Āṭānāṭiyasutta — Tripiṭaka Reader

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Dīgha Nikāya 32

Long Discourses 32

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Āṭānāṭiyasutta

The Āṭānāṭiya Protection

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1. Paṭhamabhāṇavāra

1. The First Recitation Section

1.1

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

1.2

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

1.3

Atha kho cattāro mahārājā mahatiyā ca yakkhasenāya mahatiyā ca gandhabbasenāya mahatiyā ca kumbhaṇḍasenāya mahatiyā ca nāgasenāya catuddisaṁ rakkhaṁ ṭhapetvā catuddisaṁ gumbaṁ ṭhapetvā catuddisaṁ ovaraṇaṁ ṭhapetvā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ pabbataṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.

Then, late at night, the four great kings—with large armies of spirits, centaurs, gnomes, and dragons—set guards, troops, and wards at the four quarters and then, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak with their beauty, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side.

1.4

Tepi kho yakkhā appekacce bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu, sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce nāmagottaṁ sāvetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce tuṇhībhūtā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.

Before sitting down to one side, some spirits bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent.

2.1

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vessavaṇo mahārājā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, the Great King Vessavaṇa said to the Buddha,

2.2

“santi hi, bhante, uḷārā yakkhā bhagavato appasannā.

“Sir, some high spirits have confidence in the Buddha,

2.3

Santi hi, bhante, uḷārā yakkhā bhagavato pasannā.

some do not.

2.4

Santi hi, bhante, majjhimā yakkhā bhagavato appasannā.

Some middling spirits have confidence in the Buddha,

2.5

Santi hi, bhante, majjhimā yakkhā bhagavato pasannā.

some do not.

2.6

Santi hi, bhante, nīcā yakkhā bhagavato appasannā.

Some low spirits have confidence in the Buddha,

2.7

Santi hi, bhante, nīcā yakkhā bhagavato pasannā.

some do not.

2.8

Yebhuyyena kho pana, bhante, yakkhā appasannāyeva bhagavato.

But mostly the spirits don’t have confidence in the Buddha.

2.9

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

2.10

Bhagavā hi, bhante, pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, adinnādānā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, musāvādā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti.

Because the Buddha teaches them to refrain from killing living creatures, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and consuming beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants.

2.11

Yebhuyyena kho pana, bhante, yakkhā appaṭiviratāyeva pāṇātipātā, appaṭiviratā adinnādānā, appaṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā, appaṭiviratā musāvādā, appaṭiviratā surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā.

But mostly they don’t refrain from such things.

2.12

Tesaṁ taṁ hoti appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ.

They don’t like that or approve of it.

2.13

Santi hi, bhante, bhagavato sāvakā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni.

Sir, there are disciples of the Buddha who frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest that are quiet and still, far from the madding crowd, remote from human settlements, and fit for retreat.

2.14

Tattha santi uḷārā yakkhā nivāsino, ye imasmiṁ bhagavato pāvacane appasannā.

There dwell high spirits who have no confidence in the Buddha’s dispensation.

2.15

Tesaṁ pasādāya uggaṇhātu, bhante, bhagavā āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānaṁ guttiyā rakkhāya avihiṁsāya phāsuvihārāyā”ti.

To give them confidence, may the Buddha please learn the Āṭānāṭiya protection for the guarding, protection, safety, and comfort of the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.”

2.16

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

The Buddha consented with silence.

3.1

Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ abhāsi:

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, on that occasion Great King Vessavaṇa recited the Āṭānāṭiya protection.

3.2

“Vipassissa ca namatthu,

“Hail Vipassī,

3.3

cakkhumantassa sirīmato;

the glorious Clear-eyed One!

3.4

Sikhissapi ca namatthu,

Hail Sikhī,

3.5

sabbabhūtānukampino.

sympathetic for all beings!

3.6

Vessabhussa ca namatthu,

Hail Vessabhū,

3.7

nhātakassa tapassino;

cleansed and fervent!

3.8

Namatthu kakusandhassa,

Hail Kakusandha,

3.9

mārasenāpamaddino.

crusher of Māra’s army!

3.10

Koṇāgamanassa namatthu,

Hail Koṇāgamana,

3.11

brāhmaṇassa vusīmato;

the brahmin who has lived the life!

3.12

Kassapassa ca namatthu,

Hail Kassapa,

3.13

vippamuttassa sabbadhi.

everywhere free!

3.14

Aṅgīrasassa namatthu,

Hail Aṅgīrasa,

3.15

sakyaputtassa sirīmato;

the glorious Sakyan!

3.16

Yo imaṁ dhammaṁ desesi,

He taught this Dhamma

3.17

sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ.

that casts aside all suffering.

3.18

Ye cāpi nibbutā loke,

Those in the world who are quenched,

3.19

yathābhūtaṁ vipassisuṁ;

truly discerning,

3.20

Te janā apisuṇātha,

not backbiters; such people

3.21

mahantā vītasāradā.

being great of heart and intrepid,

3.22

Hitaṁ devamanussānaṁ,

revere that Gotama;

3.23

yaṁ namassanti gotamaṁ;

he who is helpful to gods and humans,

3.24

Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ,

accomplished in knowledge and conduct,

3.25

mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

great of heart and intrepid.

4.1

Yato uggacchati sūriyo,

Where rises the sun—

4.2

ādicco maṇḍalī mahā;

Aditi’s child, the great orb—

4.3

Yassa cuggacchamānassa,

with whose rising

4.4

saṁvarīpi nirujjhati;

night’s umbra also ends,

4.5

Yassa cuggate sūriye,

and of whom, when sun has risen,

4.6

‘divaso’ti pavuccati.

it is said to be the day—

4.7

Rahadopi tattha gambhīro,

there is a deep lake,

4.8

samuddo saritodako;

an ocean of flowing waters.

4.9

Evaṁ taṁ tattha jānanti,

That’s how they understand that lake there,

4.10

‘samuddo saritodako’.

as an ocean of flowing waters.

4.11

Ito ‘sā purimā disā’,

From here that is the eastern quarter,

4.12

iti naṁ ācikkhatī jano;

so the people say.

4.13

Yaṁ disaṁ abhipāleti,

That quarter is warded

4.14

mahārājā yasassi so.

by a great king, glorious,

4.15

Gandhabbānaṁ adhipati,

the lord of the centaurs;

4.16

‘dhataraṭṭho’ti nāmaso;

his name is Dhataraṭṭha.

4.17

Ramatī naccagītehi,

He delights in song and dance,

4.18

gandhabbehi purakkhato.

honored by the centaurs.

4.19

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

And he has many mighty sons

4.20

ekanāmāti me sutaṁ;

all of one name, so I’ve heard.

4.21

Asīti dasa eko ca,

Eighty, and ten, and one—

4.22

indanāmā mahabbalā.

all of them named Indra.

4.23

Te cāpi buddhaṁ disvāna,

After seeing the Awakened One,

4.24

buddhaṁ ādiccabandhunaṁ;

the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,

4.25

Dūratova namassanti,

they revere him from afar,

4.26

mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

the one great of heart and intrepid.

4.27

Namo te purisājañña,

Homage to you, O thoroughbred!

4.28

namo te purisuttama;

Homage to you, supreme among men!

4.29

Kusalena samekkhasi,

You examine us skillfully;

4.30

amanussāpi taṁ vandanti;

the non-humans bow to you.

4.31

Sutaṁ netaṁ abhiṇhaso,

We’ve been asked many a time,

4.32

tasmā evaṁ vademase.

‘Do you bow to Gotama the victor?’

4.33

‘Jinaṁ vandatha gotamaṁ’,

And so we ought to declare:

4.34

‘jinaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ;

‘We bow to Gotama the victor,

4.35

Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ,

accomplished in knowledge and conduct!

4.36

buddhaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ’.

We bow to Gotama the awakened!’

5.1

Yena petā pavuccanti,

It’s where the departed go, they say,

5.2

pisuṇā piṭṭhimaṁsikā;

who are backbiters and calumniators,

5.3

Pāṇātipātino luddā,

killers and hunters,

5.4

corā nekatikā janā.

bandits and cheats.

5.5

Ito ‘sā dakkhiṇā disā’,

From here that is the southern quarter,

5.6

iti naṁ ācikkhatī jano;

so the people say.

5.7

Yaṁ disaṁ abhipāleti,

That quarter is warded

5.8

mahārājā yasassi so.

by a great king, glorious,

5.9

Kumbhaṇḍānaṁ adhipati,

the lord of the gnomes;

5.10

‘virūḷho’ iti nāmaso;

his name is Virūḷha.

5.11

Ramatī naccagītehi,

He delights in song and dance,

5.12

kumbhaṇḍehi purakkhato.

honored by the gnomes.

5.13

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

And he has many mighty sons

5.14

ekanāmāti me sutaṁ;

all of one name, so I’ve heard.

5.15

Asīti dasa eko ca,

Eighty, and ten, and one—

5.16

indanāmā mahabbalā.

all of them named Indra.

5.17

Te cāpi buddhaṁ disvāna,

After seeing the Awakened One,

5.18

buddhaṁ ādiccabandhunaṁ;

the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,

5.19

Dūratova namassanti,

they revere him from afar,

5.20

mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

the one great of heart and intrepid.

5.21

Namo te purisājañña,

Homage to you, O thoroughbred!

5.22

namo te purisuttama;

Homage to you, supreme among men!

5.23

Kusalena samekkhasi,

You examine us skillfully;

5.24

amanussāpi taṁ vandanti;

the non-humans bow to you.

5.25

Sutaṁ netaṁ abhiṇhaso,

We’ve been asked many a time,

5.26

tasmā evaṁ vademase.

‘Do you bow to Gotama the victor?’

5.27

‘Jinaṁ vandatha gotamaṁ’,

And so we ought to declare:

5.28

‘jinaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ;

‘We bow to Gotama the victor,

5.29

Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ,

accomplished in knowledge and conduct!

5.30

buddhaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ’.

We bow to Gotama the awakened!’

6.1

Yattha coggacchati sūriyo,

Where sets the sun—

6.2

ādicco maṇḍalī mahā;

Aditi’s child, the great orb—

6.3

Yassa coggacchamānassa,

with whose setting

6.4

divasopi nirujjhati;

the day also ends;

6.5

Yassa coggate sūriye,

and of whom, when sun has set,

6.6

‘saṁvarī’ti pavuccati.

it is said to be night’s umbra—

6.7

Rahadopi tattha gambhīro,

there is a deep lake in that place,

6.8

samuddo saritodako;

an ocean of flowing waters.

6.9

Evaṁ taṁ tattha jānanti,

That’s how they understand that lake there,

6.10

‘samuddo saritodako’.

as an ocean of flowing waters.

6.11

Ito ‘sā pacchimā disā’,

From here that is the western quarter,

6.12

iti naṁ ācikkhatī jano;

so the people say.

6.13

Yaṁ disaṁ abhipāleti,

That quarter is warded

6.14

mahārājā yasassi so.

by a great king, glorious,

6.15

Nāgānañca adhipati,

the lord of the dragons;

6.16

‘virūpakkho’ti nāmaso;

his name is Virūpakkha.

6.17

Ramatī naccagītehi,

He delights in song and dance,

6.18

nāgeheva purakkhato.

honored by the dragons.

6.19

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

And he has many mighty sons

6.20

ekanāmāti me sutaṁ;

all of one name, so I’ve heard.

6.21

Asīti dasa eko ca,

Eighty, and ten, and one—

6.22

indanāmā mahabbalā.

all of them named Indra.

6.23

Te cāpi buddhaṁ disvāna,

After seeing the Awakened One,

6.24

buddhaṁ ādiccabandhunaṁ;

the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,

6.25

Dūratova namassanti,

they revere him from afar,

6.26

mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

the one great of heart and intrepid.

6.27

Namo te purisājañña,

Homage to you, O thoroughbred!

6.28

namo te purisuttama;

Homage to you, supreme among men!

6.29

Kusalena samekkhasi,

You examine us skillfully;

6.30

amanussāpi taṁ vandanti;

the non-humans bow to you.

6.31

Sutaṁ netaṁ abhiṇhaso,

We’ve been asked many a time,

6.32

tasmā evaṁ vademase.

‘Do you bow to Gotama the victor?’

6.33

‘Jinaṁ vandatha gotamaṁ’,

And so we ought to declare:

6.34

‘jinaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ;

‘We bow to Gotama the victor,

6.35

Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ,

accomplished in knowledge and conduct!

6.36

buddhaṁ vandāma gotamaṁ’.

We bow to Gotama the awakened!’

7.1

Yena uttarakuruvho,

Where the lovely land north of Kuru is,

7.2

mahāneru sudassano;

and the beautiful Mount Meru,

7.3

Manussā tattha jāyanti,

humans born there

7.4

amamā apariggahā.

are unselfish, without possessions.

7.5

Na te bījaṁ pavapanti,

They do not sow the seed,

7.6

napi nīyanti naṅgalā;

nor do they draw the plough.

7.7

Akaṭṭhapākimaṁ sāliṁ,

The rice eaten by people

7.8

paribhuñjanti mānusā.

ripens in untilled soil,

7.9

Akaṇaṁ athusaṁ suddhaṁ,

free of powder or husk, pure,

7.10

sugandhaṁ taṇḍulapphalaṁ;

fragrant, with only the rice-grain.

7.11

Tuṇḍikīre pacitvāna,

After cooking in a tandoor oven,

7.12

tato bhuñjanti bhojanaṁ.

they enjoy eating that food.

7.13

Gāviṁ ekakhuraṁ katvā,

Having prepared a cow with hooves uncloven,

7.14

anuyanti disodisaṁ;