Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.38

The Related Suttas Collection 1.38

4. Satullapakāyikavagga

4. The Satullapa Group

Sakalikasutta

A Splinter

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati maddakucchismiṁ migadāye.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavato pādo sakalikāya¹ khato hoti. Bhusā sudaṁ bhagavato vedanā vattanti sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā² kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā; tā sudaṁ bhagavā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno. Atha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpetvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno.

Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a splinter. The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable. But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness. And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware.

Atha kho sattasatā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ maddakucchiṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Then, late at night, seven hundred glorious deities of the Satullapa Group, lighting up the entire Maddakucchi, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “nāgo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; nāgavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is such an elephant, sir! And as an elephant, he endures painful physical feelings that have come up—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable—unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “sīho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; sīhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is such a lion, sir! And as a lion, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “ājānīyo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; ājānīyavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is such a thoroughbred, sir! And as a thoroughbred, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “nisabho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; nisabhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is such a chief bull, sir! And as a chief bull, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “dhorayho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; dhorayhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is such a behemoth, sir! And as a behemoth, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “danto vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; dantavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “The ascetic Gotama is truly tamed, sir! And as someone tamed, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “passa samādhiṁ subhāvitaṁ cittañca suvimuttaṁ, na cābhinataṁ na cāpanataṁ na ca sasaṅkhāraniggayhavāritagataṁ. Yo evarūpaṁ purisanāgaṁ purisasīhaṁ purisaājānīyaṁ purisanisabhaṁ purisadhorayhaṁ purisadantaṁ atikkamitabbaṁ maññeyya kimaññatra adassanā”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: “See, his immersion is so well developed, and his mind is so well freed—not leaning forward or pulling back, and not held in place by forceful suppression. If anyone imagines that they can overcome such an elephant of a man, a lion of a man, a thoroughbred of a man, a chief bull of a man, a behemoth of a man, a tamed man—what is that but a failure to see?”

“Pañcavedā sataṁ samaṁ, Tapassī brāhmaṇā caraṁ; Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ, Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

“Learned in the five Vedas, brahmins practice mortification for a full century. But their minds are not properly freed, for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore.

Taṇhādhipannā vatasīlabaddhā, Lūkhaṁ tapaṁ vassasataṁ carantā; Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ, Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

Seized by craving, attached to precepts and observances, they practice rough mortification for a hundred years. But their minds are not properly freed, for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore.

Na mānakāmassa damo idhatthi, Na monamatthi asamāhitassa; Eko araññe viharaṁ pamatto, Na maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.

Someone who’s fond of conceit can’t be tamed, and someone without immersion can’t be a sage. Living negligent alone in the wilderness, they can’t pass beyond Death’s domain.”

“Mānaṁ pahāya susamāhitatto, Sucetaso sabbadhi vippamutto; Eko araññe viharamappamatto, Sa maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.

“Having given up conceit, serene within oneself, with a healthy heart, everywhere free; living diligent alone in the wilderness, they pass beyond Death’s domain.”