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.
“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.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.

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

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

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

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

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

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 who have come to Sambara
‘The seers have come to Sambara

yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ;
Ask him for a guarantee of safety.
to beg for a pledge 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 it be danger or safety.’
whether danger or safety.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.
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.”
But after being cursed by the seers, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva,

dhajaggaṁ vepacittino;

Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva,

kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ;

Verocana asurindo,

isayo araññakañceva;

Isayo ca samuddakāti.