Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Navaka Nipāta
III. Satt'Āvāsa Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
VIII. The Book of the Nines
Chapter III: Spheres of Beings

Sutta 21

Ṭhāna Suttaṃ

In Three Ways

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

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[265]

[1] Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Savatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

There he addressed the monks, saying: 'Monks.'

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, in three ways men of Northern Kuru^[1] excel both the Thirty devas and men of Jambudīpa.

In what three?

Their special qualities^[2] are unselfishness,^[3] lack of greed
and fixity of life-span.

[266] Monks, in these three ways men of Northern Kuru excel both the Thirty devas and men of Jambudīpa.

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Monks, in three ways the Thirty devas excel both the men of Northern Kuru and men of Jambudīpa.

In what three?

In their celestial life,
beauty^[4] and happiness.

Monks, in these three ways the Thirty devas excel both the men of Northern Kuru and men of Jambudīpa.

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Monks, in three ways the men of Jambudīpa excel both the men of Northern Kuru and the Thirty devas.

In what three?

They are heroic,^[5]
possess mindfulness^[6]
and the godly life may be lived there.^[7]

Monks, in these three ways men of Jambudīpa excel both men of Northern Kuru and devas of the Thirty.'

 

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^[1] Uttarakurukā, the inhabitants of one of the four Mahā-dīpas, the great islands or continents, which the world was supposed to consist of; thus 'on the north is Uttarakuru, on the south Jambudīpa (India), on the east Pubbavideha, and on the west Aparagoyāna' (Childers). See Dial. iii, 192, for a poetical description of Uttarakuru; also Mhvs. trsl. 3; Mil. 84; Chwang 32; above, p. 55, n. 1.

^[2] Reading with v.l. -guṇā.

^[3] Amama. See Dial., loc cit Comy. nittaṇhā.

^[4] Vaṇṇa, the set is a stock one, but usually pomp and power are added; see above, pp. 44 and 165.

^[5] The text reads surā, strong drink; S.e. sūrā, courage; see Vv.A. 18, which is no doubt correct; cf. similarly at K.S. v, 202.

^[6] The Comy. observes that since devas are wholly happy, they do not persevere (thirā); but those in hell being wholly miserable, and (mankind) who are partly happy and partly miserable, do persevere (in thought).

^[7] The Comy. explains: Only in Jambudīpa do Buddhas and silent Buddhas arise and set forth the eightfold Way and godly life. See Pts. of C. 73, where this passage is quoted.