Aṇguttara Nikāya
Chakka-Nipāta
IV: Devatā-Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Sixes
Chapter IV: The Devas

Sutta 32

Paṭhama Aparihāna Suttaṃ

They Fail Not (a)

Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.

Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved

For details see Terms of Use.

 

---

[232]

[1] Thus have I heard:

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

Now, when night was far spent,
a deva of exceeding loveliness,
lighting up the whole of Jeta Grove,
approached the Exalted One,
saluted
and stood at one side.

Thus standing,
the deva said:

"Lord, these six things
lead not to a monk's failure.

What six?

Reverence for the Master,
reverence for Dhamma,
reverence for the Order,
reverence for the training,
reverence for earnestness
reverence for good-will.^[1]

[233] Verily, lord, these six things lead not to a monk's failure."

Thus spoke the deva and the Master approved;
and seeing this,
he saluted the Exalted One and passed out on the right.

 

§

 

And when the night was over,
the Exalted One addressed the monks:

"To me, monks, when night was far spent,
a deva of exceeding loveliness,
lighting up the whole of Jeta Grove,
approached,
saluted
and stood at one side.

Thus standing,
the deva said:

'Lord, these six things
lead not to a monk's failure.

What six?

Reverence for the Master,
reverence for Dhamma,
reverence for the Oder,
reverence for the training,
reverence for earnestness
reverence for for good-will.

Verily, lord, these six things lead not to a monk's failure.'

Thus spoke the deva and I approved;
and seeing this,
he saluted
and passed out on the right."

Deep reverence for the Master, Dhamma, Order,
Reverence for earnestness and for good-will:
Not thuswise fails a monk; he's nigh Nibbāna.'

 

---

^[1] Above VI, § 21; below, § 79; A. iv, 28, [+ §§ 32, 33] where the gāthā is almost the same.