Saɱyutta Nikāya
I. Sagatha Vagga
11. Sakkasaɱyutta
Sutta 14
Daḷidda Suttaṃ
Poor
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Sourced from the edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[14.1][piya][rhyc][bodh] On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Forest, the Squirrels' Sanctuary.
There he addressed the monks:
"Monks!"
"Yes, lord," the monks responded to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said, "Monks, once there was a man living in this very Rājagaha — a poor, pitiful wretch of a person.[1]
He undertook conviction in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Blessed One, undertook virtue, undertook learning, undertook relinquishment, undertook discernment.
He — having undertaken conviction in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Blessed One, having undertaken virtue, having undertaken learning, having undertaken relinquishment, having undertaken discernment — on the breakup of the body, after death, reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the devas of the Thirty-three.
There he outshone the other devas in beauty and in rank.
"Then the devas of the Thirty-three were indignant, annoyed, and complained:
'Isn't it amazing, good sirs! Isn't it astounding!
Before, this young deva, when he was a human being, was a poor, pitiful wretch of a person.
But now, with the breakup of the body, after death, he has reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the devas of the Thirty-three.
There he outshines the other devas in beauty and in rank.'
"Then Sakka the deva-king addressed the devas of the Thirty-three, 'Dear sirs, don't be indignant with this young deva.
Before, this young deva, when he was a human being, undertook conviction in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Blessed One, undertook virtue, undertook learning, undertook relinquishment, undertook discernment.
He — having undertaken conviction in the Dhamma and Vinaya proclaimed by the Blessed One, having undertaken virtue, having undertaken learning, having undertaken relinquishment, having undertaken discernment — on the breakup of the body, after death, has reappeared in a good destination, a heavenly world, in the company of the devas of the Thirty-three.
There he outshines the other devas in beauty and in rank.'
"Then, conciliating the devas of the Thirty-three, Sakka the deva-king on that occasion recited these verses:
'One whose conviction in the Tathāgata
is well-established, unshakable;
whose virtue is admirable,
appealing to the noble ones, praised;
who has confidence in the Saṅgha,
and vision made straight:
"Not poor," they say of him.
Not in vain his life.
So conviction and virtue,
confidence and Dhamma-vision
should be cultivated by the intelligent,
remembering the Buddhas' teachings.'"[2]
[1] The Commentary confirms that this is a reference to the story of Suppabuddha the leper, recounted in Ud 5:3.
[2] These verses also appear in SN 55:26. In Thailand, they are often chanted in ceremonies for dedicating merit to those who have passed away.
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