Long Discourses 20

The Great Congregation

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred bhikkhus, all of whom were perfected ones. And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.

Then four deities of the Pure Abodes, aware of what was happening, thought: “Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha. They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“There’s a great congregation in the woods, where heavenly hosts have assembled. We’ve come to this righteous congregation to see the invincible Saṅgha!”

Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“The bhikkhus there are immersed in samādhi, they’ve straightened their own minds. Like a charioteer holding the reins, the astute ones protect their senses.”

Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“They snapped the post and snapped the bar, unstirred, they tore out the boundary post. They live pure and immaculate, the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”

Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge won’t go to a plane of loss. After giving up this human body, they swell the hosts of gods.”

1. The Gathering of Deities

Then the Buddha said to the bhikkhus:

“Bhikkhus, most of the deities from ten solar systems have gathered to see the Realized One and the bhikkhu Saṅgha. The Buddhas of the past had, and the Buddhas of the future will have, gatherings of deities that are at most like the gathering for me now. I shall declare the names of the heavenly hosts; I shall extol the names of the heavenly hosts; I shall teach the names of the heavenly hosts. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

The Buddha said this:

“I invoke a paean of praise! Where the earth-gods dwell, there, in mountain caves, resolute and composed,

dwell many like lonely lions, who have mastered their fears. Their minds are bright and pure, clear and undisturbed.”

The teacher knew that over five hundred were in the wood at Kapilavatthu. Therefore he addressed the disciples who love the teaching:

“The heavenly hosts have come forth; bhikkhus, you should be aware of them.” Those monks grew keen, hearing the Buddha’s instruction.

Knowledge manifested in them, seeing those non-human beings. Some saw a hundred, a thousand, even seventy thousand,

while some saw a hundred thousand non-human beings. But some saw an endless number spread out in every direction.

And all that was known and distinguished by the Clear-eyed One. Therefore he addressed the disciples who love the teaching:

“The heavenly hosts have come forth; bhikkhus, you should be aware of them. I shall extol them for you, with lyrics in proper order.

There are seven thousand spirits, earth-gods of Kapilavatthu. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

From the Himalayas there are six thousand spirits of different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

From Mount Sātā there are three thousand spirits of different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

And thus there are sixteen thousand spirits of different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

From Vessāmitta’s mountain there are five hundred spirits of different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

And there’s Kumbhīra of Rājagaha, whose home is on Mount Vepulla. Attended by more than a hundred thousand spirits, Kumbhīra of Rājagaha also came to the meeting in the wood.

King Dhataraṭṭha rules the eastern quarter. Lord of the centaurs, he’s a great king, glorious.

And he has many mighty sons all of them named Indra. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

King Virūḷhaka rules the southern quarter. Lord of the goblins, he’s a great king, glorious.

And he has many mighty sons all of them named Indra. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

King Virūpakkha rules the western quarter. Lord of the dragons, he’s a great king, glorious.

And he has many mighty sons all of them named Indra. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

King Kuvera rules the northern quarter. Lord of spirits, he’s a great king, glorious.

And he has many mighty sons all of them named Indra. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

Dhataraṭṭha in the east, Virūḷhaka to the south, Virūpakkha to the west, and Kuvera in the north.

These Four Great Kings, all around in the four quarters, stood there dazzling in the wood at Kapilavatthu.

Their deceitful bondservants came, so treacherous and crafty—the deceivers Kuṭeṇḍu, Viṭeṇḍu, with Viṭucca and Viṭuḍa.

And Candana and Kāmaseṭṭha, Kinnughaṇḍu and Nighaṇḍu, Panāda and Opamañña, and Mātali, the god’s charioteer.

Cittasena the centaur came too, and the kings Nala and Janesabha. Pañcasikha came too, with Timbaru and Suriyavaccasā.

These and other kings there were, the centaurs with their kings. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

Then came the dragons of Nābhasa lake, and those from Vesālī with those from Takkasilā. The Kambalas and Assataras came and those from Payāga with their kin.

Those from Yamunā, and the Dhataraṭṭha dragons came, so glorious. And Erāvaṇa the great dragon also came to the meeting in the wood.

Those who seize the dragon kings by force—divine, twice-born birds with piercing vision—swoop down to the wood from the sky; their name is ‘Rainbow Phoenix’.

But the dragon kings remained fearless, for the Buddha kept them safe from the phoenixes. Introducing each other with gentle words, the dragons and phoenixes took the Buddha as refuge.

Defeated by Vajirahattha, the demons live in the ocean. They’re brothers of Vāsava, powerful and glorious.

There’s the terrifying Kālakañjas, the Dānava and Ghasa demons, Vepacitti and Sucitti, Pahārāda with Namuci,

and Bali’s hundred sons, all named after Virocana. Bali’s army armed themselves and went to the auspicious Rāhu, saying: ‘Now is the time, sir, for the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.’

The gods of Water and Earth, and Fire and Wind came there. The gods of Varuṇa and Varuṇa’s offsping, and Soma together with Yasa.

A host of the gods of Love and Compassion came, so glorious. These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors.

They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

The Vishnu and Sahalī gods, and the unequaled pair of Twins. The gods living on the moon came, with the Moon before them.

The gods living on the sun came, with the Sun before them. And with the stars before them came the languid gods of clouds.

And Vāsava came, the greatest of the Vasus, who is Sakka, known as Purindada. These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors.

They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

Then came the Sahabhū gods, blazing like a crested flame; and the Ariṭṭhakas and Rojas too, and the gods hued blue as flax.

The Varuṇas and Sahadhammas, the Accutas and Anejakas, the Sūleyyas and Ruciras all came, as did the Vāsavanesi gods. These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors.

They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

The Samānas, Mahāsamānas, Mānusas, and Mānusuttamas all came, and the gods depraved by play, and those who are malevolent.

Then came the gods of Mercury, and the those who live on Mars. The Pāragas and Mahāpāragas came, such glorious gods. These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors.

They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

The gods of Venus, the newborn sun, and the Dawn came along with those from Saturn. And the gods of the White Globe came leading the Brilliant Gods.

The Sadāmattas and Hāragajas, and assorted glorious ones; Pajjuna came thundering, he who rains on all quarters.

These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

The Khemiyas from the realms of Tusita and Yama, and the glorious Kaṭṭhakas came; the Lambītakas, Lāmaseṭṭhas, those called the Shining, and the gods of Granted Wishes. The Gods Who Love to Create came too, and those who delight in the Creations of Others.

These ten hosts of gods shone in all different colors. They’re powerful and brilliant, so beautiful and glorious. Rejoicing, they’ve come forth to the meeting of bhikkhus in the wood.

These sixty hosts of gods shone in all different colors. They came organized by name, these and others likewise, thinking:

‘We shall see those rid of rebirth, kind, the undefiled ones who have crossed the flood, and the dragon who brought them across, who like the Moon has overcome darkness.’

Subrahmā and Paramatta came, with sons of those powerful ones. Sanaṅkumāra and Tissa also came to the meeting in the wood.

Of a thousand Brahmā realms, the Great Brahmā stands forth. He has arisen, resplendent, his formidable body so glorious.

Ten Gods Almighty came there, each one of them wielding power, and in the middle of them came Hārita with his following.”

When they had all come forth—the gods with their Lord, and the Brahmās—Māra’s army came forth too: see the stupidity of the Dark Lord!

“Come, seize them and bind them,” he said, “let them be bound by desire! Surround them on all sides, don’t let any escape!”

And so there the great general sent forth his dark army. He struck the ground with his fist to make a horrifying sound

like a storm cloud shedding rain, thundering and flashing. But then he retreated, furious, out of control.

And all that was known and distinguished by the Clear-eyed One. Thereupon the Teacher addressed the disciples who love the teaching:

“Māra’s army has arrived; bhikkhus, you should be aware of them.” Those monks grew keen, hearing the Buddha’s instruction. The army fled from those free of passion, and not a single hair was stirred!

“All triumphant in battle, so fearless and glorious. They rejoice with all the spirits, the disciples well-known among men.”