Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Inda’s Peak, the haunt of the yakkha Indaka. Then the yakkha Indaka approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:
802 “As the Buddhas say that form is not the soul,
How then does one obtain this body?
From where do one’s bones and liver come?
How is one begotten in the womb?”
[The Blessed One:]
803 “First there is the kalala;
From the kalala comes the abbuda;
From the abbuda the pesI is produced;
From the pesI the ghana arises;
From the ghana emerge the limbs,
The head-hair, body-hair, and nails.
And whatever food the mother eats —
The meals and drink that she consumes —
By this the being there is maintained,
The person inside the mother’s womb.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Then the yakkha Sakkanāmaka approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:
805 “Having abandoned all the knots
As one fully released,
It isn’t good for you, an ascetic,
To be instructing others.”
[The Blessed One:]
806 “If, O Sakka, for some reason
Intimacy with anyone should arise,
The wise man ought not to stir his mind
With compassion towards such a person.
807 “But if with a mind clear and pure
He gives instructions to others,
He does not become fettered
By his compassion and sympathy.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Gayā at the Ṭaṅkita Bed, the haunt of the yakkha Sūciloma Now on that occasion the yakkha Khara and the yakkha Sūciloma were passing by not far from the Blessed One. Then the yakkha Khara said to the yakkha Sūciloma: “That is an ascetic.”
“That is not an ascetic; that is a sham ascetic. I’ll soon find out whether he is an ascetic or a sham ascetic.”
Then the yakkha Sūciloma approached the Blessed One and bent over the Blessed One. The Blessed One drew back. Then the yakkha Sūciloma said to the Blessed One: “Are you afraid of me, ascetic?”
“I’m not afraid of you, friend. It is just that your touch is evil.”
“I’ll ask you a question, ascetic. If you won’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane or I’ll split your heart or I’ll grab you by the feet and hurl you across the Ganges.”
“I do not see anyone in this world, friend, with its devas, Māra, and Brahmā, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, who could drive me insane or split my heart or grab me by the feet and hurl me across the Ganges. But ask whatever you want, friend.”
808 “What is the source of lust and hatred?
Whence spring discontent, delight, and terror?
Having arisen from what do the mind’s thoughts
[Toss one around] as boys toss up a crow?”
[The Blessed One:]
809 “Lust and hatred have their source here;
From this spring discontent, delight, and terror;
Having arisen from this, the mind’s thoughts
[Toss one around] as boys toss up a crow.
810 “Sprung from affection, arisen from oneself,
Like the trunk-born shoots of the banyan tree;
Manifold, clinging to sensual pleasures,
Like a māluvā creeper stretched across the woods.
811 “Those who understand their source,
They dispel it — listen, O yakkha! —
They cross this flood so hard to cross,
Uncrossed before, for no renewed existence.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans at the Maṇimālaka Shrine, the haunt of the yakkha Maṇibhadda. Then the yakkha Maṇibhadda approached the Blessed One and in the Blessed One’s presence recited this verse:
812 “It is always good for the mindful one,
The mindful one thrives in happiness.
It is better each day for the mindful one,
And he is freed from enmity.”
[The Blessed One:]
813 “It is always good for the mindful one,
The mindful one thrives in happiness.
It is better each day for the mindful one,
But he is not freed from enmity.
814 “One whose mind all day and night
Takes delight in harmlessness,
Who has lovingkindness for all beings —
For him there is enmity with none.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now on that occasion a certain female lay follower had a son named Sānu who had been possessed by a yakkha. Then that female lay follower, lamenting, on that occasion recited these verses:
816 “With those who lead the holy life,
Who observe the Uposatha days
Complete in eight factors
On the fourteenth or fifteenth,
817 And on the eighths of the fortnight,
And during special periods,
The yakkhas do not sport around:
So I have heard from the arahants.
But now today I see for myself
The yakkhas sporting with Sānu.”
[The yakkha that has entered Sānu:]
“With those who lead the holy life,
Who observe the Uposatha days
Complete in eight factors
On the fourteenth or fifteenth,
819 And on the eighths of the fortnight,
And during special periods,
The yakkhas do not sport around:
What you heard from the arahants is good.
820 “When Sānu has awakened tell him
This injunction of the yakkhas:
Do not do an evil deed
Either openly or in secret.
821 If you should do an evil deed,
Or if you are doing one now,
You won’t be free from suffering
Though you fly up and flee.”
[Sānu:]
822 “They weep, mother, for the dead
Or for one living who isn’t seen.
When you see, mother, that I’m alive,
Why, O mother, do you weep for me?”
[Sānu’s mother:]
823 “They weep, O son, for the dead
Or for one living who isn’t seen;
But when one returns to the home life
After renouncing sensual pleasures,
They weep for this one too, my son,
For though alive he’s really dead.
824 “Drawn out, my dear, from hot embers,
You wish to plunge into hot embers;
Drawn out, my dear, from an inferno,
You wish to plunge into an inferno.
825 “Run forward, good luck be with you!
To whom could we voice our grief?
Being an item rescued from the fire,
You wish to be burnt again.”
On one occasion the Venerable Anuruddha was dwelling at Sāvatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now on that occasion the Venerable Anuruddha, having risen at the first flush of dawn, was reciting stanzas of Dhamma. Then the female yakkha Piyaṅkara’s Mother hushed her little child thus:
826 “Do not make a sound, Piyaṅkara,
A Bhikkhu recites Dhamma-stanzas.
Having understood a Dhamma-stanza,
We might practise for our welfare.
827 “Let us refrain from harming living beings,
Let us not speak a deliberate lie,
We should train ourselves in virtue:
Perhaps we’ll be freed from the goblin realm.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the Bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning Nibbāna. And those Bhikkhus were listening to the Dhamma with eager ears, attending to it as a matter of vital concern, applying their whole mind to it. Then the female yakkha Punabbasu’s Mother hushed her little children thus:
828 “Be quiet, Uttarikā,
Be quiet, Punabbasu!
I wish to listen to the Dhamma
Of the Teacher, the Supreme Buddha.
829 “When the Blessed One speaks of Nibbāna,
Release from all the knots,
There has arisen within me
Deep affection for this Dhamma.
830 “In the world one’s own son is dear,
In the world one’s own husband is dear;
But for me the quest for this Dhamma
Has become even dearer than them.
831 “For neither one’s own son nor husband,
Though dear, can release one from suffering
As listening to true Dhamma frees one
From the suffering of living beings.
832 “In this world steeped in suffering,
Fettered by aging and death,
I wish to listen to the Dhamma
That he — the Buddha — fully awakened to,
For freedom from aging and death.
So be quiet, Punabbasu!”
[Punabbasu:]
833 “Mother dear, I am not talking;
This Uttarā is silent, too.
Pay attention only to the Dhamma,
For listening to true Dhamma is pleasant.
Because we have not known true Dhamma
We’ve been living miserably, mother.
834 “He is the maker of light
For bewildered devas and humans;
Enlightened, bearing his final body,
The One with Vision teaches the Dhamma.”
[Punabbasu’s mother:]
835 “It is good that my son has become so wise,
He whom I bore and nursed at my breast.
My son loves the pure Dhamma
Of the Supremely Enlightened One.
836 “Punabbasu, be happy!
Today I have emerged at last.
Hear me too, O Uttarā:
The noble truths are seen!”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Cool Grove. Now on that occasion the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had arrived in Rājagaha on some business.584 He heard: “A Buddha, it is said, has arisen in the world!” He wanted to go and see the Blessed One immediately, but it occurred to him: “It is not the right time to go and see the Blessed One today. I will go and see the Blessed One early tomorrow morning.”
He lay down with his mindfulness directed to the Buddha, and during the night he got up three times thinking it was morning. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the gate of the charnel ground. Nonhuman beings opened the gate.
Then, as the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was leaving the city, the light disappeared and darkness appeared. Fear, trepidation, and terror arose in him and he wanted to turn back. But the yakkha SIvaka, invisible, made the proclamation:
837 “A hundred [thousand] elephants,
A hundred [thousand] horses,
A hundred [thousand] mule-drawn chariots,
A hundred thousand maidens
Adorned with jewellery and earrings,
Are not worth a sixteenth part
Of a single step forward.
“Go forward, householder! Go forward, householder! Going forward is better for you, not turning back again.”
Then the darkness disappeared and light appeared to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, and the fear, trepidation, and terror that had arisen in him subsided.
A second time … (verse 838 is included in this repetition) … A third time the light disappeared and darkness appeared before the householder Anāthapiṇḍika. Fear, trepidation, and terror arose in him and he wanted to turn back. But a third time the yakkha SIvaka, invisible, made the proclamation:
839 “A hundred [thousand] elephants …
Of a single step forward.
“Go forward, householder! Go forward, householder! Going forward is better for you, not turning back again.”
Then the darkness disappeared and light appeared to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, and the fear, trepidation, and terror that had arisen in him subsided.
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Blessed One in the Cool Grove. Now on that occasion the Blessed One, having risen at the first flush of dawn, was walking back and forth in the open. The Blessed One saw the householder Anāthapiṇḍika coming in the distance. He descended from the walkway, sat down in the seat that was prepared, and said to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika: “Come, Sudatta.”
Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, thinking, “The Blessed One has addressed me by my name,” [thrilled and elated], prostrated himself right on the spot with his head at the Blessed One’s feet and said to him: “I hope, venerable sir, that the Blessed One slept well.”
[The Blessed One:]
840 “Always indeed he sleeps well,
The brahmin who is fully quenched,
Who does not cling to sensual pleasures,
Cool at heart, without acquisitions.
841 “Having cut off all attachments,
Having removed care from the heart,
The peaceful one sleeps well,
Having attained peace of mind.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion the Bhikkhunī Sukkā, surrounded by a large assembly, was teaching the Dhamma. Then a yakkha who had full confidence in the Bhikkhunī Sukkā, going from street to street and from square to square in Rājagaha, on that occasion recited these verses:
842 “What has happened to these people in Rājagaha?
They sleep as if they’ve been drinking mead.
Why don’t they attend on Sukkā
As she teaches the deathless state?
843 “But the wise, as it were, drink it up —
That [Dhamma] irresistible,
Ambrosial, nutritious —
As travellers do a cloud.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion a certain lay follower gave food to the Bhikkhunī Sukkā. Then a yakkha who had full confidence in the Bhikkhunī Sukkā, going from street to street and from square to square in Rājagaha, on that occasion recited this verse:
844 “He has engendered much merit —
Wise indeed is this lay follower,
Who just gave food to Sukkā,
One released from all the knots.”
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. Now on that occasion a certain lay follower gave a robe to the Bhikkhunī Cīrā. Then a yakkha who had full confidence in the Bhikkhunī Cīrā, going from street to street and from square to square in Rājagaha, on that occasion recited this verse:
845 “He has engendered much merit —
Wise indeed is this lay follower,
Who just gave a robe to Cīrā,
One released from all the bonds.”
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Āḷavi, the haunt of the yakkha Āḷavaka. Then the yakkha Āḷavaka approached the Blessed One and said to him: “Get out, ascetic!”
“All right, friend,” the Blessed One said, and he went out. “Come in, ascetic.”
“All right, friend,” the Blessed One said, and he went in.
A second time … A third time the yakkha Āḷavaka said to the Blessed One: “Get out, ascetic!”
“All right, friend,” the Blessed One said, and he went out. “Come in, ascetic.”
“All right, friend,” the Blessed One said, and he went in.
A fourth time the yakkha Āḷavaka said to the Blessed One: “Get out, ascetic.”
“I won’t go out, friend. Do whatever you have to do.”
“I’ll ask you a question, ascetic. If you won’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane or I’ll split your heart or I’ll grab you by the feet and hurl you across the Ganges.”
“I do not see anyone in this world, friend, with its devas, Māra, and Brahmā, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, who could drive me insane or split my heart or grab me by the feet and hurl me across the Ganges.
But ask whatever you want, friend.”
[Āḷavaka:]
846 “What here is a man’s best treasure?
What practised well brings happiness?
What is really the sweetest of tastes?
How lives the one who they say lives best?”
[The Blessed One:]
847 “Faith is here a man’s best treasure;
Dhamma practised well brings happiness;
Truth is really the sweetest of tastes;
One living by wisdom they say lives best.”
[Āḷavaka:]
848 “How does one cross over the flood?
How does one cross the rugged sea?
How does one overcome suffering?
How is one purified?”
[The Blessed One:]
849 “By faith one crosses over the flood,
By diligence, the rugged sea.
By energy one overcomes suffering,
By wisdom one is purified.”
[Āḷavaka:]
850 “How does one gain wisdom?
How does one find wealth?
How does one achieve acclaim?
How bind friends to oneself?
When passing from this world to the next,
How does one not sorrow?”
[The Blessed One:]
851 “Placing faith in the Dhamma of the arahants
For the attainment of Nibbāna,
From desire to learn one gains wisdom
If one is diligent and astute.
852 “Doing what is proper, dutiful,
One with initiative finds wealth.
By truthfulness one wins acclaim;
Giving, one binds friends.
That is how one does not sorrow
When passing from this world to the next.
853 “The faithful seeker of the household life
In whom dwell these four qualities —
Truth, Dhamma, steadfastness, generosity —
Does not sorrow when he passes on.
854 “Come now, ask others as well,
The many ascetics and brahmins,
Whether there is found here anything better
Than truth, self-control, generosity, and patience.”
[Āḷavaka:]
855 “Why now should I ask this question
Of the many ascetics and brahmins?
Today I have understood
The good pertaining to the future life.
856 “Indeed, for my sake the Buddha came
To reside at Āḷavi.
Today I have understood
Where a gift bears great fruit.
857 “I myself will travel about
From village to village, town to town,
Paying homage to the Enlightened One
And to the excellence of the Dhamma.”