Andhakavindasutta — Reader

At Andhakavinda

Andhakavindasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Andhakavinda. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down. Then, late at night, the glorious divinity Sahampati, lighting up the entirety of Andhakavinda, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā māgadhesu viharati andhakavinde. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati. Atha kho brahmā sahampati abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ andhakavindaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence: “One should frequent secluded lodgings, and practice to be released from fetters. If you don’t find enjoyment there,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: “Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni, Careyya saṁyojanavippamokkhā; Sace ratiṁ nādhigaccheyya tattha,

live in the Saṅgha, self-protected and mindful. Walking for alms from family to family, with senses guarded, alert and mindful. One should frequent secluded lodgings,

Saṅghe vase rakkhitatto satīmā. Kulākulaṁ piṇḍikāya caranto, Indriyagutto nipako satimā; Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,

free of fear, freed in the fearless. Where dreadful reptiles slither, where the lightning flashes and the heavens thunder in the dark of the night;

Bhayā pamutto abhaye vimutto. Yattha bheravā sarīsapā, Vijju sañcarati thanayati devo; Andhakāratimisāya rattiyā,

there meditates a mendicant, free of goosebumps. For this is ever seen by me, it isn’t just the testament of hearsay. Within a single spiritual dispensation

Nisīdi tattha bhikkhu vigatalomahaṁso. Idañhi jātu me diṭṭhaṁ, nayidaṁ itihītihaṁ; Ekasmiṁ brahmacariyasmiṁ,

there are a thousand conquerors of Death. And of trainees, more than five hundred, and ten times ten tens, are all stream-enterers,

sahassaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ. Bhiyyo pañcasatā sekkhā, dasā ca dasadhā dasa; Sabbe sotasamāpannā,

freed from rebirth in the animal realm. And as for the rest of folk who I think have shared in merit— I couldn’t even number them,

atiracchānagāmino. Athāyaṁ itarā pajā, puññabhāgāti me mano; Saṅkhātuṁ nopi sakkomi,

for fear of speaking falsely.”

musāvādassa ottapan”ti.