• Linked Discourses 55.35 Saṁyutta Nikāya 55.35

4. Overflowing Merit 4. PuƱƱābhisandavagga

Footprints of the Gods (2nd) Dutiyadevapadasutta

ā€œMendicants, these four footprints of the gods are in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings. ā€œCattārimāni, bhikkhave, devānaṁ devapadāni avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya.

What four? Katamāni cattāri? Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha: Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hotiā€”ā€˜That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Then they reflect: So iti paį¹­isaƱcikkhati: ā€˜What now is the footprint of the gods?’ ā€˜kiṁ nu kho devānaṁ devapadan’ti? They understand: So evaṁ pajānāti: ā€˜I hear that these days the gods consider non-harming to be supreme. ā€˜abyābajjhaparame khvāhaṁ etarahi deve suṇāmi. But I don’t hurt any creature firm or frail. Na ca kho panāhaṁ kiƱci byābādhemi tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā. I definitely live in possession of a footprint of the gods.’ Addhāhaṁ devapadadhammasamannāgato viharāmī’ti. This is the first footprint of the gods in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings. Idaṁ paį¹­hamaṁ devānaṁ devapadaṁ avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya.

Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching … Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe… the Saį¹…gha … saį¹…ghe …pe….

Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sÄ«lehi samannāgato hoti akhaį¹‡įøehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi. Then they reflect: So iti paį¹­isaƱcikkhati: ā€˜What now is the footprint of the gods?’ ā€˜kiṁ nu kho devānaṁ devapadan’ti? They understand: So evaṁ pajānāti: ā€˜I hear that these days the gods consider non-harming to be supreme. ā€˜abyābajjhaparame khvāhaṁ etarahi deve suṇāmi. But I don’t hurt any creature firm or frail. Na kho panāhaṁ kiƱci byābādhemi tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā. I definitely live in possession of a footprint of the gods.’ Addhāhaṁ devapadadhammasamannāgato viharāmī’ti. This is the fourth footprint of the gods in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings. Idaṁ catutthaṁ devānaṁ devapadaṁ avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya. These four footprints of the gods are in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings.ā€ Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri devānaṁ devapadāni avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāyÄā€ti.