• So It Was Said 89 Itivuttaka 89
  • The Book of the Threes Tikanipāta
  • Chapter Four Catutthavagga

About Devadatta Devadattasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

ā€œMendicants, overcome and overwhelmed by three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable. ā€œTÄ«hi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi abhibhÅ«to pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaį¹­į¹­ho atekiccho. What three? Katamehi tÄ«hi? Corrupt wishes … Pāpicchatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhÅ«to pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaį¹­į¹­ho atekiccho. Bad friendship … Pāpamittatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhÅ«to pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaį¹­į¹­ho atekiccho. When there is still more to be done, stopping half-way after achieving some trifling distinction. Sati kho pana uttarikaraṇīye oramattakena visesādhigamena antarā vosānaṁ āpādi. Overcome and overwhelmed by these three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.ā€ Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tÄ«hi asaddhammehi abhibhÅ«to pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaį¹­į¹­ho atekicchoā€ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

ā€œLet none of wicked desire ā€œMā jātu koci lokasmiṁ, ever be reborn into this world. pāpiccho udapajjatha; And by this too you should know Tadamināpi jānātha, the place where those of corrupt wishes go. pāpicchānaṁ yathā gati.

He once was considered astute, Paį¹‡įøitoti samaƱƱāto, deemed to be evolved, bhāvitattoti sammato; his glory stood forth like a flame, Jalaṁva yasasā aį¹­į¹­hā, the renowned Devadatta. devadattoti vissuto.

Seduced by heedlessness, So samānamanuciṇṇo, he attacked the Realized One. āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ; He has fallen to AvÄ«ci hell, AvÄ«cinirayaṁ patto, four-doored and terrifying. catudvāraṁ bhayānakaṁ.

When someone betrays the innocent, Aduṭṭhassa hi yo dubbhe, who have done no wrong, pāpakammaṁ akubbato; their bad deeds impact the one Tameva pāpaṁ phusati, with corrupt heart, lacking regard for others. duṭṭhacittaṁ anādaraṁ.

One might think to pollute Samuddaṁ visakumbhena, the ocean with a pot of poison, yo maƱƱeyya padÅ«situṁ; but it wouldn’t work, Na so tena padÅ«seyya, for the sea is terribly large. bhesmā hi udadhi mahā.

So too when someone attacks Evamevaṁ tathāgataṁ, with words the Realized One—yo vādena vihiṁsati; rightly comported, of peaceful mind—Sammaggataṁ santacittaṁ, the words don’t take. vādo tamhi na rÅ«hati.

The astute would befriend one like this, Tādisaṁ mittaṁ kubbetha, and follow them around. taƱca seveyya paį¹‡įøito; A mendicant who walks the path Yassa maggānugo bhikkhu, attains the ending of suffering.ā€ khayaṁ dukkhassa pāpuṇeā€ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Catuttho vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Vitakkāsakkārasadda, cavanaloke asubhaṁ; Dhammaandhakāramalaṁ, devadattena te dasāti.