sutta » sn » sn11 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.10

Samuddakasutta

Seers by the Ocean Seers by the Ocean

Sāvatthiyaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.
“Bhikkhus, once in the past a number of seers who were virtuous and of good character had settled down in leaf huts along the shore of the ocean.

Tena kho pana samayena devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.
Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.
Now on that occasion the devas and the asuras were arrayed for a battle.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tesaṁ isīnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ etadahosi:
Then the seers thought,
Then it occurred to those seers who were virtuous and of good character:

‘dhammikā kho devā, adhammikā asurā.
‘The gods are principled, the titans are unprincipled.
‘The devas are righteous, the asuras unrighteous.

Siyāpi no asurato bhayaṁ.
We may be at risk from the titans.
There may be danger to us from the asuras.

Yannūna mayaṁ sambaraṁ asurindaṁ upasaṅkamitvā abhayadakkhiṇaṁ yāceyyāmā’ti.
Why don’t we approach Sambara, lord of titans, and beg him for a pledge of safety.’
Let us approach Sambara, lord of the asuras, and ask him for a guarantee of safety.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu antarahitā sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe pāturahesuṁ.
Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, those seers vanished from those leaf huts on the ocean shore and reappeared in Sambara’s presence.
Then, bhikkhus, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, those seers who were virtuous and of good character disappeared from their leaf huts along the shore of the ocean and reappeared in the presence of Sambara, lord of the asuras.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:
Then those seers addressed Sambara in verse:
Then those seers addressed Sambara in verse:

‘Isayo sambaraṁ pattā,
‘The seers have come to Sambara
‘The seers who have come to Sambara

yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ;
to beg for a pledge of safety.
Ask him for a guarantee of safety.

Kāmaṅkaro hi te dātuṁ,
For you can give them what you wish,
For you can give them what you wish,

bhayassa abhayassa vā’ti.
whether danger or safety.’
Whether it be danger or safety.’

‘Isīnaṁ abhayaṁ natthi,
‘There is no safety for seers,
‘I'll grant no safety to the seers,

duṭṭhānaṁ sakkasevinaṁ;
the hated associates of Sakka!
For they are hated devotees of Sakka;

Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,
Though you beg me for your safety,
Though you appeal to me for safety,

bhayameva dadāmi vo’ti.
I’ll only give you fear!’
I'll give you only danger.’

‘Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,
‘Though we beg you for our safety,
‘Though we have asked for safety,

bhayameva dadāsi no;
you give us only fear.
You give us only danger.

Paṭiggaṇhāma te etaṁ,
This is what we get from you:
We receive this at your hands:

akkhayaṁ hotu te bhayaṁ.
may endless peril come to you!
May ceaseless danger come to you!

Yādisaṁ vapate bījaṁ,
Whatever kind of seed you sow,
Whatever sort of seed is sown,

tādisaṁ harate phalaṁ;
that is the fruit you reap.
That is the sort of fruit one reaps:

Kalyāṇakārī kalyāṇaṁ,
A doer of good gets good,
The doer of good reaps good;

pāpakārī ca pāpakaṁ;
a doer of bad gets bad.
The doer of evil reaps evil.

Pavuttaṁ tāta te bījaṁ,
You have sown your own seed, friend,
By you, dear, has the seed been sown;

phalaṁ paccanubhossasī’ti.
now you’ll experience the fruit.’
Thus you will experience the fruit.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ abhisapitvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe antarahitā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu pāturahesuṁ.
Then those seers, having cursed Sambara, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Sambara’s presence and reappeared in those leaf huts on the ocean shore.
Then, bhikkhus, having put a curse on Sambara, lord of the asuras, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, those seers who were virtuous and of good character disappeared from the presence of Sambara and reappeared in their leaf huts on the shore of the ocean.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.
But after being cursed by the seers, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”
But after being cursed by those seers who were virtuous and of good character, Sambara, lord of the asuras, was gripped by alarm three times in the course of the night.”

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva,

dhajaggaṁ vepacittino;

Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva,

kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ;

Verocana asurindo,

isayo araññakañceva;

Isayo ca samuddakāti.