Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati āḷavakassa yakkhassa bhavane.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī in the haunt of the native spirit Āḷavaka.
Atha kho āḷavako yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then the native spirit Āḷavaka went up to the Buddha, and said to him:
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Get out, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Get in, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went in.
Dutiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And for a second time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Get out, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Get in, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went in.
Tatiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And for a third time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Get out, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Get in, ascetic!”
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Saying, “All right, respectable sir,” the Buddha went in.
Catutthampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And for a fourth time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Get out, ascetic!”
“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, nikkhamissāmi.
“No, respectable sir, I won’t get out.
Yaṁ te karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī”ti.
Do what you must.”
“Pañhaṁ taṁ, samaṇa, pucchissāmi.
“I will ask you a question, ascetic.
Sace me na byākarissasi, cittaṁ vā te khipissāmi, hadayaṁ vā te phālessāmi, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipissāmī”ti.
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!”
“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo me cittaṁ vā khipeyya hadayaṁ vā phāleyya, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipeyya.
“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.
Api ca tvaṁ, āvuso, puccha yadā kaṅkhasī”ti (…).
But anyway, ask what you wish.”
“Kiṁsūdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,
“What’s a person’s best wealth?
Kiṁsu suciṇṇaṁ sukhamāvahāti;
What brings happiness when practiced well?
Kiṁsu have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,
What’s the sweetest taste of all?
Kathaṁjīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhan”ti.
The one they say has the best life: how do they live?”
“Saddhīdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,
“Faith here is a person’s best wealth.
Dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahāti;
The teaching brings happiness when practiced well.
Saccaṁ have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,
Truth is the sweetest taste of all.
Paññājīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhan”ti.
The one they say has the best life lives by wisdom.”
“Kathaṁsu tarati oghaṁ,
“How do you cross the flood?
kathaṁsu tarati aṇṇavaṁ;
How do you cross the deluge?
Kathaṁsu dukkhamacceti,
How do you get over suffering?
kathaṁsu parisujjhatī”ti.
How do you get purified?”
“Saddhāya tarati oghaṁ,
“By faith you cross the flood,
appamādena aṇṇavaṁ;
and by diligence the deluge.
Vīriyena dukkhamacceti,
By energy you get past suffering,
paññāya parisujjhatī”ti.
and you’re purified by wisdom.”
“Kathaṁsu labhate paññaṁ,
“How do you get wisdom?
kathaṁsu vindate dhanaṁ;
How do you earn wealth?
Kathaṁsu kittiṁ pappoti,
How do you get a good reputation?
kathaṁ mittāni ganthati;
How do you hold on to friends?
Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ,
How do the departed not grieve
kathaṁ pecca na socatī”ti.
when passing from this world to the next?”
“Saddahāno arahataṁ,
“One who is diligent and discerning
dhammaṁ nibbānapattiyā;
gains wisdom by wanting to learn,
Sussūsaṁ labhate paññaṁ,
having faith in the perfected ones,
appamatto vicakkhaṇo.
and the teaching for becoming extinguished.
Patirūpakārī dhuravā,
Being responsible, acting appropriately,
uṭṭhātā vindate dhanaṁ;
and working hard you earn wealth.
Saccena kittiṁ pappoti,
Truthfulness wins you a good reputation.
dadaṁ mittāni ganthati;
You hold on to friends by giving.
Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ,
That’s how the departed do not grieve
evaṁ pecca na socati.
when passing from this world to the next.
Yassete caturo dhammā,
A faithful householder of discernment
saddhassa gharamesino;
who possesses these four qualities
Saccaṁ dhammo dhiti cāgo,
does not grieve after passing away:
sa ve pecca na socati.
truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity.
Iṅgha aññepi pucchassu,
Go ahead, ask others as well,
puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;
there are many ascetics and brahmins.
Yadi saccā dhammā cāgā,
See whether anything better is found
khantyā bhiyyodha vijjatī”ti.
than truth, principle, generosity, and patience.”
“Kathaṁ nu dāni puccheyyaṁ,
“Why now would I question
puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;
the many ascetics and brahmins?
Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,
Today I understand
yo attho samparāyiko.
what’s good for the next life.
Atthāya vata me buddho,
It was truly for my benefit
vāsāyāḷavimāgamā;
that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī.
Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,
Today I understand
yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.
where a gift is very fruitful.
So ahaṁ vicarissāmi,
I myself will journey
Gāmā gāmaṁ purā puraṁ;
village to village, town to town,
Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ,
paying homage to the Buddha,
Dhammassa ca sudhammatan”ti.
and the clear rightness of the teaching!”
Indakavaggo paṭhamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Indako sakka sūci ca,
Maṇibhaddo ca sānu ca;
Piyaṅkara punabbasu sudatto ca,
Dve sukkā cīraāḷavīti dvādasa.
Yakkhasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.
The Linked Discourses with Native Spirits are complete.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
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.
And for a second 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.
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.
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.”
“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!”
“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.”
“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 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 do you cross the flood?
How do you cross the deluge?
How do you get over suffering?
How do you get purified?”
“By faith you cross the flood,
and by diligence the deluge.
By energy you get past suffering,
and you’re purified by wisdom.”
“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?”
“One who is diligent and discerning
gains wisdom by wanting to learn,
having faith in the perfected ones,
and the teaching for becoming extinguished.
Being responsible, acting appropriately,
and working hard you earn wealth.
Truthfulness wins you a good reputation.
You hold on to friends by giving.
That’s how the departed do not grieve
when passing from this world to the next.
A faithful householder of discernment
who possesses these four qualities
does not grieve after passing away:
truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity.
Go ahead, ask others as well,
there are many ascetics and brahmins.
See whether anything better is found
than truth, principle, generosity, and patience.”
“Why now would I question
the many ascetics and brahmins?
Today I understand
what’s good for the next life.
It was truly for my benefit
that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī.
Today I understand
where a gift is very fruitful.
I myself will journey
village to village, town to town,
paying homage to the Buddha,
and the clear rightness of the teaching!”
The Linked Discourses with Native Spirits are complete.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati āḷavakassa yakkhassa bhavane.
Atha kho āḷavako yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Dutiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Tatiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami.
“Pavisa, samaṇā”ti.
“Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.
Catutthampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“nikkhama, samaṇā”ti.
“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, nikkhamissāmi.
Yaṁ te karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī”ti.
“Pañhaṁ taṁ, samaṇa, pucchissāmi.
Sace me na byākarissasi, cittaṁ vā te khipissāmi, hadayaṁ vā te phālessāmi, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipissāmī”ti.
“Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo me cittaṁ vā khipeyya hadayaṁ vā phāleyya, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipeyya.
Api ca tvaṁ, āvuso, puccha yadā kaṅkhasī”ti (…).
“Kiṁsūdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,
Kiṁsu suciṇṇaṁ sukhamāvahāti;
Kiṁsu have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,
Kathaṁjīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhan”ti.
“Saddhīdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ,
Dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahāti;
Saccaṁ have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ,
Paññājīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhan”ti.
“Kathaṁsu tarati oghaṁ,
kathaṁsu tarati aṇṇavaṁ;
Kathaṁsu dukkhamacceti,
kathaṁsu parisujjhatī”ti.
“Saddhāya tarati oghaṁ,
appamādena aṇṇavaṁ;
Vīriyena dukkhamacceti,
paññāya parisujjhatī”ti.
“Kathaṁsu labhate paññaṁ,
kathaṁsu vindate dhanaṁ;
Kathaṁsu kittiṁ pappoti,
kathaṁ mittāni ganthati;
Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ,
kathaṁ pecca na socatī”ti.
“Saddahāno arahataṁ,
dhammaṁ nibbānapattiyā;
Sussūsaṁ labhate paññaṁ,
appamatto vicakkhaṇo.
Patirūpakārī dhuravā,
uṭṭhātā vindate dhanaṁ;
Saccena kittiṁ pappoti,
dadaṁ mittāni ganthati;
Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ,
evaṁ pecca na socati.
Yassete caturo dhammā,
saddhassa gharamesino;
Saccaṁ dhammo dhiti cāgo,
sa ve pecca na socati.
Iṅgha aññepi pucchassu,
puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;
Yadi saccā dhammā cāgā,
khantyā bhiyyodha vijjatī”ti.
“Kathaṁ nu dāni puccheyyaṁ,
puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe;
Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,
yo attho samparāyiko.
Atthāya vata me buddho,
vāsāyāḷavimāgamā;
Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi,
yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.
So ahaṁ vicarissāmi,
Gāmā gāmaṁ purā puraṁ;
Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ,
Dhammassa ca sudhammatan”ti.
Indakavaggo paṭhamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Indako sakka sūci ca,
Maṇibhaddo ca sānu ca;
Piyaṅkara punabbasu sudatto ca,
Dve sukkā cīraāḷavīti dvādasa.
Yakkhasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.