The Sutta Nipata
The "Sutta Collection"
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Sutta Nipata I.10
Alavaka Sutta
To the Alavaka Yakkha
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Translator's note: This discourse is the source of
many proverbs frequently quoted in Theravadin countries. In 1982, when Thailand
was celebrating the 200th anniversary of the founding of the current
dynasty, His Majesty the King structured his chief address to the Thai people
around the four qualities mentioned in the Buddha's last verse.
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying
at Alavi in the haunt of the Alavaka yakkha. Then the
Alavaka yakkha went to the Blessed One and on arrival said to him: "Get
out, contemplative!"
[Saying,] "All right, my friend," the Blessed One
went out.
"Come in, contemplative!"
[Saying,] "All right, my friend," the Blessed One
went in.
A second time .... A third time, the Alavaka yakkha said to
the Blessed One, "Get out, contemplative!"
[Saying,] "All right, my friend," the Blessed One
went out.
"Come in, contemplative!"
[Saying,] "All right, my friend," the Blessed One
went in.
Then a fourth time, the Alavaka yakkha said to the Blessed
One, "Get out, contemplative!"
"I won't go out, my friend. Do what you have to
do."
"I will ask you a question,
contemplative. If you can't answer me, I will possess your mind or rip open your
heart or, grabbing you by the feet, hurl you across the Ganges."
"My friend, I see no one in the cosmos with its deities,
Maras & Brahmas, its contemplatives & priests, its royalty &
commonfolk, who could possess my mind or rip open my heart or, grabbing me by
the feet, hurl me across the Ganges. But nevertheless, ask me what you
wish."
[Alavaka:]
What is a person's highest wealth?
What, when well-practiced, brings bliss?
What is the highest of savors?
Living in what way
is one's life called the best?
[The Buddha:]
Conviction is a person's highest
wealth.
Dhamma, when well-practiced, brings bliss.
Truth is the highest of savors.[1]
Living with discernment,
one's life is called best.
[Alavaka:]
How does
one cross over the flood?
How cross over the sea?
How does one overcome
suffering & stress?
How is a person purified?
[The Buddha:]
Through conviction one crosses over the
flood.
Through heedfulness, the sea.
Through persistence one overcomes
suffering & stress.
Through discernment a person is
purified.
[Alavaka:]
How does
one gain discernment?
How does one find wealth?
How does one attain honor?
How bind friends to oneself?
Passing from this world
to
the next world,
how does one not grieve?
[The Buddha:]
Convinced of the arahants' Dhamma
for attaining Unbinding,
-- heedful, observant --
one listening well
gains discernment.
Doing what's fitting,
enduring burdens,
one with initiative
finds wealth.
Through truth
one attains honor.
Giving
binds friends to oneself.
Endowed with these four qualities,
-- truth,
self-control,
stamina,
relinquishment --
a householder of conviction,
on passing away, doesn't grieve.
Now, go ask others,
common priests & contemplatives,
if anything better than
truth,
self-control,
endurance,
& relinquishment
here can be found.
[Alavaka:]
How could I go ask
common priests & contemplatives? --
now that today I understand
what benefits
the next life.
It was truly for my well-being
that the Awakened One came
to stay in Alavi.
Today I understand
where what is given
bears great fruit.
I will wander from village to village,
town to town,
paying homage to the Self-awakened
One
& the true rightness of the Dhamma.
Note
1. This is apparently a reference to
the concept of "savor" (rasa) in Indian aesthetic theory.
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