sutta » sn » sn6 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.14

Aruṇavatīsutta

Aruṇavatī About Aruṇavatī

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati …pe…
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī …
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī.

tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:
There he addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.
“Bhikkhus!”
“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied.
“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:
The Blessed One said this:
The Buddha said this:

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā ahosi aruṇavā nāma.
“Bhikkhus, once in the past there was a king named Aruṇavā
“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a king named Aruṇavā.

Rañño kho pana, bhikkhave, aruṇavato aruṇavatī nāma rājadhānī ahosi.
whose capital was named Aruṇavatī.
He had a capital named Aruṇavatī.

Aruṇavatiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, rājadhāniṁ sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho upanissāya vihāsi.
The Blessed One Sikhī, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, dwelt in dependence on the capital Aruṇavatī.
Sikhī the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha lived supported by Aruṇavatī.

Sikhissa kho pana, bhikkhave, bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa abhibhūsambhavaṁ nāma sāvakayugaṁ ahosi aggaṁ bhaddayugaṁ.
The chief pair of disciples of the Blessed One Sikhī were named Abhibhū and Sambhava, an excellent pair.
Sikhī had a fine pair of chief disciples named Abhibhū and Sambhava.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho abhibhuṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:
Then the Blessed One Sikhī addressed the bhikkhu Abhibhū:
Then the Buddha Sikhī addressed the mendicant Abhibhū,

‘āyāma, brāhmaṇa, yena aññataro brahmaloko tenupasaṅkamissāma, yāva bhattassa kālo bhavissatī’ti.
‘Come, brahmin, let us go to a certain brahmā world until it is time for our meal. ’
‘Come, brahmin, let’s go to one of the brahmā realms until it’s time for our meal.’

‘Evaṁ, bhante’ti kho bhikkhave, abhibhū bhikkhu sikhissa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa paccassosi.
‘Yes, venerable sir, ’ the bhikkhu Abhibhū replied.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Abhibhū.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho abhibhū ca bhikkhu—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—aruṇavatiyā rājadhāniyā antarahitā tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahesuṁ.
“Then, bhikkhus, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, so the Blessed One Sikhī, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and the bhikkhu Abhibhū disappeared from the capital Aruṇavatī and reappeared in that brahmā world.
Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from Aruṇavatī and appeared in that Brahmā realm.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho abhibhuṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:
Then the Blessed One Sikhī addressed the bhikkhu Abhibhū thus:
Then the Buddha Sikhī addressed the mendicant Abhibhū,

‘paṭibhātu, brāhmaṇa, taṁ brahmuno ca brahmaparisāya ca brahmapārisajjānañca dhammī kathā’ti.
‘Give a Dhamma talk, brahmin, to Brahmā and to Brahmā’s retinue and to Brahmā’s assembly. ’
‘Brahmin, teach the Dhamma as you feel inspired for that Brahmā, his assembly, and the members of his retinue.’

‘Evaṁ, bhante’ti kho, bhikkhave, abhibhū bhikkhu sikhissa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa paṭissutvā, brahmānañca brahmaparisañca brahmapārisajje ca dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.
‘Yes, venerable sir, ’ the bhikkhu Abhibhū replied. Then, by means of a Dhamma talk, he instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened Brahmā and Brahmā’s retinue and Brahmā’s assembly.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Abhibhū. Then he educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired them with a Dhamma talk.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmā ca brahmaparisā ca brahmapārisajjā ca ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:
Thereupon Brahmā and Brahmā’s retinue and Brahmā’s assembly found fault with this, grumbled, and complained about it, saying:
But the Brahmā, his assembly, and his retinue complained, grumbled, and objected,

‘acchariyaṁ vata, bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, kathañhi nāma satthari sammukhībhūte sāvako dhammaṁ desessatī’ti.
‘It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is amazing indeed, sir! How can a disciple teach the Dhamma in the very presence of the Teacher?’
‘Oh, how incredible, how amazing! How on earth can a disciple teach Dhamma in the presence of the Teacher?’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho abhibhuṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:
“Then , bhikkhus , the Blessed One Sikhī addressed the bhikkhu Abhibhū thus:
Then the Buddha Sikhī addressed the mendicant Abhibhū,

‘ujjhāyanti kho te, brāhmaṇa, brahmā ca brahmaparisā ca brahmapārisajjā ca—
‘Brahmin, Brahmā and Brahmā’s retinue and Brahmā’s assembly deplore this, saying,
‘Brahmin, Brahmā, his assembly, and his retinue are complaining

acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, kathañhi nāma satthari sammukhībhūte sāvako dhammaṁ desessatīti.
“It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is amazing indeed, sir! How can a disciple teach the Dhamma in the very presence of the Teacher?”
that a disciple teaches Dhamma in the presence of the Teacher.

Tena hi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, bhiyyoso mattāya brahmānañca brahmaparisañca brahmapārisajje ca saṁvejehī’ti.
Well then, brahmin, stir up an even greater sense of urgency in Brahmā and in Brahmā’s retinue and in Brahmā’s assembly. ’
Well then, brahmin, stir them up even more!’

‘Evaṁ, bhante’ti kho, bhikkhave, abhibhū bhikkhu sikhissa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa paṭissutvā dissamānenapi kāyena dhammaṁ desesi, adissamānenapi kāyena dhammaṁ desesi, dissamānenapi heṭṭhimena upaḍḍhakāyena adissamānena uparimena upaḍḍhakāyena dhammaṁ desesi, dissamānenapi uparimena upaḍḍhakāyena adissamānena heṭṭhimena upaḍḍhakāyena dhammaṁ desesi.
‘Yes, venerable sir, ’ the bhikkhu Abhibhū replied. Then he taught the Dhamma with his body visible, and with his body invisible, and with the lower half of his body visible and the upper half invisible, and with the upper half of his body visible and the lower half invisible.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Abhibhū. Then he taught Dhamma with his body visible; with his body invisible; with the lower half visible and the upper half invisible; and with the upper half visible and the lower half invisible.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmā ca brahmaparisā ca brahmapārisajjā ca acchariyabbhutacittajātā ahesuṁ:
Thereupon, bhikkhus, Brahmā and Brahmā’s retinue and Brahmā’s assembly were struck with wonder and amazement, saying:
And the Brahmā, his assembly, and his retinue, their minds full of wonder and amazement, thought,

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, samaṇassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā’ti.
‘It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is amazing indeed, sir! How the ascetic has such great power and might!’
‘Oh, how incredible, how amazing! The ascetic has such psychic power and might!’

Atha kho abhibhū bhikkhu sikhiṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ etadavoca:
“Then, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu Abhibhū said to the Blessed One Sikhī, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One:
Then Abhibhū said to the Buddha Sikhī,

‘abhijānāmi khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhusaṅghassa majjhe evarūpiṁ vācaṁ bhāsitā—
‘I recall, venerable sir, having made such a statement as this in the midst of the Bhikkhu Saṅgha:
‘Sir, I recall having said this in the middle of the Saṅgha:

pahomi khvāhaṁ, āvuso, brahmaloke ṭhito sahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpetun’ti.
“Friends, while standing in the brahmā world I can make my voice heard throughout the thousandfold world system. ’”
“Standing in the Brahmā realm, I can make my voice heard throughout the galaxy.”’

‘Etassa, brāhmaṇa, kālo, etassa, brāhmaṇa, kālo;
‘Now is the time for that, brahmin! Now is the time for that, brahmin!
‘Now is the time, brahmin! Now is the time, brahmin!

yaṁ tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, brahmaloke ṭhito sahassilokadhātuṁ sarena viññāpeyyāsī’ti.
While standing in the brahmā world you should make your voice heard throughout the thousandfold world system. ’
Standing in the Brahmā realm, make your voice heard throughout the galaxy.’

‘Evaṁ, bhante’ti kho, bhikkhave, abhibhū bhikkhu sikhissa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa paṭissutvā brahmaloke ṭhito imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
‘Yes, venerable sir, ’ the bhikkhu Abhibhū replied. Then, while standing in the brahmā world, he recited these verses :
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Abhibhū. Standing in the Brahmā realm, he recited this verse:

‘Ārambhatha nikkamatha,
“‘Arouse your energy, strive on!
‘Rouse yourselves! Try harder!

Yuñjatha buddhasāsane;
Exert yourself in the Buddha’s Teaching.
Devote yourselves to the teachings of the Buddha!

Dhunātha maccuno senaṁ,
Sweep away the army of Death
Crush the army of Death,

Naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro.
As an elephant does a hut of reeds.
as an elephant a hut of reeds.

Yo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye,
“‘In this Dhamma and Discipline,
Whoever shall meditate diligently

appamatto vihassati;
One who dwells diligently
in this teaching and training,

Pahāya jātisaṁsāraṁ,
Having abandoned the wandering on in birth,
giving up transmigration through rebirths,

dukkhassantaṁ karissatī’ti.
Will make an end to suffering. ’
will make an end of suffering.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī ca bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho abhibhū ca bhikkhu brahmānañca brahmaparisañca brahmapārisajje ca saṁvejetvā—
“Then, bhikkhus, having stirred up a sense of urgency in Brahmā and in Brahmā’s retinue and in Brahmā’s assembly,
Having inspired that Brahmā, his assembly, and his retinue with a sense of awe,

seyyathāpi nāma …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke antarahitā aruṇavatiyā rājadhāniyā pāturahesuṁ.
just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, the Blessed One Sikhī, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and the bhikkhu Abhibhū disappeared from that brahmā world and reappeared in the capital Aruṇavatī.
as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sikhī and Abhibhū vanished from that Brahmā realm and appeared in Aruṇavatī.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sikhī bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then the Blessed One Sikhī addressed the bhikkhus thus:
Then the Buddha Sikhī addressed the mendicants,

‘assuttha no tumhe, bhikkhave, abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassā’ti?
‘Bhikkhus, did you hear the verses that the bhikkhu Abhibhū recited while he was standing in the brahmā world?’
‘Mendicants, did you hear the mendicant Abhibhū speaking a verse while standing in a Brahmā realm?’

‘Assumha kho mayaṁ, bhante, abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassā’ti.
‘We did, venerable sir. ’
‘We did, sir.’

‘Yathā kathaṁ pana tumhe, bhikkhave, assuttha abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassā’ti?
‘What were the verses that you heard, bhikkhus?’
‘But what exactly did you hear?’

Evaṁ kho mayaṁ, bhante, assumha abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassa:
‘We heard the verses of the bhikkhu Abhibhū thus:
‘This is what we heard, sir:

‘Ārambhatha nikkamatha,
“Arouse your energy, strive on!…
“Rouse yourselves! Try harder!

yuñjatha buddhasāsane;
Devote yourselves to the teachings of the Buddha!

Dhunātha maccuno senaṁ,
Crush the army of Death,

naḷāgāraṁva kuñjaro.
as an elephant a hut of reeds.

Yo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye,
Whoever shall meditate diligently

appamatto vihassati;
in this teaching and training,

Pahāya jātisaṁsāraṁ,
giving up transmigration through rebirths,

dukkhassantaṁ karissatī’ti.
Will make an end to suffering. ”
will make an end of suffering.”

‘Evaṁ kho mayaṁ, bhante, assumha abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassā’ti.
Such were the verses that we heard the bhikkhu Abhibhū recite while he was standing in the brahmā world. ’
That’s what we heard, sir.’

‘Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave;
‘Good, good, bhikkhus!
‘Good, good, mendicants!

sādhu kho tumhe, bhikkhave, assuttha abhibhussa bhikkhuno brahmaloke ṭhitassa gāthāyo bhāsamānassā’”ti.
It is good that you heard the verses that the bhikkhu Abhibhū recited while he was standing in the brahmā world. ’”
It’s good that you heard the mendicant Abhibhū speaking this verse while standing in a Brahmā realm.’”

Idamavoca bhagavā, attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.
This is what the Blessed One said. Elated, those bhikkhus delighted in the Blessed One’s statement.
That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.