Saddhāsutta — Reader

Faith

Saddhāsutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Faith is a person’s partner. If faithlessness doesn’t linger, fame and renown are theirs, and when they discard this corpse they go to heaven.”

“Saddhā dutiyā purisassa hoti, No ce assaddhiyaṁ avatiṭṭhati; Yaso ca kittī ca tatvassa hoti, Saggañca so gacchati sarīraṁ vihāyā”ti.

Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence: “Give up anger, get rid of conceit, and get past all the fetters. Chains don’t torment one who has nothing,

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: “Kodhaṁ jahe vippajaheyya mānaṁ, Saṁyojanaṁ sabbamatikkameyya; Taṁ nāmarūpasmimasajjamānaṁ,

not clinging to name and form.” “Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence

Akiñcanaṁ nānupatanti saṅgā”ti. “Pamādamanuyuñjanti, bālā dummedhino janā; Appamādañca medhāvī,

as their best treasure. Don’t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you’re diligent and practice absorption,

dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati. Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, mā kāmarati santhavaṁ; Appamatto hi jhāyanto,

you’ll attain ultimate happiness.”

pappoti paramaṁ sukhan”ti.