Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.10

The Related Suttas Collection 11.10

1. Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Samuddakasutta

Seers by the Ocean

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhus, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Tena kho pana samayena devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tesaṁ isīnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ etadahosi: ‘dhammikā kho devā, adhammikā asurā. Siyāpi no asurato bhayaṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ sambaraṁ asurindaṁ upasaṅkamitvā abhayadakkhiṇaṁ yāceyyāmā’ti.

Then the seers thought, ‘The gods are principled, the demons are unprincipled. We may be at risk from the demons. Why don’t we approach Sambara, lord of demons, and beg him for a pledge of safety.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu antarahitā sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe pāturahesuṁ. Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, those seers vanished from those leaf huts on the ocean shore and reappeared in Sambara’s presence. Then those seers addressed Sambara in verse:

‘Isayo sambaraṁ pattā, yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ; Kāmaṅkaro hi te dātuṁ, bhayassa abhayassa vā’ti.

‘The seers have come to Sambara to beg for a pledge of safety. For you can give them what you wish, whether danger or safety.’

‘Isīnaṁ abhayaṁ natthi, duṭṭhānaṁ sakkasevinaṁ; Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ, bhayameva dadāmi vo’ti.

‘There is no safety for seers, the hated associates of Sakka! Though you beg me for your safety, I’ll only give you fear!’

‘Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ, bhayameva dadāsi no; Paṭiggaṇhāma te etaṁ, akkhayaṁ hotu te bhayaṁ.

‘Though we beg you for our safety, you give us only fear. This is what we get from you: may endless peril come to you!

Yādisaṁ vapate bījaṁ, tādisaṁ harate phalaṁ; Kalyāṇakārī kalyāṇaṁ, pāpakārī ca pāpakaṁ; Pavuttaṁ tāta te bījaṁ, phalaṁ paccanubhossasī’ti.

Whatever kind of seed you sow, that is the fruit you reap. A doer of good gets good, a doer of bad gets bad. You have sown your own seed, friend, now you’ll experience the fruit.’

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ abhisapitvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe antarahitā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu pāturahesuṁ.

Then those seers, having cursed Sambara, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Sambara’s presence and reappeared in those leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.

But after being cursed by the seers, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva, dhajaggaṁ vepacittino; Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva, kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ; Verocana asurindo, isayo araññakañceva; Isayo ca samuddakāti.