Numbered Discourses
2. The Chapter on the Lion’s Roar

A Deity

Aṅguttara Nikāya
2. Sīhanādavagga
Devatāsutta
Numbered Discourses
2. The Chapter on the Lion’s Roar
A Deity
Aṅguttara Nikāya
2. Sīhanādavagga
Devatāsutta

Some deities come to the Buddha and speak of how their practice in their past life was limited and unsatisfactory.

Ruta suttaAN 9.19Sutta PiṭakaAṅguttara Nikāya9. Navakanipāta1. Paṭhamapaṇṇāsaka2. SīhanādavaggaDevatāsutta
← Suttas
Vista:

“Mendicants, tonight, several glorious deities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. We politely rose for them, but we didn’t bow. And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’

“Imañca, bhikkhave, rattiṁ sambahulā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, tā devatā maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha, no ca kho abhivādimha. Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

“Mendicants, tonight, several glorious deities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me:
“Imañca, bhikkhave, rattiṁ sambahulā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, tā devatā maṁ etadavocuṁ:
‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes.
‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni.
We politely rose for them, but we didn’t bow.
Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha, no ca kho abhivādimha.
And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’
Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

“Mendicants, tonight, several glorious deities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: “Imañca, bhikkhave, rattiṁ sambahulā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, tā devatā maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. We politely rose for them, but we didn’t bow. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha, no ca kho abhivādimha. And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’ Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. We politely rose for them and bowed, but we didn’t offer a seat. And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’

Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, no ca tesaṁ āsanaṁ adamha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all)Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said:
Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:
‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes.
‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni.
We politely rose for them and bowed, but we didn’t offer a seat.
Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, no ca tesaṁ āsanaṁ adamha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all)
And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’
Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said: Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. We politely rose for them and bowed, but we didn’t offer a seat. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, no ca tesaṁ āsanaṁ adamha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all)And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’ Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. We politely rose for them, bowed, and offered a seat, but we didn’t share as best we could. …’

Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha āsanaṁ adamha, no ca kho yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha …pe…*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all, pts1ed) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)

Then several other deities came to me and said:
Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:
‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes.
‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni.
We politely rose for them, bowed, and offered a seat, but we didn’t share as best we could. …’
Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha āsanaṁ adamha, no ca kho yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha …pe…*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all, pts1ed) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)

Then several other deities came to me and said: Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. We politely rose for them, bowed, and offered a seat, but we didn’t share as best we could. …’ Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha āsanaṁ adamha, no ca kho yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha …pe…*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all, pts1ed) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)

‘… we didn’t sit nearby to listen to the teachings. …’

yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, no ca kho upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya …pe…*yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?)

‘… we didn’t sit nearby to listen to the teachings. …’
yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, no ca kho upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya …pe…*yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?)

‘… we didn’t sit nearby to listen to the teachings. …’ yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, no ca kho upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya …pe…*yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?)

‘… we didn’t actively listen to the teachings. …’

upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, no ca kho ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇimha …pe…*upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all)

‘… we didn’t actively listen to the teachings. …’
upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, no ca kho ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇimha …pe…*upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all)

‘… we didn’t actively listen to the teachings. …’ upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, no ca kho ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇimha …pe…*upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all)

‘… we didn’t memorize the teachings. …’

ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, no ca kho sutvā dhammaṁ dhārayimha …pe…

‘… we didn’t memorize the teachings. …’
ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, no ca kho sutvā dhammaṁ dhārayimha …pe…

‘… we didn’t memorize the teachings. …’ ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, no ca kho sutvā dhammaṁ dhārayimha …pe…

‘… we didn’t examine the meaning of teachings we’d memorized. …’

sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, no ca kho dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha …pe…

‘… we didn’t examine the meaning of teachings we’d memorized. …’
sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, no ca kho dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha …pe…

‘… we didn’t examine the meaning of teachings we’d memorized. …’ sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, no ca kho dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha …pe…

‘… not having understood the meaning and the teaching, we didn’t practice in line with the teaching. And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’

dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, no ca kho atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha. Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

‘… not having understood the meaning and the teaching, we didn’t practice in line with the teaching.
dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, no ca kho atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha.
And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’
Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

‘… not having understood the meaning and the teaching, we didn’t practice in line with the teaching. dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, no ca kho atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha. And so, having not fulfilled our duty, full of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a lesser realm.’ Tā mayaṁ, bhante, aparipuṇṇakammantā vippaṭisāriniyo paccānutāpiniyo hīnaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. We politely rose, bowed, and offered them a seat. We shared as best we could. We sat nearby to listen to the teachings, lent an ear, memorized them, and examined their meaning. Understanding the teaching and the meaning we practiced in line with the teaching. And so, having fulfilled our duty, free of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a superior realm.’

Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, āsanaṁ adamha, yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (sya-all) | yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?) | upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all) | dhammānudhammaṁ → dhammānudhamma (pts1ed); dhammānudhammañca (?)Tā mayaṁ, bhante, paripuṇṇakammantā avippaṭisāriniyo apaccānutāpiniyo paṇītaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said:
Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:
‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes.
‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni.
We politely rose, bowed, and offered them a seat. We shared as best we could. We sat nearby to listen to the teachings, lent an ear, memorized them, and examined their meaning. Understanding the teaching and the meaning we practiced in line with the teaching.
Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, āsanaṁ adamha, yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (sya-all) | yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?) | upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all) | dhammānudhammaṁ → dhammānudhamma (pts1ed); dhammānudhammañca (?)
And so, having fulfilled our duty, free of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a superior realm.’
Tā mayaṁ, bhante, paripuṇṇakammantā avippaṭisāriniyo apaccānutāpiniyo paṇītaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Then several other deities came to me and said: Aparāpi maṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘Sir, formerly when we were human beings, renunciates came to our homes. ‘upasaṅkamiṁsu no, bhante, pubbe manussabhūtānaṁ pabbajitā agārāni. We politely rose, bowed, and offered them a seat. We shared as best we could. We sat nearby to listen to the teachings, lent an ear, memorized them, and examined their meaning. Understanding the teaching and the meaning we practiced in line with the teaching. Te mayaṁ, bhante, paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha, āsanaṁ adamha, yathāsatti yathābalaṁ saṁvibhajimha, upanisīdimha dhammassavanāya, ohitasotā ca dhammaṁ suṇimha, sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhārayimha, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhimha, atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjimha.*paccuṭṭhimha abhivādimha → paccuṭṭhimha ca abhivādimha ca (sya-all) | āsanaṁ → āsanañca (sya-all) | yathābalaṁ → yathābalaṁ ca (?) | upanisīdimha → upanisīdimha ca (sya-all) | dhammānudhammaṁ → dhammānudhamma (pts1ed); dhammānudhammañca (?)And so, having fulfilled our duty, free of remorse and regret, we were reborn in a superior realm.’ Tā mayaṁ, bhante, paripuṇṇakammantā avippaṭisāriniyo apaccānutāpiniyo paṇītaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā’ti.

Here, mendicants, are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later, like those former deities.”

Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha, mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha seyyathāpi tā purimikā devatā”ti.

Here, mendicants, are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later, like those former deities.”
Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha, mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha seyyathāpi tā purimikā devatā”ti.

Here, mendicants, are these roots of trees, and here are these empty huts. Practice absorption, mendicants! Don’t be negligent! Don’t regret it later, like those former deities.” Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha, mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha seyyathāpi tā purimikā devatā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Navamaṁ.

Navamaṁ.