Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
XVII. Āghāta Vaggo
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XVII: Malice
Sutta 170
Bhaddaji Suttaṃ
Bhaddaji
Translated by E. M. Hare
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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'Once, while the venerable Ānanda was dwelling near Kosambī in Ghosita Park,
the venerable Bhaddaji[1] came up and greeted him and,
after exehanging the words of customary greetings,
sat down at one side.
So seated,
the venerable Ānanda said
to the venerable Bhaddaji:
'Good Bhaddaji,
what is the best of sights,
what the best [149] of sounds,
what, the beat of joys,
what the best of conscious states,
and what is the best of becomings?'
■
'There is Brahmā, sir,
who is overcomer,
by none overcome,[2]
he is the seer of whatever may be,
with power and dominion;
who sees him
of the Brahmās,
that is the best of sights.
■
There are the devas of radiant splendour,
in whom joy flows and overflows,
who ever and again utter a cry of:
"Joy, oh joy!"
who hears that sound —
it is the best of sounds.
■
There are the all-lustrous devas,
rejoicing just in quiet,[3]
who feel joy —
that is the best of joys.
■
There are the devas
who go to the sphere of nothingness —
theirs is the best of conscious states.
■
There are the devas
who go to the sphere of neither consciousness nor unconsciousness —
theirs is the best of becomings'
(i.e. lives, or worlds).
§
'This is but the way of the many folk,
this (talk) of the venerable Bhaddaji.'
'The venerable Ānanda has heard much;
let the venerable Ānanda throw light upon the matter!'.
'Very well, reverend Bhaddaji,
listen and pay attention
and I will speak."
'Yes, sir,' he replied;
and the venerable Ānanda said:
'When,[4] while one looks,
the cankers are destroyed —
that is the best of sights.
■
When, while one listens,
the cankers are destroyed —
that is the best of sounds.
■
When, while one rejoices,
the cankers are destroyed —
that is the best of joys.
■
When, while one is conscious,
the cankers are destroyed —
that is the best of conscious states.
■
When, while one has become,[5]
the cankers are destroyed —
that is the best of becomings.'
[1] See Brethr. 129.
[2] This is stock; Cf. D. i, 18; iii, 135; A. ii, 24; It. 15: abhibhū anabhibhūto, sometimes used of the Tathāgata.
[3] Te santaṃ yeva tusitā. S.e. reads te santaññ'eva sukhitā.
[4] Anantarā, no interval, immediately. Comy. anantarā yeva!
[5] Yathā bhūtassa.
