A Bolt of Lightning

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim …

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe… adhigamāya.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim … “Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe… adhigamāya.

Let forked lightning fall on whom? Let possessions, honor, and popularity come to a trainee who has not achieved their heart’s desire.*The phrasing here is odd, but the regular syntax in the two phrases (object in accusative, subject in nominative, verb in imperative), as well as the parallel phrasing in the next Sutta, argue against it being corrupt (as posited by Bodhi). I think the Buddha is quoting a curse, then he substitutes the Dhammic meaning. Compare Atharva Veda 8.4.20: “Let Indra hurl his lightning at the sorcerers!”, where Sanskrit aśani = Pali asani (“lightning-bolt”). See the next Sutta and note. | For asanivicakka (“forked lightning”) see Rig Veda 4.35.2, where vicakra means “divided”. This phrase is only used in one other place in the canon, which is also about a decadent monk (DN 25:11.3).

Kaṁ, bhikkhave, asanivicakkaṁ āgacchatu, sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇātu.*sekhaṁ → sekhaṁ (sya-all, km); taṁ sekhaṁ (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr); km sekhaṁ (?) | anupāpuṇātu → anupāpuṇāti (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr)

Let forked lightning fall on whom? Let possessions, honor, and popularity come to a trainee who has not achieved their heart’s desire.*The phrasing here is odd, but the regular syntax in the two phrases (object in accusative, subject in nominative, verb in imperative), as well as the parallel phrasing in the next Sutta, argue against it being corrupt (as posited by Bodhi). I think the Buddha is quoting a curse, then he substitutes the Dhammic meaning. Compare Atharva Veda 8.4.20: “Let Indra hurl his lightning at the sorcerers!”, where Sanskrit aśani = Pali asani (“lightning-bolt”). See the next Sutta and note. | For asanivicakka (“forked lightning”) see Rig Veda 4.35.2, where vicakra means “divided”. This phrase is only used in one other place in the canon, which is also about a decadent monk (DN 25:11.3).Kaṁ, bhikkhave, asanivicakkaṁ āgacchatu, sekhaṁ appattamānasaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko anupāpuṇātu.*sekhaṁ → sekhaṁ (sya-all, km); taṁ sekhaṁ (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr); km sekhaṁ (?) | anupāpuṇātu → anupāpuṇāti (pts1ed, pts2ed, mr)

‘Forked lightning’ is a term for possessions, honor, and popularity.

Asanivicakkanti kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasilokassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Forked lightning’ is a term for possessions, honor, and popularity. Asanivicakkanti kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasilokassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.