A deity engages the Buddha in verse on afraid, exploring a teaching on suffering, liberation, and the law of kamma.

SN 1.75 Afraid

“Kiṁsūdha bhītā janatā anekā,
Maggo canekāyatanappavutto;
Pucchāmi taṁ gotama bhūripañña,
Kismiṁ ṭhito paralokaṁ na bhāye”ti.

“Vācaṁ manañca paṇidhāya sammā,
Kāyena pāpāni akubbamāno;
Bahvannapānaṁ gharamāvasanto,
Saddho mudū saṁvibhāgī vadaññū;
Etesu dhammesu ṭhito catūsu,
Dhamme ṭhito paralokaṁ na bhāye”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kiṁsūdha bhītā janatā anekā,

“Why are so many people here afraid,

Maggo canekāyatanappavutto;

when the path has been taught with so many dimensions?

Pucchāmi taṁ gotama bhūripañña,

I ask you, Gotama, whose wisdom is vast:

Kismiṁ ṭhito paralokaṁ na bhāye”ti.

Standing on what need one not fear the next world?”

“Vācaṁ manañca paṇidhāya sammā,

“When speech and mind are directed right,

Kāyena pāpāni akubbamāno;

and you don’t do anything bad with the body

Bahvannapānaṁ gharamāvasanto,

while dwelling at home with plenty of food and drink.

Saddho mudū saṁvibhāgī vadaññū;

Faithful, gentle, charitable, and bountiful:

Etesu dhammesu ṭhito catūsu,

one who stands on these four principles,

Dhamme ṭhito paralokaṁ na bhāye”ti.

who stands on the teaching need not fear the next world.”