Sn 1.10
Alavaka Sutta
To the Alavaka Yakkha
Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Alternate translation:PiyadassiThanissaro
PTS: Sn 181-192
This sutta also appears at SN 10.12
Source: Transcribed from a file provided by the translator.
Copyright © 1999 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Access to Insight edition © 1999
For free distribution. This work may be republished, reformatted,
reprinted, and redistributed in any medium. It is the author's wish,
however, that any such republication and redistribution be made available
to the public on a free and unrestricted basis and that translations and
other derivative works be clearly marked as such.
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 devas, 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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