The Samyutta Nikaya
The Grouped Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya X.12
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. For more on this topic, see the Introduction
to Dhammapada: A Translation.
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