Aṅguttara 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 Suttaɱ
In Three Ways
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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[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.'
[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.
