sutta » sn » sn11 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.3

Dhajaggasutta

The Crest of the Standard The Banner’s Crest

Sāvatthiyaṁ.
At Savatthi.
At Sāvatthī.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:
There the Buddha 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, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.
“Bhikkhus, once in the past the devas and the asuras were arrayed for battle.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:
Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed the Tavatimsa devas thus:
Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the Thirty-Three:

‘Sace, mārisā, devānaṁ saṅgāmagatānaṁ uppajjeyya bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, mameva tasmiṁ samaye dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha.
‘Dear sirs, when the devas are engaged in battle, if fear or trepidation or terror should arise, on that occasion you should look up at the crest of my standard.
‘Good sirs, when the gods are fighting, if you get scared or terrified, just look up at my banner’s crest.

Mamañhi vo dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
For when you look up at the crest of my standard, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.
Then your fear and terror will go away.

No ce me dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha pajāpatissa devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha.
If you cannot look up at the crest of my standard, then you should look up at the crest of the deva-king Pajapati's standard. For when you look up at the crest of his standard, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.
If you can’t see my banner’s crest, then look up at the banner’s crest of the Progenitor, king of gods.

Pajāpatissa hi vo devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
If you cannot look up at the crest of the deva-king Pajapati's standard, then you should look up at the crest of the deva-king Varuna's standard.
Then your fear and terror will go away.

No ce pajāpatissa devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha varuṇassa devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha.
For when you look up at the crest of his standard, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned. If you cannot look up at the crest of the deva-king Varuna's standard, then you should look up at the crest of the deva-king Isana's standard.
If you can’t see his banner’s crest, then look up at the banner’s crest of Varuṇa, king of gods.

Varuṇassa hi vo devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
For when you look up at the crest of his standard, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.’
Then your fear and terror will go away.

No ce varuṇassa devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha īsānassa devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha.
Bhikkhus, for those who look up at the crest of the standard of Sakka, lord of the devas;
If you can’t see his banner’s crest, then look up at the banner’s crest of Īsāna, king of gods.

Īsānassa hi vo devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissatī’ti.
or of Pajapati, the deva-king; or of Varuna, the deva-king;
Then your fear and terror will go away.’

Taṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, sakkassa vā devānamindassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, pajāpatissa vā devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, varuṇassa vā devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, īsānassa vā devarājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyethāpi nopi pahīyetha.
or of Isana, the deva-king, whatever fear or trepidation or terror they may have may or may not be abandoned.
However, when they look up at those banner’s crests their fear and terror might go away or it might not.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
For what reason?
Why is that?

Sakko hi, bhikkhave, devānamindo avītarāgo avītadoso avītamoho bhīru chambhī utrāsī palāyīti.
Because Sakka, lord of the devas, is not devoid of lust, not devoid of hatred, not devoid of delusion; he can be timid, petrified, frightened, quick to flee.
Because Sakka is not free of greed, hate, and delusion. He is fearful, scared, nervous, quick to flee.

Ahañca kho, bhikkhave, evaṁ vadāmi:
But, bhikkhus, I say this:
But, mendicants, I say this:

‘sace tumhākaṁ, bhikkhave, araññagatānaṁ vā rukkhamūlagatānaṁ vā suññāgāragatānaṁ vā uppajjeyya bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, mameva tasmiṁ samaye anussareyyātha:
If you have gone to a forest or to the foot of a tree or to an empty hut, and fear or trepidation or terror should arise in you, on that occasion you should recollect me thus:
If you’ve gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut and you get scared or terrified, just recollect me:

“itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā”ti.
‘The Blessed One is an arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ For when you recollect me,
‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

Mamañhi vo, bhikkhave, anussarataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
bhikkhus, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.
Then your fear and terror will go away.

No ce maṁ anussareyyātha, atha dhammaṁ anussareyyātha:
If you cannot recollect me, then you should recollect the Dhamma thus:
If you can’t recollect me, then recollect the teaching:

“svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī”ti.
‘The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, applicable, to be personally experienced by the wise.’ For when you recollect the Dhamma,
‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’

Dhammañhi vo, bhikkhave, anussarataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
bhikkhus, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.
Then your fear and terror will go away.

No ce dhammaṁ anussareyyātha, atha saṅghaṁ anussareyyātha:
If you cannot recollect the Dhamma, then you should recollect the Sangha thus:
If you can’t recollect the teaching, then recollect the Saṅgha:

“suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.
‘The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practising the good way, practising the straight way, practising the true way, practising the proper way; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals: this Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.’ For when you recollect the Sangha,
‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individuals. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’

Saṅghañhi vo, bhikkhave, anussarataṁ yaṁ bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā lomahaṁso vā, so pahīyissati.
bhikkhus, whatever fear or trepidation or terror you may have will be abandoned.
Then your fear and terror will go away.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
For what reason?
Why is that?

Tathāgato hi, bhikkhave, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vītarāgo vītadoso vītamoho abhīru acchambhī anutrāsī apalāyī’”ti.
Because, bhikkhus, the Tathagata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One is devoid of lust, devoid of hatred, devoid of delusion; he is brave, courageous, bold, ready to stand his place.”
Because the Realized One is free of greed, hate, and delusion. He is fearless, brave, bold, and stands his ground.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
This is what the Blessed One said.
That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Araññe rukkhamūle vā,
“In a forest, at the foot of a tree,
“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root,

suññāgāreva bhikkhavo;
Or in an empty hut, O bhikkhus,
or an empty hut, O mendicants,

Anussaretha sambuddhaṁ,
You should recollect the Buddha:
recollect the Buddha,

bhayaṁ tumhāka no siyā.
No fear will then arise in you.
and no fear will come to you.

No ce buddhaṁ sareyyātha,
But if you cannot recall the Buddha,
If you can’t recollect the Buddha—

lokajeṭṭhaṁ narāsabhaṁ;
Best in the world, the bull of men,
the eldest in the world, the chief of men—

Atha dhammaṁ sareyyātha,
Then you should recall the Dhamma,
then recollect the teaching,

niyyānikaṁ sudesitaṁ.
Emancipating, well expounded.
emancipating, well taught.

No ce dhammaṁ sareyyātha,
But if you cannot recall the Dhamma,
If you can’t recollect the teaching—

niyyānikaṁ sudesitaṁ;
Emancipating, well expounded,
emancipating, well taught—

Atha saṅghaṁ sareyyātha,
Then you should recall the Sangha,
then recollect the Saṅgha,

puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ.
The unsurpassed field of merit.
the supreme field of merit.

Evaṁ buddhaṁ sarantānaṁ,
For those who thus recall the Buddha,
Thus recollecting the Buddha,

Dhammaṁ saṅghañca bhikkhavo;
The Dhamma, and the Sangha, bhikkhus,
the teaching, and the Saṅgha, mendicants,

Bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā,
No fear or trepidation
fear and terror

Lomahaṁso na hessatī”ti.
will arise, Nor any grisly terror.
and goosebumps will be no more.”