Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.100

Numbered Discourses 5.100

10. Kakudhavagga

10. With Kakudha

Kakudhatherasutta

With Kakudha

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena kakudho nāma koliyaputto āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa upaṭṭhāko adhunākālaṅkato aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno. Tassa evarūpo attabhāvapaṭilābho hoti—seyyathāpi nāma dve vā tīṇi vā māgadhakāni¹ gāmakkhettāni. So tena attabhāvapaṭilābhena neva attānaṁ² no paraṁ byābādheti.

At that time the Koliyan named Kakudha—Venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter—had recently passed away and been reborn in a certain host of mind-made gods. He was reincarnated in a life-form that was two or three times the size of a Magadhan village with its fields. But with that life-form he didn’t obstruct himself or others.

Atha kho kakudho devaputto yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kakudho devaputto āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca: “devadattassa, bhante, evarūpaṁ icchāgataṁ uppajji: ‘ahaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pariharissāmī’ti. Sahacittuppādā ca, bhante, devadatto tassā iddhiyā parihīno”ti.

Then the god Kakudha went up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “Sir, this fixed desire arose in Devadatta: ‘I shall lead the bhikkhu Saṅgha.’ And as that thought arose, Devadatta lost that psychic power.”

Idamavoca kakudho devaputto. Idaṁ vatvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

That’s what the god Kakudha said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled Mahāmoggallāna, keeping him on his right side, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Mahāmoggallāna went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Kakudho nāma, bhante, koliyaputto mamaṁ upaṭṭhāko adhunākālaṅkato aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno hoti. Tassa evarūpo attabhāvapaṭilābho—seyyathāpi nāma dve vā tīṇi vā māgadhakāni gāmakkhettāni. So tena attabhāvapaṭilābhena neva attānaṁ no paraṁ byābādheti. Atha kho, bhante, kakudho devaputto yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhante, kakudho devaputto maṁ etadavoca: ‘devadattassa, bhante, evarūpaṁ icchāgataṁ uppajji—ahaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pariharissāmīti. Sahacittuppādā ca, bhante, devadatto tassā iddhiyā parihīno’ti.

Idamavoca, bhante, kakudho devaputto. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

“Kiṁ pana te, moggallāna, kakudho devaputto cetasā ceto paricca vidito: ‘yaṁ kiñci kakudho devaputto bhāsati sabbaṁ taṁ tatheva hoti, no aññathā’”ti?

“But Moggallāna, did you comprehend the god Kakudha’s mind, and know that everything he says is correct and not otherwise?”

“Cetasā ceto paricca vidito me, bhante, kakudho devaputto: ‘yaṁ kiñci kakudho devaputto bhāsati sabbaṁ taṁ tatheva hoti, no aññathā’”ti.

“Indeed I did, sir.”

“Rakkhassetaṁ, moggallāna, vācaṁ. Rakkhassetaṁ, moggallāna, vācaṁ. Idāni so moghapuriso attanāva attānaṁ pātukarissati.

“Mark these words, Moggallāna! Mark these words! Now that silly man Devadatta will expose himself by his own deeds.

Pañcime, moggallāna, satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame pañca?

Moggallāna, there are these five teachers found in the world. What five?

Idha, moggallāna, ekacco satthā aparisuddhasīlo samāno ‘parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhasīlo samāno parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ³ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā sīlato rakkhanti; evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi sīlato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Firstly, some teacher with impure conduct claims: ‘I am pure in ethics. My ethical conduct is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ But their disciples know: ‘This teacher has impure ethical conduct, but claims to be ethically pure. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. A person will be recognized by their own deeds.’ The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s conduct, and the teacher expects them to do so.

Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhājīvo samāno ‘parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhājīvo samāno parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā ājīvato rakkhanti; evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi ājīvato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure livelihood claims: ‘I am pure in livelihood. My livelihood is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ But their disciples know: ‘This teacher has impure livelihood, but claims to have pure livelihood. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. A person will be recognized by their own deeds.’ The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s livelihood, and the teacher expects them to do so.

Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhadhammadesano samāno ‘parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhadhammadesano samāno parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā dhammadesanato rakkhanti; evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi dhammadesanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure teaching claims: ‘I am pure in teaching. My teaching is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ But their disciples know: ‘This teacher has impure teaching, but claims to have pure teaching. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. A person will be recognized by their own deeds.’ The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s teaching, and the teacher expects them to do so.

Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno ‘parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā veyyākaraṇato rakkhanti; evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi veyyākaraṇato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure answers claims: ‘I am pure in how I answer. My answers are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ But their disciples know: ‘This teacher has impure answers, but claims to have pure answers. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. A person will be recognized by their own deeds.’ The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s answers, and the teacher expects them to do so.

Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhañāṇadassano samāno ‘parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhañāṇadassano samāno parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā ñāṇadassanato rakkhanti; evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi ñāṇadassanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati. Ime kho, moggallāna, pañca satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure knowledge and vision claims: ‘I am pure in knowledge and vision. My knowledge and vision are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ But their disciples know: ‘This teacher has impure knowledge and vision, but claims to have pure knowledge and vision. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. A person will be recognized by their own deeds.’ The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s knowledge and vision, and the teacher expects them to do so. These are the five teachers found in the world.

Ahaṁ kho pana, moggallāna, parisuddhasīlo samāno ‘parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Na ca maṁ sāvakā sīlato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi sīlato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. Parisuddhājīvo samāno ‘parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. Na ca maṁ sāvakā ājīvato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi ājīvato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. Parisuddhadhammadesano samāno ‘parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. Na ca maṁ sāvakā dhammadesanato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi dhammadesanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. Parisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno ‘parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Na ca maṁ sāvakā veyyākaraṇato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi veyyākaraṇato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. Parisuddhañāṇadassano samāno ‘parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. Na ca maṁ sāvakā ñāṇadassanato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi ñāṇadassanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmī”ti.

But Moggallāna, I have pure ethical conduct, and I claim: ‘I am pure in ethical conduct. My ethical conduct is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ My disciples don’t cover up my conduct, and I don’t expect them to. I have pure livelihood, and I claim: ‘I am pure in livelihood. My livelihood is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ My disciples don’t cover up my livelihood, and I don’t expect them to. I have pure teaching, and I claim: ‘I am pure in teaching. My teaching is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ My disciples don’t cover up my teaching, and I don’t expect them to. I have pure answers, and I claim: ‘I am pure in how I answer. My answers are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ My disciples don’t cover up my answers, and I don’t expect them to. I have pure knowledge and vision, and I claim: ‘I am pure in knowledge and vision. My knowledge and vision are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ My disciples don’t cover up my knowledge and vision, and I don’t expect them to.”

Dasamaṁ.

Kakudhavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve sampadā byākaraṇaṁ, phāsu akuppapañcamaṁ; Sutaṁ kathā āraññako, sīho ca kakudho dasāti.

Dutiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.