sutta » sn » sn22 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.78

Sīhasutta

The Lion

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.

“Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā sāyanhasamayaṁ āsayā nikkhamati; āsayā nikkhamitvā vijambhati; vijambhitvā samantā catuddisā anuviloketi; samantā catuddisā anuviloketvā tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ nadati; tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ naditvā gocarāya pakkamati.
“Mendicants, towards evening the lion, king of beasts, emerges from his den, yawns, looks all around the four quarters, and roars his lion’s roar three times. Then he sets out on the hunt.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, tiracchānagatā pāṇā sīhassa migarañño nadato saddaṁ suṇanti; yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti; bilaṁ bilāsayā pavisanti; dakaṁ dakāsayā pavisanti; vanaṁ vanāsayā pavisanti; ākāsaṁ pakkhino bhajanti.
And whatever animals hear the roar of the lion, king of beasts, are typically filled with fear, awe, and terror. They return to their lairs, be they in a hole, the water, or a wood; and the birds take to the air.

Yepi te, bhikkhave, rañño nāgā gāmanigamarājadhānīsu, daḷhehi varattehi baddhā, tepi tāni bandhanāni sañchinditvā sampadāletvā bhītā muttakarīsaṁ cajamānā, yena vā tena vā palāyanti.
Even the royal elephants, bound with strong harness in the villages, towns, and capital cities, break apart their bonds, and urinate and defecate in terror as they flee here and there.

Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā tiracchānagatānaṁ pāṇānaṁ, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo.
That’s how powerful is the lion, king of beasts, among animals, how illustrious and mighty.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yadā tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So dhammaṁ deseti:
In the same way, when a Realized One arises in the world—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—he teaches the Dhamma:

‘iti rūpaṁ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo;
‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the ending of form.

iti vedanā …
Such is feeling …

iti saññā …
Such is perception …

iti saṅkhārā …
Such are choices …

iti viññāṇaṁ, iti viññāṇassa samudayo, iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo’ti.
Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the ending of consciousness.’

Yepi te, bhikkhave, devā dīghāyukā vaṇṇavanto sukhabahulā uccesu vimānesu ciraṭṭhitikā tepi tathāgatassa dhammadesanaṁ sutvā yebhuyyena bhayaṁ saṁvegaṁ santāsaṁ āpajjanti:
Now, there are gods who are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy, living for ages in their divine palaces. When they hear this teaching by the Realized One, they’re typically filled with fear, awe, and terror.

‘aniccāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā niccamhāti amaññimha.
‘Oh no! It turns out we’re impermanent, though we thought we were permanent!

Addhuvāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā dhuvamhāti amaññimha.
It turns out we don’t last, though we thought we were everlasting!

Asassatāva kira, bho, mayaṁ samānā sassatamhāti amaññimha.
It turns out we’re short-lived, though we thought we were eternal!

Mayampi kira, bho, aniccā addhuvā asassatā sakkāyapariyāpannā’ti.
It turns out that we’re impermanent, not lasting, short-lived, and included within substantial reality.’

Evaṁ mahiddhiko kho, bhikkhave, tathāgato sadevakassa lokassa, evaṁ mahesakkho, evaṁ mahānubhāvo”ti.
That’s how powerful is the Realized One in the world with its gods, how illustrious and mighty.”

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe…
That is what the Buddha said.

etadavoca satthā:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Yadā buddho abhiññāya,
“The Buddha, the teacher without a peer

dhammacakkaṁ pavattayi;
in all the world with its gods,

Sadevakassa lokassa,
rolls forth the Wheel of Dhamma

satthā appaṭipuggalo.
from his own insight:

Sakkāyañca nirodhañca,
substantial reality, its cessation,

sakkāyassa ca sambhavaṁ;
the origin of substantial reality,

Ariyañcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,
and the noble eightfold path

dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.
that leads to the stilling of suffering.

Yepi dīghāyukā devā,
And then the long-lived gods,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;
so beautiful and glorious,

Bhītā santāsamāpāduṁ,
are afraid and full of terror,

sīhassevitare migā.
like the other beasts when they hear a lion.

Avītivattā sakkāyaṁ,
‘We haven’t transcended substantial reality!

aniccā kira bho mayaṁ;
It turns out we’re impermanent!’

Sutvā arahato vākyaṁ,
So they say when they hear the word

vippamuttassa tādino”ti.
of the perfected one, free and poised.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.