देवासुरसङ्गामसुत्त

Devāsurasaṅgāmasutta

The War Between the Gods and the Demons

“भूतपुब्बं, भिक्खवे, देवासुरसङ्गामो समुपब्यूळ्हो अहोसि। तस्मिं खो पन, भिक्खवे, सङ्गामे असुरा जिनिंसु, देवा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, देवा अपयिंसुयेव उत्तरेनाभिमुखा, अभियिंसु असुरा।

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho¹ ahosi. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme asurā jiniṁsu, devā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, devā² apayiṁsuyeva uttarenābhimukhā, abhiyiṁsu asurā.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhus, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. In that battle the demons won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit.

अथ खो, भिक्खवे, देवानं एतदहोसि: ‘अभियन्तेव खो असुरा। यन्नून मयं दुतियम्पि असुरेहि सङ्गामेय्यामाऽति। दुतियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, देवा असुरेहि सङ्गामेसुं। दुतियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, असुराव जिनिंसु, देवा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, देवा अपयिंसुयेव उत्तरेनाभिमुखा, अभियिंसु असुरा।

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devānaṁ etadahosi: ‘abhiyanteva kho asurā. Yannūna mayaṁ dutiyampi asurehi saṅgāmeyyāmā’ti. Dutiyampi kho, bhikkhave, devā asurehi saṅgāmesuṁ. Dutiyampi kho, bhikkhave, asurāva jiniṁsu, devā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, devā apayiṁsuyeva uttarenābhimukhā, abhiyiṁsu asurā.

Then the gods thought, ‘The demons are still in pursuit. Why don’t we engage them in battle a second time?’ And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the demons. And for a second time the demons won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit.

अथ खो, भिक्खवे, देवानं एतदहोसि: ‘अभियन्तेव खो असुरा। यन्नून मयं ततियम्पि असुरेहि सङ्गामेय्यामाऽति। ततियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, देवा असुरेहि सङ्गामेसुं। ततियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, असुराव जिनिंसु, देवा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, देवा भीता देवपुरंयेव पविसिंसु।

Atha kho, bhikkhave, devānaṁ etadahosi: ‘abhiyanteva kho asurā. Yannūna mayaṁ tatiyampi asurehi saṅgāmeyyāmā’ti. Tatiyampi kho, bhikkhave, devā asurehi saṅgāmesuṁ. Tatiyampi kho, bhikkhave, asurāva jiniṁsu, devā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, devā bhītā devapuraṁyeva pavisiṁsu.

Then the gods thought, ‘The demons are still in pursuit. Why don’t we engage them in battle a third time?’ And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the demons. And for a third time the demons won and the gods lost. Defeated and terrified, the gods fled right into the castle of the gods.

देवपुरगतानञ्च पन, भिक्खवे, देवानं एतदहोसि: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि मयं एतरहि अत्तना विहराम अकरणीया असुरेहीऽति। असुरानम्पि, भिक्खवे, एतदहोसि: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि देवा एतरहि अत्तना विहरन्ति अकरणीया अम्हेहीऽति।

Devapuragatānañca pana, bhikkhave, devānaṁ etadahosi: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni mayaṁ etarahi attanā viharāma akaraṇīyā asurehī’ti. Asurānampi, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni devā etarahi attanā viharanti akaraṇīyā amhehī’ti.

When they had entered their castle, they thought, ‘Now we’re in a secure location and the demons can’t do anything to us.’ The demons also thought, ‘Now the gods are in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’

भूतपुब्बं, भिक्खवे, देवासुरसङ्गामो समुपब्यूळ्हो अहोसि। तस्मिं खो पन, भिक्खवे, सङ्गामे देवा जिनिंसु, असुरा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, असुरा अपयिंसुयेव दक्खिणेनाभिमुखा, अभियिंसु देवा।

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi. Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, saṅgāme devā jiniṁsu, asurā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, asurā apayiṁsuyeva dakkhiṇenābhimukhā, abhiyiṁsu devā.

Once upon a time, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons. In that battle the gods won and the demons lost. Defeated, the demons fled south with the gods in pursuit.

अथ खो, भिक्खवे, असुरानं एतदहोसि: ‘अभियन्तेव खो देवा। यन्नून मयं दुतियम्पि देवेहि सङ्गामेय्यामाऽति। दुतियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, असुरा देवेहि सङ्गामेसुं। दुतियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, देवा जिनिंसु, असुरा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, असुरा अपयिंसुयेव दक्खिणेनाभिमुखा, अभियिंसु देवा।

Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi: ‘abhiyanteva kho devā. Yannūna mayaṁ dutiyampi devehi saṅgāmeyyāmā’ti. Dutiyampi kho, bhikkhave, asurā devehi saṅgāmesuṁ. Dutiyampi kho, bhikkhave, devā jiniṁsu, asurā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, asurā apayiṁsuyeva dakkhiṇenābhimukhā, abhiyiṁsu devā.

Then the demons thought, ‘The gods are still in pursuit. Why don’t we engage them in battle a second time?’ And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the demons. And for a second time the gods won and the demons lost. Defeated, the demons fled south with the gods in pursuit.

अथ खो, भिक्खवे, असुरानं एतदहोसि: ‘अभियन्तेव खो देवा। यन्नून मयं ततियम्पि देवेहि सङ्गामेय्यामाऽति। ततियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, असुरा देवेहि सङ्गामेसुं। ततियम्पि खो, भिक्खवे, देवा जिनिंसु, असुरा पराजयिंसु। पराजिता च, भिक्खवे, असुरा भीता असुरपुरंयेव पविसिंसु।

Atha kho, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi: ‘abhiyanteva kho devā. Yannūna mayaṁ tatiyampi devehi saṅgāmeyyāmā’ti. Tatiyampi kho, bhikkhave, asurā devehi saṅgāmesuṁ. Tatiyampi kho, bhikkhave, devā jiniṁsu, asurā parājayiṁsu. Parājitā ca, bhikkhave, asurā bhītā asurapuraṁyeva pavisiṁsu.

Then the demons thought, ‘The gods are still in pursuit. Why don’t we engage them in battle a third time?’ And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the demons. And for a third time the gods won and the demons lost. Defeated and terrified, the demons fled right into the citadel of the demons.

असुरपुरगतानञ्च पन, भिक्खवे, असुरानं एतदहोसि: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि मयं एतरहि अत्तना विहराम अकरणीया देवेहीऽति। देवानम्पि, भिक्खवे, एतदहोसि: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि असुरा एतरहि अत्तना विहरन्ति अकरणीया अम्हेहीऽति।

Asurapuragatānañca pana, bhikkhave, asurānaṁ etadahosi: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni mayaṁ etarahi attanā viharāma akaraṇīyā devehī’ti. Devānampi, bhikkhave, etadahosi: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni asurā etarahi attanā viharanti akaraṇīyā amhehī’ti.

When they had entered their citadel, they thought, ‘Now we’re in a secure location and the gods can’t do anything to us.’ And the gods also thought, ‘Now the demons are in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’

एवमेवं खो, भिक्खवे, यस्मिं समये भिक्खु विविच्चेव कामेहि विविच्च अकुसलेहि धम्मेहि सवितक्कं सविचारं विवेकजं पीतिसुखं पठमं झानं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति, तस्मिं, भिक्खवे, समये भिक्खुस्स एवं होति: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानाहं एतरहि अत्तना विहरामि अकरणीयो मारस्साऽति। मारस्सापि, भिक्खवे, पापिमतो एवं होति: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि भिक्खु एतरहि अत्तना विहरति अकरणीयो मय्हन्ऽति।

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhussa evaṁ hoti: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dānāhaṁ etarahi attanā viharāmi akaraṇīyo mārassā’ti. Mārassāpi, bhikkhave, pāpimato evaṁ hoti: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni bhikkhu etarahi attanā viharati akaraṇīyo mayhan’ti.

In the same way, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. At such a time the bhikkhu thinks, ‘Now I’m in a secure location and Māra can’t do anything to me.’ And Māra the Wicked also thinks, ‘Now the bhikkhu is in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’

यस्मिं, भिक्खवे, समये भिक्खु वितक्कविचारानं वूपसमा …पे… दुतियं झानं … ततियं झानं … चतुत्थं झानं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति, तस्मिं, भिक्खवे, समये भिक्खुस्स एवं होति: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानाहं एतरहि अत्तना विहरामि अकरणीयो मारस्साऽति। मारस्सापि, भिक्खवे, पापिमतो एवं होति: ‘भीरुत्तानगतेन खो दानि भिक्खु एतरहि अत्तना विहरति, अकरणीयो मय्हन्ऽति।

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ … tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhussa evaṁ hoti: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dānāhaṁ etarahi attanā viharāmi akaraṇīyo mārassā’ti. Mārassāpi, bhikkhave, pāpimato evaṁ hoti: ‘bhīruttānagatena kho dāni bhikkhu etarahi attanā viharati, akaraṇīyo mayhan’ti.

When, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a bhikkhu enters and remains in the second jhāna … third jhāna … fourth jhāna. At such a time the bhikkhu thinks, ‘Now I’m in a secure location and Māra can’t do anything to me.’ And Māra the Wicked also thinks, ‘Now the bhikkhu is in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’

यस्मिं, भिक्खवे, समये भिक्खु सब्बसो रूपसञ्ञानं समतिक्कमा पटिघसञ्ञानं अत्थङ्गमा नानत्तसञ्ञानं अमनसिकारा ‘अनन्तो आकासोऽति आकासानञ्चायतनं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति। अयं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, ‘भिक्खु अन्तमकासि मारं, अपदं वधित्वा मारचक्खुं अदस्सनं गतो पापिमतो तिण्णो लोके विसत्तिकन्ऽति।

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu antamakāsi māraṁ, apadaṁ vadhitvā māracakkhuṁ adassanaṁ gato pāpimato tiṇṇo loke visattikan’ti.

A bhikkhu, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. At such a time they are called a bhikkhu who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see.

यस्मिं, भिक्खवे, समये भिक्खु सब्बसो आकासानञ्चायतनं समतिक्कम्म ‘अनन्तं विञ्ञाणन्ऽति विञ्ञाणञ्चायतनं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति … सब्बसो विञ्ञाणञ्चायतनं समतिक्कम्म ‘नत्थि किञ्चीऽति आकिञ्चञ्ञायतनं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति … सब्बसो आकिञ्चञ्ञायतनं समतिक्कम्म नेवसञ्ञानासञ्ञायतनं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति …

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati … sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati … sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati …

A bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. … Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness. … Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. …

सब्बसो नेवसञ्ञानासञ्ञायतनं समतिक्कम्म सञ्ञावेदयितनिरोधं उपसम्पज्ज विहरति, पञ्ञाय चस्स दिस्वा आसवा परिक्खीणा होन्ति। अयं वुच्चति, भिक्खवे, ‘भिक्खु अन्तमकासि मारं, अपदं वधित्वा मारचक्खुं अदस्सनं गतो पापिमतो तिण्णो लोके विसत्तिकन्ऽ”ति।

sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati, paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ‘bhikkhu antamakāsi māraṁ, apadaṁ vadhitvā māracakkhuṁ adassanaṁ gato pāpimato tiṇṇo loke visattikan’”ti.

Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end. At such a time they are called a bhikkhu who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see. And they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.”

अट्ठमं।

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Next: नागसुत्त • Nāgasutta • The Simile of the Bull Elephant in the Forest

The authoritative text of the Aṅguttara Nikāya is the Pāli text. The English translation is provided as an aid to the study of the original Pāli text. [CREDITS »]

Footnotes:

1. samupabyūḷho → samupabbūḷho (bj, pts1ed)

2. devā → devā bhītā (pts1ed)

देवासुरसङ्गामसुत्त

Devāsurasaṅgāmasutta

The War Between the Gods and the Demons

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