1.10. With the Yakkha Āḷavaka

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati āḷavakassa yakkhassa bhavane.

Atha kho āḷavako yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.

“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.

“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.

“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.

Dutiyampi kho …pe…

tatiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.

“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.

“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.

“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.

Catutthampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.

“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, nikkhamissāmi.

Yaṁ te karaṇīyaṁ, taṁ karohī”ti.

“Pañhaṁ taṁ, samaṇa, pucchissāmi.

Sace me na byākarissasi, cittaṁ vā te khipissāmi, hadayaṁ vā te phālessāmi, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipissāmī”ti.

“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yo me cittaṁ vā khipeyya hadayaṁ vā phāleyya pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipeyya.

Api ca tvaṁ, āvuso, puccha yadākaṅkhasī”ti.

Atha kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“Kiṁ sūdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,

Kiṁ su suciṇṇaṁ sukhamāvahāti;

Kiṁ su have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,

Kathaṁjīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhaṁ”.

“Saddhīdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,

Dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahāti;

Saccaṁ have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,

Paññājīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhaṁ”.

“Kathaṁ su tarati oghaṁ,

kathaṁ su tarati aṇṇavaṁ;

Kathaṁ su dukkhamacceti,

kathaṁ su parisujjhati”.

“Saddhāya tarati oghaṁ,

appamādena aṇṇavaṁ;

Vīriyena dukkhamacceti,

paññāya parisujjhati”.

“Kathaṁ su labhate paññaṁ,

kathaṁ su vindate dhanaṁ;

Kathaṁ su kittiṁ pappoti,

kathaṁ mittāni ganthati;

Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ,

kathaṁ pecca na socati”.

“Saddahāno arahataṁ,

dhammaṁ nibbānapattiyā;

Sussūsaṁ labhate paññaṁ,

appamatto vicakkhaṇo.

Patirūpakārī dhuravā,

uṭṭhātā vindate dhanaṁ;

Saccena kittiṁ pappoti,

dadaṁ mittāni ganthati.

Yassete caturo dhammā,

saddhassa gharamesino;

Saccaṁ dhammo dhiti cāgo,

sa ve pecca na socati.

Iṅgha aññepi pucchassu,

puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;

Yadi saccā damā cāgā,

khantyā bhiyyodha vijjati”.

“Kathaṁ nu dāni puccheyyaṁ,

Puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;

Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,

Yo attho samparāyiko.

Atthāya vata me buddho,

Vāsāyāḷavimāgamā;

Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,

Yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.

So ahaṁ vicarissāmi,

Gāmā gāmaṁ purā puraṁ;

Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ,

Dhammassa ca sudhammatan”ti.

Āḷavakasuttaṁ dasamaṁ.

Thus have I heard:

SC 1At one time the Lord dwelt at Āḷavī in the haunt of the yakkha Āḷavaka. Then the latter went to the Lord’s dwelling and spoke to him as follows: “Monk, come out!”

SC 2“Very well, friend” said the Buddha (and came out).

SC 3“Monk, go in!”

SC 4“Very well, friend” said the Buddha and entered his dwelling. He repeated these demands twice, but on the fourth demand the Buddha said:

SC 5“I shall not come out to you, friend, do what you will.”

SC 6“Monk, I shall ask you a question and if you cannot answer it I shall either overthrow your mind, split your heart, or seizing you by the feet, throw you to the other side of the Ganges river.”

SC 7“I do not see, friend, anyone in the world with its devas, Māras and Brahmās, in this generation with its monks and brahmins, princes and men who can either overthrow my mind, or split my heart, or seize me by the feet and throw me to the other side of the Ganges river. However, friend, ask what you will.”

SC 8SC Verse 183Āḷavaka
For humans here what wealth is best?
What often done brings happiness?
What surely has the sweetest taste?
How living do they say “life’s best”?

SC 9SC Verse 184Buddha
Faith the wealth for humans best,
Dharma done brings happiness,
Truth surely has the sweetest taste,
“Lived with wisdom” this life’s best.

SC 10SC Verse 185Āḷavaka
How can the flood be overcrossed?
How overcrossed the sea?
How dukkha can be overcome?
How win to purity?

SC 11SC Verse 186Buddha
By faith the flood is overcrossed.
By vigilance the sea.
By effort dukkha’s overcome.
By wisdom, purity.

SC 12SC Verse 187Āḷavaka
How wisdom will be won
with riches also found?
How attain to fame
and bring together friends?
When passing from this world, to next,
how does one not grieve?

SC 13SC Verse 188Buddha
One with faith in arahats’ Dharma
for attainment of Nirvāṇa
diligent, wishing to listen,
and discerning, wisdom wins.

SC 14SC Verse 189One who acts appropriately,
who’s steady and industrious,
finds wealth and fame, attained by truth;
by giving, friends are gained.

SC 15SC Verse 190A faithful household seeker has
attained these four: truthfulness,
virtue, courage, generosity too,
and so grieves not when passing hence.

SC 16SC Verse 191Now if you wish, ask others too,
numerous monks and brahmins—if
truth, generosity, taming self,
patience too—what’s better than these?

SC 17SC Verse 192Āḷavaka
Why should I consult with these
monks and brahmins numerous,
when now for myself I know
who brings my future’s benefit?

SC 18SC Verse 193For my benefit truly He came here,
the Buddha visiting Āḷavī.
Now do I know where a gift
bestowed will bear great fruit.

SC 19SC Verse 194Village to village I shall roam,
town to town revering him—
the Full Awakened One, and
the Dharmaness of perfect Dharma.