Digha Nikaya - Sakka-panha Sutta

Digha Nikaya - Sakka-panha Sutta

Thus have I heard. Once the lord was staying in Magadha, to the east of Rajagaha, by a Brahmin village called Ambasanda, to the north of the village on Mount Vediya, in the Indasala Cave. And at that time Sakka, Lord of the gods felt a strong desire to see the Lord. And Sakka thought: ‘Where is the Blessed Lord, the fully-enlightened Buddha, now staying? Then, perceiving where the Lord was, Sakka said to the thirty-three gods: ‘Gentlemen, the Blessed Lord is now staying Magadha, to the east of Rajagaha, by a Brahmin village called Ambasanda, to the north of the village on Mount Vediya, in the Indasala Cave. How would it be if we were to go and visit the lord?’

‘Very good, Lord, and may good fortune go with you,’ Replied the Thirty-Three Gods.

Then Sakka said to Pancasikha of the Gandhabbas: ‘The Blessed Lord is staying in Magadha, to the east of Rajagaha, by a Brahmin village called Ambasanda, to the north of the village on Mount Vediya, in the Indasala Cave. I propose to go visit him.’

‘Very good, Lord,’ said Pancasikha and, taking his yellow beluva-wood lute, he followed in attendance on Sakka. And, just as swiftly as a strong man might stretch forth his flexed arm, or flex it again, Sakka, surrounded by the Thirty-Three Gods and attended by Pancasikha, vanished from the heaven of the Thirty-Three and appeared in Magadha, to the east of Rajagaha, by a Brahmin village called Ambasanda, to the north of the village on Mount Vediya.

Then a tremendous light shone over Mount Vediya illuminating the village of Ambasanda – so great was the power of the gods – so that in the surrounding villages they were saying: ‘Look! Today, Mount Vediya is on fire! It’s Burning! It’s engulfed in flames! What is the matter, that Mount Vediya and Ambasanda are lit up like this?’ and they were so terrified that their hair stood on end.

Then Sakka said: ‘Pancasikha, it is hard for the likes of us to get near the Tathágata when they are enjoying the bliss of meditation, and therefore withdrawn. But if you, Pancasikha, were first to attract the ear of the Blessed Lord, then we might afterwards be able to approach and see the Blessed Lord, the fully enlightened Buddha.’

‘Very good, Lord,’ Said Pancasikha and, taking his yellow beluva-wood lute, he approached the Indasala Cave. Thinking: ‘As far as this is neither too far nor too near to the Lord, and he will hear my voice,’ he stood to one side. Then, to the strains of his lute, he sang these verses extolling the Buddha, the Dharma, the Arahants, and love:

‘Lady, your father Timbaru greet,

Oh sunshine fair, I give him honor due,

By whom was sired a maid as fair as you

Who is the cause of my heart’s delight.

Delightful as the breeze to one who sweats,

Or as cooling draught to one who thirsts,

Your radiant beauty is to me as dear

As the Dhamma is to Arahants.

Just as medicine to him who’s ill,

Or nourishment to one who’s starving still,

Bring me, gracious lady, sweet release

With water cool from my consuming flames.

The elephant, oppressed by summer heat,

Seeks out a lotus-pool upon which float

Petals and pollen of that flower

So into your bosom sweet I’d plunge.

As an elephant, urged by the goad,

Pays no heed to pricks of lance and spear,

So I, unheeding, know not what I do,

Intoxicated by your beauteous form.

By you my heart is tightly bound in bonds,

All my thoughts are quite transformed, and I

Can no longer find my former course:

I’m like a fish that’s caught on baited hook.

Come, embrace me, maiden fair of thighs,

Seize and hold me with your lovely eyes,

Take me in your arms, it’s all I ask!

My desire was slight at first, O maid

Of waving tresses, but it grew apace,

As grow the gifts that Arahants receive.

Whatever merit I have gained by gifts

To those Noble ones, may my reward

When it ripens, be your love, my Sun!

Just as that Sage would be rejoiced, if he

Were to gain supreme enlightenment,

So I’d rejoice to be made one with you.

If Sakka, Lord of Three and Thirty Gods

Were perchance to grant a boon to me,

It’s you I’d crave, my love for you’s so strong.

Your father, maid so wise, I venerate

Like a sal-tree fairly blossoming,

For his offspring’s sake, so sweet and fair.’

When he heard this, the Lord said: ‘Pancasikha, the sound of your strings blends so well with your song, and your song with the strings, that neither prevails excessively over the other. When did you compose these verses on the Buddha, the Dharma, the Arahants, and love?’

‘Lord, it was when the Blessed Lord was staying on the bank of the river Neranjara, under the goatherd’s banyan-tree prior to his enlightenment. At that time I fell in love with the Lady Bhadda, bright as the sun, the Daughter of King Timbaru of the Gandhabbas. But the lady was in love with somebody else. It was Sikhaddi, the son of Matali the Charioteer, whom she favored. And when I found out that I could not win the lady by any manner of means, I took my yellow Beluva-wood lute and went to the home of King Timbaru of the Gandhabbas, and there I sang those verses. And, Lord, having heard the verses the Lady Bhadda Suriyavaccasa said to me: ‘Sir, I have not personally seen that blessed Lord, though I heard of him when I went to the Sudhamma Hall of the Thirty Three Gods to dance. And since, sir, you praise that Blessed Lord so highly, let us meet today." And so, Lord, I met the Lady, not then but later.’

Then Sakka thought, ‘Pancasikha and the Lord are in friendly conversation,’ so he called to Pancasikha: ‘My dear Pancasikha, salute the Blessed Lord from me, saying, "Lord Sakka, king of the gods, together with his ministers and follows, pays homage at the feet of the Blessed Lord."’

‘Very good, Lord,’ said Pancasikha, and did so.

‘Pancasikha, may Sakka, King of the gods, his ministers and followers be happy, for they all desire happiness: devas, humans, asuras, nagas, Gandhabbas, and whatever other groups of beings there are!’ for that is the way the Tathágatas greet such mighty beings. After this greeting, Sakka entered the Indasala Cave, saluted the Lord, and stood to one side, and the Thirty Three Gods, with Pancasikha, did the same.

Then in the Indasala Cave the rough passages became smooth, the narrow parts become wide, and the pitch-dark cavern became bright, owing to the power of the devas. Then the Lord said to Sakka: ‘It is wonderful, it is marvelous that the Venerable Kosiya, with so much, so many things to do, should come here!’ ‘Lord, I have long wished to visit the Blessed Lord, but I have always been so busy on behalf of the Thirty Three that I was unable to come. Once the Blessed Lord was staying at Savatthi in the Salala hut, and I went to Savatthi to see the Lord.

‘At that time the Blessed Lord was seated in some form of Meditation, and King Vessavana’s wife Bhunjatu was waiting on him, venerating him with palms together. I said to her: "Lady, please salute the Blessed Lord for me and say: ‘Sakka, the King of Gods, with his ministers and followers, pays homage at the Lord’s feet.’ But she said: "Sir, it is not the right time to see the Blessed Lord, he is in retreat." "Well then, Lady, when the Blessed Lord rises from his meditation, please tell him what I have said." Lord, did the lady salute you on my behalf and does the Lord remember what she said?’

‘She did salute me, King of the Gods, and I remember what she said. I also remember that it was Your Reverence’s chariot-wheels that roused me from my meditation.’

‘Lord, those gods who arose in the heaven of the Thirty-Three before I did have told me and assured me that whenever a Tathágata, a fully enlightened Arahant Buddha arises in the world, the ranks of Devas increase, and those of asuras decline in numbers. In fact I have witnessed this myself. There was, Lord, right here in Kapilavatthu a Sakyan girl called Gopika who had faith in the Buddhas, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, and who observed the precepts scrupulously. She rejected the status of a woman and developed the thought of becoming a man. Then, after her death, at the breaking up of the body, she went to a happy destination, being reborn in a heaven state among the Thirty Three Gods, as one of our sons, becoming known as Gopaka the devas’ son. Also, there were three monks who, having observed the holy life under the Blessed Lord, had been reborn in the inferior condition of Gandhabbas. They lived indulging in the pleasures of the five senses, as our attendants and servants. At this, Gopaka rebuked them saying: "What were you about sirs, that you did not listen to the Blessed Lord’s teaching? I was a woman who had faith in the Buddha… I rejected the status of a woman…and was reborn among the Thirty-Three Gods and am Known as Gopaka the Deva’s son. But you, after having observed the Holy life under the Blessed Lord, have been reborn in the inferior life condition of Gandhabbas!" And being thus rebuked the two of those Devas immediately developed mindfulness, and so attained to the realm of the Retinue of Brahma. But one of them remained addicted to sensual pleasures.

Gopaka Spoke:

"Discipline once of Him-Who-Sees,

The Name I bore then Gopika.

The Buddha, Dhamma firmly trusting

I served the Sangha cheerfully.

For loyal service paid to him

See me now, a Sakka-son,

Mighty in the Threefold Heaven

Resplendent; Gopaka my name.

Then former monks I saw, who’d reached

No higher than Gandhabba’s rank,

Who before had human birth

And led the life the Buddha taught.

We supplied their food and drink,

And waited on them in our homes.

Had they no ears, that they thus blest

Still could not grasp the Buddha’s law?

Each for himself must understand

That Dhamma taught by him-who-sees,

And well-proclaimed. I, serving you,

Heard the Noble-One’s good words,

And so I’m born, a Sakka Son,

Mighty in the Three-Fold Heaven,

And resplendent, whereas you,

Though you served the Prince of Men

And led the matchless life he taught,

Have re-appeared in humble state

And not attained your proper rank,

A sorry sight it is to see

One’s Dhamma-fellows sunk so low

That, gandhabba-spirits, you

But come to wait upon the gods,

While as for me – I am transformed!

From household life, and female, I

Am now reborn a male, a god,

Rejoicing in celestial bliss!"

When thus rebuked by Gopaka,

Disciple true of Gotama,

In sore distress they all replied:

"Alas, let’s go, and strive amain,

And be no longer others’ slaves!"

And of the three, two struggled hard,

And bore in mind the Teacher’s word.

They purified their hearts of lust,

Perceiving peril in desires,

And like the elephant that bursts

All restraining bonds, they broke

The fetters and the bonds of lust,

Those fetters of the evil one

So hard to overcome – and thus

The very gods, the Thirty Three

With Indra and Pajapati,

Who sat enthroned in Council Hall,

These two heroes, passions purged,

Outstripped, and left them far behind.

On seeing which, Vasava, dismayed,

Chief amidst that throng of gods,

Cried: "See how these of lesser rank

outstrip the gods of the thirty three!"

Then hearing of his rulers fearsm

Gopaka said to Vasava:

Lord Indra, in the world of men

A Buddha, called the Sakyan Sage,

Has gained the mastery of lust,

And these his pupils, who had failed

In mindfulness when claimed by death,

Have now regained it with my help.

Though one of them is left behind

And still among Gandhabbas dwells,

These two, on highest wisdom set,

In deep absorption spurn the gods!

Let no disciple ever doubt

That truth may yet be realized

By those who dwell in these abodes.

To him who’s crossed the flood and made

an end of doubts, our homage due,

The Buddha, Victor, Lord, we give."

Even here, they gained the truth, and so

Have passed beyond greater eminence.

Those two have gained a higher place than this

In realms of Brahma’s Retinue. And we

Have come, O Lord, in hope that we may gain

That truth, and, if the Lord will give us leave,

To put our questions to the Blessed Lord.’

Then the Lord thought: ‘Sakka has lived a pure life for a long time. Whatever questions he may ask will be to the point and not frivolous, and he will be quick to understand my answers.’ So the Blessed Lord replied to Sakka in this verse:

‘Ask me, Sakka, all that you desire!

On what you ask, I’ll put your mind at rest.’

Being thus invited, Sakka, Ruler of the gods, put his first question to the Lord: ‘By what fetters, sir, are beings bound – gods, humans, asuras, nagas, Gandhabbas and whatever other kinds there may be – whereby, although they wish to live without hate, harming, hostility or malignity, and in peace, they yet live in hate, harming one another, hostile and malign?’ This was Sakka’s first question to the Lord, and the Lord replied: ‘Ruler of the Gods, it is the bonds of jealously and avarice that bind beings so that though they wish to live without hate… they yet live in hate, harming one another, hostile and malign.’ This was the Lord’s reply, and Sakka, delighted, exclaimed: ‘So it is, Lord, so it is, Well-Farer! Through the Lord’s answer I have overcome my doubt and uncertainty!’

Then Sakka, having expressed his appreciation, asked another question: ‘But sir, what gives rise to jealousy and avarice, what is their origin, how are they born, how do they arise? Owing to the presence of what do they arose, owing to the absence of what do they arise?’

‘Jealousy and avarice, Ruler of the Gods, take rise from like and dislike, this is their origin, this is how they are born, how they arose. When these are present, they arise; when these are absent, they do not arise.’

‘But, sir, what gives rise to like and dislike?… Owing to the presence of what do they arise, owing to the absence of what do they not arise?’

‘They arise, Ruler of the Gods, from desire … Owing to the presence of desire, they arise, owing to the absence of desire they do not arise.’

‘But sir, what gives rise to desire?’

‘Desire, Ruler of the Gods, arises from thinking… when the mind thinks about something, desire arises; when the mind thinks about nothing, desire does not arise.’

‘But, sir, what gives rise to thinking?’

‘Thinking arises from the tendency to proliferation… when this tendency is present, thinking arises; when it is absent, thinking does not arise.’

‘Well, sir, what practice has that monk undertaken who has reached the right way which is needful and leading to the cessation of the tendency to proliferation?’

‘Ruler of the Gods, I declare that there are two kinds of happiness: the kind to be pursued, and the kind to be avoided. The same applied to unhappiness and equanimity.

‘Why have I declared this in regard to happiness? This is how I understood happiness: When I observed that in the pursuit of such happiness, unwholesome factors increased and wholesome factors decreased, then that happiness was to be avoided. And when I observed the pursuit of such happiness unwholesome factors decreased and wholesome ones increased, then that happiness was to be sought after. Now, of such happiness as is accompanied by thinking and pondering, and of that which is not so accompanied, the latter is the more excellent. The same applies to unhappiness and to equanimity. And this, Ruler of Gods, is the practice that monk has undertaken who has reached the right way… leading to the cessation of the tendency to proliferation.’ And Sakka expressed his delight at the Lord’s answer.

Then Sakka, having expressed his appreciation, asked another question: ‘Well, sir, what practice has that monk undertaken who has acquired the restraint required by the rules?’

‘Ruler of the Gods, I declare that there are two kinds of bodily conduct: the kind to be pursued and the kind to be avoided. The same applied to conduct of speech and to the pursuit of goals. Why have I declared this in regard to bodily conduct? This is how I understood bodily conduct: When I observed that by the performance of certain actions, unwholesome factors decreased and wholesome ones increased, then such bodily action was to be followed. That is why I make this distinction. The same applies conduct of speech and the pursuit of goals. And this, Ruler of the Gods, is the practice that monk has undertaken who has acquired the restraint required by the rules.’ And Sakka expressed his delight at the Lord’s answer.

Then Sakka asked another question: ‘Well, sir, what practice has that monk undertaken who has acquired control of his sense faculties?’

‘Ruler of the Gods, I declare that things perceived by the eye are of two kinds: the kind to be pursued, and the kind to be avoided. The same applied to the things perceived by the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body and the mind.’

At this, Sakka said, "Lord, I understand in full the true meaning of what the Blessed Lord has outlined in brief. Lord, whatever object perceived by the eye, if its pursuit leads to the increase of unwholesome factors and the decrease of wholesome ones, that is not to be sought after; if its pursuit leads to the decrease of unwholesome factors and the increase of wholesome ones, such an object is to be sought after. After the same applied to things perceived by the ear, the nose, the tongue, the body and the mind. Thus I understand in full the true meaning of what the Blessed Lord has outlined in brief, and thus through the Lord’s answer I have overcome my doubt and got rid of uncertainty.’

Then Sakka asked another question: ‘Sir, do all ascetics and Brahmins teach the same doctrine, practice the same discipline, want the same thing and pursue the same goal?’

‘No, Ruler of the Gods, they do not.’

‘But why, sir, do they not do so?’

‘The world, Ruler of the Gods, is made up of many and various elements. Such being the case, beings adhere to one or other of these various things, and whatever they adhere to they become powerfully addicted to, and declare: ‘This alone is the truth, everything else is false!’ Therefore, they do not all teach the same thing, pursue the same goal.’

‘Sir, are all ascetics and Brahmins fully proficient, freed from bonds, perfect in the holy life, have they perfectly reached the goal?’

‘No, ruler of the Gods.’

‘Why is that sir?’

‘Only those who are liberated by the destruction of craving are fully proficient, freed from the bonds, perfect in the holy life and have perfectly reached the goal.’

Then Sakka, having delighted in and expressed his approval of the Blessed One's words, said to him: "Yearning is a disease, yearning is a boil, yearning is an arrow. It seduces one, drawing one into this or that state of being, which is why one is reborn in high states and low. Whereas other outside priests and contemplatives gave me no chance to ask them these questions, the Blessed One has answered at length, so that he has removed the arrow of my uncertainty and perplexity."

"Ruler of the Gods, do you recall having asked other priests and contemplatives these questions?"

"Yes, lord, I recall having asked other priests and contemplatives these questions."

"If it's no inconvenience, could you tell me how they answered?"

"It's no inconvenience when sitting with the Blessed One or one who is like him."

"Then tell me, Ruler of the Gods."

"Having gone to those whom I considered to be priests and contemplatives living in isolated dwellings in the wilderness, I asked them these questions. But when asked by me, they were at a loss. Being at a loss, they asked me in return, 'What is your name?'

"Being asked, I responded, 'I, dear sir, am Sakka, the Ruler of the Gods.'

"So they questioned me further, 'But what kamma did you do to attain to this state?'

"So I taught them the Dhamma as far as I had heard and mastered it. And they were gratified with just this much: 'We have seen Sakka, the Ruler of the Gods, and he has answered our questions!' So, instead of my becoming their disciple, they simply became mine. But I, lord, am the Blessed One's disciple, a stream-winner, steadfast, never again destined for states of woe, headed for self-awakening."

"Ruler of the Gods, do you recall ever having previously experienced such happiness and joy?" "Yes, lord, I do."

"And how do you recall ever having previously experienced such happiness and joy?" "Once, lord, the devas and asuras were arrayed in battle. And in that battle the devas won, while the asuras lost. Having won the battle, as the victor in the battle, this thought occurred to me: 'Whatever has been the divine nourishment of the asuras, whatever has been the divine nourishment of the devas, the devas will now enjoy both of them.' But my attainment of happiness and joy was in the sphere of violence and weapons. It didn't lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge to self-awakening, to Unbinding. But my attainment of happiness and joy on hearing the Blessed One's Dhamma is in the sphere of no violence, the sphere of no weapons. It leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge to self-awakening, to Unbinding.’

‘And, Ruler of the Gods, what things do you call to mind when you amid experiencing such satisfaction and happiness as this?’ ‘Lord, at such a time, six things come to mind at which I rejoice:


"I who merely as a god exist, have gained

The chance, by kamma, of another earthly life.’

That, Lord, is the first thing that occurs to me.

‘Leaving this non-human realm of gods behind,

Unerringly I’ll seek the womb I wish to find.’


That lord is the second thing…

‘My problems solved, I’ll gladly live by Buddha’s law,

Controlled and mindful, and with clear awareness filled."


That lord, is the third thing…

‘And should thereby enlightenment arise in me,

As one who knows I’ll dwell, and there await my end."


That lord, is the fourth thing…

‘Then when I leave the human world again, I’ll be

Once more a god, and one of highest rank.’


That lord, is the fifth thing…

‘More glorious than devas are the peerless gods,

Among whom dwelling I shall make my final home.’


That lord, is the sixth thing that occurs to me, and these are the six things at which I rejoice:

‘Long I wandered, unfulfilled, in doubt,

In quest of the Tathágata. I thought

Hermits who lived in seclusion and austere

Must surely be enlightened: I’ll seek them.

"What must I do to gain success, and what

Course but leads to failure?" – But thus asked,

They could not tell me how to tread the path.

Instead, when they found out that I am king

Of gods, they asked me why I’d come t them,

And I it was who taught them what I knew

Of Dhamma, and at that, rejoicing, they

Cried: "It’s Vasava, the Lord, we’ve seen!"

But now – I’ve seen the Buddha, and my doubts

Are all dispelled, my fears are allayed,

And now to the Enlightened One I pay

Homage due, to him who’s drawn the dark

Of Craving, to the Buddha, peerless Lord,

Mighty hero, Kinsman of the Sun!

Just as Brahma’s worshipped by the gods,

So likewise today we worship you,

Enlightened One, and Teacher unsurpassed,

Whom none can equal in the human world,

Or in the heavens, dwelling of the gods!’


Then Sakka, the Ruler of the Gods, said to Pancasikha of the Gandhabbas: ‘My dear Pancasikha, you have been of great help to me for gaining the ear of the Blessed Lord. For it was through your gaining his ear that we were admitted to the presence of the Blessed Lord, the Arahant, the supremely enlightened Buddha. I will be a father to you, you shall be king of the Gandhabbas, and I will give you Bhadda Suriyacaccasa, whom you desired.’ Then Sakka, the Ruler of the Gods, touched the earth with his hand and said three times,

Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One!

Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One!

Homage to the Worthy One, the Blessed One, the Rightly Self-awakened One!


While this explanation was being given, there arose to Sakka the dustless, stainless Dhamma eye -- "Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation" -- as it also did to his following of devas.


Such were the questions that the Blessed One answered at Sakka's bidding.