A God Devatāsutta

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him: Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant. “chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. What six? Katame cha? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training; being easy to admonish, and good friendship. Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, sovacassatā, kalyāṇamittatā—These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.” ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

That’s what that deity said, Idamavoca sā devatā. and the teacher approved. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Then that deity, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there. Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Tonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: “imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant. ‘chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. What six? Katame cha? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training; being easy to admonish, and good friendship. Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, sovacassatā, kalyāṇamittatā—These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.’ ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

That is what that deity said. Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.” Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha: Evaṁ vutte āyasmā sāriputto bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā etadavoca:

“Sir, this is how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement. “imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. It’s when a mendicant personally respects the Teacher and praises such respect. Idha, bhante, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. And they encourage other mendicants who lack such respect to respect the Teacher. Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti. And they praise other mendicants who respect the Teacher at the right time, truthfully and correctly. Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. They personally respect the teaching … Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti … They personally respect the Saṅgha … saṅghagāravo hoti … They personally respect the training … sikkhāgāravo hoti … They are personally easy to admonish … suvaco hoti … They personally have good friends, and praise such friendship. kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. And they encourage other mendicants who lack good friends to develop good friendship. Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti. And they praise other mendicants who have good friends at the right time, truthfully and correctly. Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. That’s how I understand the detailed meaning of the Buddha’s brief statement.” Imassa kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmī”ti.

“Good, good, Sāriputta! “Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta. It’s good that you understand the detailed meaning of what I’ve said in brief like this. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, imassa mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāsi.

It’s when a mendicant personally respects the Teacher … Idha, sāriputta, bhikkhu attanā ca satthugāravo hoti satthugāravatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. Ye caññe bhikkhū na satthugāravā te ca satthugāravatāya samādapeti. Ye caññe bhikkhū satthugāravā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. They personally respect the teaching … Attanā ca dhammagāravo hoti … They personally respect the Saṅgha … saṅghagāravo hoti … They personally respect the training … sikkhāgāravo hoti … They are personally easy to admonish … suvaco hoti … They personally have good friends, and praise such friendship. kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇamittatāya ca vaṇṇavādī. And they encourage other mendicants who lack good friends to develop good friendship. Ye caññe bhikkhū na kalyāṇamittā te ca kalyāṇamittatāya samādapeti. And they praise other mendicants who have good friends at the right time, truthfully and correctly. Ye caññe bhikkhū kalyāṇamittā tesañca vaṇṇaṁ bhaṇati bhūtaṁ tacchaṁ kālena. This is how to understand the detailed meaning of what I said in brief.” Imassa kho, sāriputta, mayā saṅkhittena bhāsitassa evaṁ vitthārena attho daṭṭhabbo”ti.