sutta » sn » sn10 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 10.5

Sānusutta

With Sānu

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā upāsikāya sānu nāma putto yakkhena gahito hoti.
Now at that time a certain lay woman had a son named Sānu who had been possessed by a native spirit.
Now on that occasion a certain female lay follower had a son named Sānu who had been possessed by a yakkha.

Atha kho sā upāsikā paridevamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
And as that lay woman wept, on that occasion she recited these verses:
Then that female lay follower, lamenting, on that occasion recited these verses:

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
“I have heard this from the perfected ones.
On the fourteenth or fifteenth,

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
The native spirits will not mess with anyone
And on the eighths of the fortnight,

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
who leads the spiritual life
And during special periods

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ.
by observing the sabbath
Complete in eight factors

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,
complete in all eight factors
Who observe the Uposatha days,

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye;
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
With those who lead the holy life,

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
The yakkhas do not sport around

iti me arahataṁ sutaṁ;
as well as on the fortnight of special displays.
So I have heard from the arahants.

Sā dāni ajja passāmi,
But now today I see
But now today I see for myself

yakkhā kīḷanti sānunā”ti.
native spirits messing with Sānu.”
The yakkhas sporting with Sānu.

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,
“What you heard from the perfected ones is right.
On the fourteenth or fifteenth,

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;
The native spirits will not mess with anyone
And on the eighths of the fortnight,

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,
who leads the spiritual life
And during special periods

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;
by observing the sabbath
Complete in eight factors

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,
complete in all eight factors
Who observe the Uposatha days

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye.
on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,
With those who lead the holy life

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,
and the eighth day of the fortnight,
The yakkhas do not sport around

sāhu te arahataṁ sutaṁ;
as well as on the fortnight of special displays.
“What you heard from the arahants is good.

Sānuṁ pabuddhaṁ vajjāsi,
When Sānu regains consciousness tell him
When Sānu has awakened tell him

yakkhānaṁ vacanaṁ idaṁ;
this saying of the native spirits:
This injunction of the yakkhas:

Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
Don’t do bad deeds
Do not do an evil deed

āvi vā yadi vā raho.
either openly or in secret.
Either openly or in secret

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,
If you should do a bad deed,
If you should do an evil deed,

karissasi karosi vā;
or you’re doing one now,
Or if you are doing one now

Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,
you won’t be freed from suffering,
You won’t be free from suffering

uppaccāpi palāyato”ti.
though you fly away and flee.”
Though you fly up and flee

“Mataṁ vā amma rodanti,
“Mum, they cry for the dead,
They weep, mother, for the dead

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;
or for one who’s alive but has disappeared.
Or for one living who isn’t seen

Jīvantaṁ amma passantī,
I’m alive and you can see me,
When you see, mother, that I’m alive

kasmā maṁ amma rodasī”ti.
so mum, why do you weep for me?”
Why, O mother, do you weep for me?

“Mataṁ vā putta rodanti,
“Son, they cry for the dead,
They weep, O son, for the dead

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;
or for one who’s alive but has disappeared.
Or for one living who isn’t seen

Yo ca kāme cajitvāna,
But someone who has given up sensual pleasures
After renouncing sensual pleasures

punarāgacchate idha;
only to come back here again:
But when one returns to the home life

Taṁ vāpi putta rodanti,
they cry for them as well,
They weep for this one too, my son

puna jīvaṁ mato hi so.
for though still alive they’re really dead.
For though alive he’s really dead.

Kukkuḷā ubbhato tāta,
My dear, you’ve been rescued from hot coals,
Drawn out, my dear, from hot embers

kukkuḷaṁ patitumicchasi;
and you want to plunge right back in them!
You wish to plunge into hot embers

Narakā ubbhato tāta,
My dear, you’ve been rescued from the abyss,
Drawn out, my dear, from an inferno

narakaṁ patitumicchasi.
and you want to plunge right back there!
You wish to plunge into an inferno

Abhidhāvatha bhaddante,
Keep pushing forward, it’s what’s best for you!
Run forward, good luck be with you!

kassa ujjhāpayāmase;
Who have I got to complain to?
To whom could we voice our grief?

Ādittā nīhataṁ bhaṇḍaṁ,
When your things have been saved from a fire,
Being an item rescued from the fire

puna ḍayhitumicchasī”ti.
would you want them to be burnt again?”
You wish to be burnt again.