Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.14

Translators: sujato and bodhi

Linked Discourses 6.14

2. Dutiyavagga
Chapter Two

Aruṇavatīsutta

About Aruṇavatī Aruṇavatī

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from Aruṇavatī and appeared in that realm of divinity.
“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.

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

‘Evaṁ, bhante’ti kho, bhikkhave, abhibhū bhikkhu sikhissa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa paṭissutvā, brahmānañca brahmaparisañca brahmapārisajje ca dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Abhibhū. Then he educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired them with a Dhamma talk.
‘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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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, 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.
‘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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

seyyathāpi nāma …pe… tasmiṁ brahmaloke antarahitā aruṇavatiyā rājadhāniyā pāturahesuṁ.
as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sikhī and Abhibhū vanished from that realm of divinity and appeared in Aruṇavatī.
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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 of suffering.”
Will make an end to suffering. ”

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

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

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

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