Āḷavaka the Native Spirit · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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thusEvaṁ
by meme
heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ
timesamayaṁ
the Buddhabhagavā
near Āḷavīāḷaviyaṁ
apart·dwellviharati
of Āḷavakaāḷavakassa
of the native spirityakkhassa
in the hauntbhavane.
thenAtha
indeedkho
Āḷavakaāḷavako
the native spirityakkho
whereyena
the Buddhabhagavā
approached himtenupasaṅkami;
up to·goupasaṅkamitvā
to the Buddhabhagavantaṁ
this·sayetadavoca:
get out“nikkhama,
asceticsamaṇā”ti.
all right, respectable sir“Sādhāvuso”ti
the Buddhabhagavā
went outnikkhami.
get in“Pavisa,
asceticsamaṇā”ti.
all right, respectable sir“Sādhāvuso”ti
the Buddhabhagavā
went inpāvisi.
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī in the haunt of the native spirit Āḷavaka. Then the native spirit Āḷavaka went up to the Buddha, and said to him: “Get out, ascetic!” Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went out. “Get in, ascetic!” Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went in.
second + alsoDutiyampi
indeedkho
…pe……pe…
third + alsotatiyampi
indeedkho
Āḷavakaāḷavako
native spirityakkho
to the Buddhabhagavantaṁ
this + saidetadavoca:
get out“nikkhama,
asceticsamaṇā”ti.
all right, respectable sir“Sādhāvuso”ti
the Buddhabhagavā
went outnikkhami.
get in“Pavisa,
asceticsamaṇā”ti.
all right, respectable sir“Sādhāvuso”ti
the Buddhabhagavā
went inpāvisi.
For a second time … And for a third time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, “Get out, ascetic!” Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went out. “Get in, ascetic!” Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went in.
for a fourth time alsoCatutthampi
indeedkho
Āḷavakaāḷavako
native spirityakkho
to the Buddhabhagavantaṁ
said thisetadavoca:
go out“nikkhama,
asceticsamaṇā”ti.
no“Na
I indeedkhvāhaṁ
ittaṁ,
respectable sirāvuso,
I will go outnikkhamissāmi.
whateverYaṁ
for youte
is to be donekaraṇīyaṁ,
thattaṁ
dokarohī”ti.
And for a fourth time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, “Get out, ascetic!” “No, respectable sir, I won’t get out. Do what you must.”
a question“Pañhaṁ
thattaṁ,
asceticsamaṇa,
I will askpucchissāmi.
ifSace
meme
notna
you will answerbyākarissasi,
mindcittaṁ
orvā
yourte
I will drivekhipissāmi,
hearthadayaṁ
orvā
yourte
I will explodephālessāmi,
by the feetpādesu
orvā
having grabbedgahetvā
to the far shore of the Gangespāragaṅgāya
throw + quotation markerkhipissāmī”ti.
“I will ask you a question, ascetic. If you don’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane, or explode your heart, or grab you by the feet and throw you to the far shore of the Ganges!”
not“Na
indeed·indeed + Ikhvāhaṁ
thattaṁ,
friendāvuso,
I seepassāmi
with·godssadevake
in the worldloke
with·Mārassamārake
with·divinitiessabrahmake
with·ascetics and brahminssassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā
populationpajāya
with·gods and humanssadevamanussāya
whoyo
myme
mindcittaṁ
orvā
might disturbkhipeyya
hearthadayaṁ
orvā
might splitphāleyya
by the feetpādesu
orvā
having seizedgahetvā
across·Gangespāragaṅgāya
might throwkhipeyya.
butApi
anywayca
youtvaṁ,
friendāvuso,
askpuccha
whatever you wishyadākaṅkhasī”ti.
thenAtha
indeedkho
Āḷavakaāḷavako
native spirityakkho
the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ
in versegāthāya
addressedajjhabhāsi:
“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me. But anyway, ask what you wish.” Then the native spirit Āḷavaka addressed the Buddha in verse:
what“Kiṁ
indeed·thensūdha
wealthvittaṁ
of a personpurisassa
bestseṭṭhaṁ,
whatKiṁ
indeedsu
well·practicedsuciṇṇaṁ
brings happinesssukhamāvahāti;
whatKiṁ
indeedsu
trulyhave
sweetersādutaraṁ
of tastesrasānaṁ,
how·livingKathaṁjīviṁ
life·they sayjīvitamāhu
bestseṭṭhaṁ”.
“What’s a person’s best wealth? What brings happiness when practiced well? What’s the sweetest taste of all? The one they say has the best life: how do they live?”
faith here“Saddhīdha
wealthvittaṁ
of a personpurisassa
bestseṭṭhaṁ,
the teachingDhammo
practiced wellsuciṇṇo
happiness + bringssukhamāvahāti;
truthSaccaṁ
indeedhave
sweet·moresādutaraṁ
of tastesrasānaṁ,
wisdom·livingPaññājīviṁ
life + they sayjīvitamāhu
bestseṭṭhaṁ”.
“Faith here is a person’s best wealth. The teaching brings happiness when practiced well. Truth is the sweetest taste of all. The one they say has the best life lives by wisdom.”
how?“Kathaṁ
indeedsu
does one crosstarati
the floodoghaṁ,
how?kathaṁ
indeedsu
does one crosstarati
the delugeaṇṇavaṁ;
how?Kathaṁ
indeedsu
suffering·get overdukkhamacceti,
how?kathaṁ
indeedsu
thoroughly·purifyparisujjhati”.
“How do you cross the flood? How do you cross the deluge? How do you get over suffering? How do you get purified?”
by faith“Saddhāya
you crosstarati
the floodoghaṁ,
by diligenceappamādena
the delugeaṇṇavaṁ;
by energyVīriyena
suffering·get pastdukkhamacceti,
by wisdompaññāya
completely·purifyparisujjhati”.
“By faith you cross the flood, and by diligence the deluge. By energy you get past suffering, and you’re purified by wisdom.”
how“Kathaṁ
indeedsu
obtainslabhate
wisdompaññaṁ,
howkathaṁ
indeedsu
earnsvindate
wealthdhanaṁ;
howKathaṁ
indeedsu
reputationkittiṁ
getspappoti,
howkathaṁ
friendsmittāni
holds on toganthati;
from thisAsmā
worldlokā
nextparaṁ
worldlokaṁ,
howkathaṁ
having passed onpecca
notna
grievessocati”.
“How do you get wisdom? How do you earn wealth? How do you get a good reputation? How do you hold on to friends? How do the departed not grieve when passing from this world to the next?”
having faith“Saddahāno
in the perfected onesarahataṁ,
the teachingdhammaṁ
for becoming extinguishednibbānapattiyā;
wanting to learnSussūsaṁ
gainslabhate
wisdompaññaṁ,
diligentappamatto
discerningvicakkhaṇo.
“One who is diligent and discerning gains wisdom by wanting to learn, having faith in the perfected ones, and the teaching for becoming extinguished.
towards·form·doingPatirūpakārī
responsibledhuravā,
working harduṭṭhātā
you earnvindate
wealthdhanaṁ;
by truthfulnessSaccena
good reputationkittiṁ
you winpappoti,
by givingdadaṁ
friendsmittāni
you hold on toganthati.
Being responsible, acting appropriately, and working hard you earn wealth. Truthfulness wins you a good reputation. You hold on to friends by giving.
who + theseYassete
fourcaturo
qualitiesdhammā,
of the faithfulsaddhassa
of the householdergharamesino;
truthSaccaṁ
principledhammo
steadfastnessdhiti
generositycāgo,
hesa
indeedve
having passed awaypecca
notna
grievessocati.
A faithful householder of discernment who possesses these four qualities does not grieve after passing away: truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity.
go aheadIṅgha
other·as wellaññepi
askpucchassu,
manyputhū
ascetics and brahminssamaṇabrāhmaṇe;
whetherYadi
than truthsaccā
than principledamā
than generositycāgā,
than patiencekhantyā
better·anythingbhiyyodha
is foundvijjati”.
Go ahead, ask others as well, there are many ascetics and brahmins. See whether anything better is found than truth, principle, generosity, and patience.”
how“Kathaṁ
nownu
nowdāni
I would askpuccheyyaṁ,
manyPuthū
ascetics and brahminssamaṇabrāhmaṇe;
what + IYohaṁ
todayajja
I understandpajānāmi,
whatYo
goodattho
for lives to comesamparāyiko.
“Why now would I question the many ascetics and brahmins? Today I understand what’s good for lives to come.
for the benefitAtthāya
trulyvata
myme
the Buddhabuddho,
to Āḷavī for residence·cameVāsāyāḷavimāgamā;
who + IYohaṁ
todayajja
forth·knowpajānāmi,
whereYattha
a giftdinnaṁ
great + fruitmahapphalaṁ.
It was truly for my benefit that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī. Today I understand where a gift is very fruitful.
heSo
Iahaṁ
around·wandervicarissāmi,
from villageGāmā
to villagegāmaṁ
from townpurā
to townpuraṁ;
paying homageNamassamāno
fully·awakenedsambuddhaṁ,
of the teachingDhammassa
andca
clear·rightnesssudhammatan”ti.
the Āḷavaka SuttaĀḷavakasuttaṁ
tenthdasamaṁ.
I myself will journey village to village, town to town, paying homage to the Buddha, and the clear rightness of the teaching!”
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