccheyya tattha,
If you don’t find enjoyment there,
But if one does not find delight there,

Saṅghe vase rakkhitatto satīmā.
live in the Saṅgha, guarded and mindful.
Guarded and mindful, dwell in the Saṅgha.

Kulākulaṁ piṇḍikāya caranto,
Walking for alms from family to family,
“Walking for alms from family to family,

Indriyagutto nipako satimā;
with senses guarded, alert and mindful.
Faculties guarded, discreet, mindful,

Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,
One should frequent secluded lodgings,
One should resort to remote lodgings,

Bhayā pamutto abhaye vimutto.
free of fear, freed in the fearless.
Freed from fear, liberated in the fearless.

Yattha bheravā sarīsapā,
Where dreadful serpents slither,
“Where terrible serpents glide,

Vijju sañcarati thanayati devo;
where the lightning flashes and the heavens thunder
Where lightning flashes and the sky thunders,

Andhakāratimisāya rattiyā,
in the dark of the night;
In the thick darkness of the night

Nisīdi tattha bhikkhu vigatalomahaṁso.
there meditates a mendicant, free of goosebumps.
There sits a bhikkhu devoid of terror.

Idañhi jātu me diṭṭhaṁ,
For this is ever seen by me,
“For this has actually been seen by me,

nayidaṁ itihītihaṁ;
it isn’t just what the testament says.
It is not merely hearsay:

Ekasmiṁ brahmacariyasmiṁ,
Within a single spiritual dispensation
Within a single holy life

sahassaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ.
a thousand are conquerors of Death.
A thousand have left Death behind.

Bhiyyo pañcasatā sekkhā,
And of trainees there are more than five hundred,
“There are five hundred more trainees,

dasā ca dasadhā dasa;
and ten times ten tens;
And ten times a tenfold ten:

Sabbe sotasamāpannā,
all are stream-enterers,
All have entered the stream,

atiracchānagāmino.
freed from rebirth in the animal realm.
Never returning to the animal realm.

Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
And as for the rest of folk
“As for the other people who remain—

puññabhāgāti me mano;
who I think have shared in merit—
Who, to my mind, partake of merit—

Saṅkhātuṁ nopi sakkomi,
I couldn’t even number them,
I cannot even number them

musāvādassa ottapan”ti.
for fear of speaking falsely.”
From dread of speaking falsely. ”