SN 11.10 Seers by the Ocean

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

At Sāvatthī.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, several seers who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts on the ocean shore.

Now at that time a battle was fought between the gods and the titans.

Then the seers thought,

‘The gods are principled, the titans are unprincipled.

We may be at risk from the titans.

Why don’t we approach Sambara, lord of titans, and beg him for a pledge of safety?’

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, those seers vanished from those leaf huts on the ocean shore and reappeared in Sambara’s presence.

Then those seers addressed Sambara in verse:

‘The seers have come to Sambara

to beg for a pledge of safety.

For you can give them what you wish,

whether danger or safety.’

‘There is no safety for seers,

the hated associates of Sakka!

Though you beg me for your safety,

I’ll only give you fear!’

‘Though we beg you for our safety,

you give us only fear.

This is what we get from you:

may endless peril come to you!

Whatever kind of seed you sow,

that is the fruit you reap.

A doer of good gets good,

a doer of bad gets bad.

You, my dear, have sown your own seed,

now you’ll experience the fruit.’

Then those seers, having cursed Sambara, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Sambara’s presence and reappeared in those leaf huts on the ocean shore.

But after being cursed by the seers, Sambara woke in alarm three times that night.”

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Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

Tena kho pana samayena devāsurasaṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, tesaṁ isīnaṁ sīlavantānaṁ kalyāṇadhammānaṁ etadahosi:

‘dhammikā kho devā, adhammikā asurā.

Siyāpi no asurato bhayaṁ.

Yannūna mayaṁ sambaraṁ asurindaṁ upasaṅkamitvā abhayadakkhiṇaṁ yāceyyāmā’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu antarahitā sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe pāturahesuṁ.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

‘Isayo sambaraṁ pattā,

yācanti abhayadakkhiṇaṁ;

Kāmaṅkaro hi te dātuṁ,

bhayassa abhayassa vā’ti.

‘Isīnaṁ abhayaṁ natthi,

duṭṭhānaṁ sakkasevinaṁ;

Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

bhayameva dadāmi vo’ti.

‘Abhayaṁ yācamānānaṁ,

bhayameva dadāsi no;

Paṭiggaṇhāma te etaṁ,

akkhayaṁ hotu te bhayaṁ.

Yādisaṁ vapate bījaṁ,

tādisaṁ harate phalaṁ;

Kalyāṇakārī kalyāṇaṁ,

pāpakārī ca pāpakaṁ;

Pavuttaṁ tāta te bījaṁ,

phalaṁ paccanubhossasī’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sambaraṁ asurindaṁ abhisapitvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—sambarassa asurindassa sammukhe antarahitā samuddatīre paṇṇakuṭīsu pāturahesuṁ.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sambaro asurindo tehi isīhi sīlavantehi kalyāṇadhammehi abhisapito rattiyā sudaṁ tikkhattuṁ ubbijjī”ti.

Paṭhamo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Suvīraṁ susīmañceva,

dhajaggaṁ vepacittino;

Subhāsitaṁ jayañceva,

kulāvakaṁ nadubbhiyaṁ;

Verocana asurindo,

isayo araññakañceva;

Isayo ca samuddakāti.