4. Devatāvagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.32

Numbered Discourses 6.32

4. Devatāvagga

4. Deities

Paṭhamaaparihānasutta

Non-decline (1st)

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

“Chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

“Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.

Katame cha?

What six?

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for diligence, and for hospitality.

ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.”

Idamavoca sā devatā.

That’s what that deity said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the teacher approved.

Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding:

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:

‘chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame cha?

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā.

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Satthugaru dhammagaru,

“Respect for the Teacher and the teaching,

saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;

and keen respect for the Saṅgha;

Appamādagaru bhikkhu,

a mendicant who respects diligence

paṭisanthāragāravo;

and hospitality

Abhabbo parihānāya,

can’t decline,

nibbānasseva santike”ti.

and has drawn near to extinguishment.”

Dutiyaṁ.