SN 10.5 With Sānu

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarissā upāsikāya sānu nāma putto yakkhena gahito hoti.

Now at that time a certain lay woman had a son named Sānu who had been seized by a native spirit.

Atha kho sā upāsikā paridevamānā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

And as that lay woman wept, on that occasion she recited these verses:

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,

“I have heard this from the perfected ones.

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;

The native spirits will not mess with anyone

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,

who leads the spiritual life

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ.

by observing the sabbath

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,

complete in all eight factors

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye;

on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,

and the eighth day of the fortnight,

iti me arahataṁ sutaṁ;

as well as on the fortnight of special displays.

Sā dāni ajja passāmi,

But now today I see

yakkhā kīḷanti sānunā”ti.

native spirits messing with Sānu.”

“Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiṁ,

“What you heard from the perfected ones is right.

yā ca pakkhassa aṭṭhamī;

The native spirits will not mess with anyone

Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca,

who leads the spiritual life

aṭṭhaṅgasusamāgataṁ;

by observing the sabbath

Uposathaṁ upavasanti,

complete in all eight factors

brahmacariyaṁ caranti ye.

on the fourteenth and the fifteenth days,

Na tehi yakkhā kīḷanti,

and the eighth day of the fortnight,

sāhu te arahataṁ sutaṁ;

as well as on the fortnight of special displays.

Sānuṁ pabuddhaṁ vajjāsi,

When Sānu regains consciousness tell him

yakkhānaṁ vacanaṁ idaṁ;

this saying of the native spirits:

Mākāsi pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

Don’t do bad deeds

āvi vā yadi vā raho.

either openly or in secret.

Sace ca pāpakaṁ kammaṁ,

If you should do a bad deed,

karissasi karosi vā;

or you’re doing one now,

Na te dukkhā pamutyatthi,

you won’t be freed from suffering,

uppaccāpi palāyato”ti.

though you fly away and flee.”

“Mataṁ vā amma rodanti,

“Mum, they cry for the dead,

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;

or for one who’s alive but missing.

Jīvantaṁ amma passantī,

I’m alive and you can see me,

kasmā maṁ amma rodasī”ti.

so mum, why do you weep for me?”

“Mataṁ vā putta rodanti,

“Son, they cry for the dead,

yo vā jīvaṁ na dissati;

or for one who’s alive but missing.

Yo ca kāme cajitvāna,

But someone who has given up sensual pleasures

punarāgacchate idha;

only to come back here again:

Taṁ vāpi putta rodanti,

they cry for them as well,

puna jīvaṁ mato hi so.

for though still alive they’re really dead.

Kukkuḷā ubbhato tāta,

My dear, you’ve been rescued from hot coals,

kukkuḷaṁ patitumicchasi;

and you want to plunge right back in them!

Narakā ubbhato tāta,

My dear, you’ve been rescued from the abyss,

narakaṁ patitumicchasi.

and you want to plunge right back there!

Abhidhāvatha bhaddante,

Hurry up, good luck to you!

kassa ujjhāpayāmase;

To whom should we complain?

Ādittā nīhataṁ bhaṇḍaṁ,

A valuable saved from a fire,

puna ḍayhitumicchasī”ti.

you want to burn again!”