The young deity Ghaṭīkāra recites verses celebrating mendicants reborn in the Aviha realm after ending greed and hate, and the Buddha asks who has crossed Death's dominion, leading to dialogue on those perfected in past births.

SN 2.18 With Kakudha

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sākete viharati añjanavane migadāye.

Atha kho kakudho devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ añjanavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kakudho devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “nandasi, samaṇā”ti?

“Kiṁ laddhā, āvuso”ti?

“Tena hi, samaṇa, socasī”ti?

“Kiṁ jīyittha, āvuso”ti?

“Tena hi, samaṇa, neva nandasi na ca socasī”ti?

“Evamāvuso”ti.

“Kacci tvaṁ anagho bhikkhu,
kacci nandī na vijjati;
Kacci taṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,
aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

“Anagho ve ahaṁ yakkha,
atho nandī na vijjati;
Atho maṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,
aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

“Kathaṁ tvaṁ anagho bhikkhu,
kathaṁ nandī na vijjati;
Kathaṁ taṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,
aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

“Aghajātassa ve nandī,
nandījātassa ve aghaṁ;
Anandī anagho bhikkhu,
evaṁ jānāhi āvuso”ti.

“Cirassaṁ vata passāmi,
brāhmaṇaṁ parinibbutaṁ;
Anandiṁ anaghaṁ bhikkhuṁ,
tiṇṇaṁ loke visattikan”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sākete viharati añjanavane migadāye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāketa in the deer park at the Añjana Wood.

Atha kho kakudho devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ añjanavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kakudho devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Kakudha, lighting up the entire Añjana Wood, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“nandasi, samaṇā”ti?

“Do you delight, ascetic?”

“Kiṁ laddhā, āvuso”ti?

“What have I gained, sir?”

“Tena hi, samaṇa, socasī”ti?

“Well then, ascetic, do you sorrow?”

“Kiṁ jīyittha, āvuso”ti?

“What have I lost, sir?”

“Tena hi, samaṇa, neva nandasi na ca socasī”ti?

“Well then, ascetic, do you neither delight nor sorrow?”

“Evamāvuso”ti.

“Yes, sir.”

“Kacci tvaṁ anagho bhikkhu,

“I hope you’re not gloomy, mendicant,

kacci nandī na vijjati;

I hope that delight isn’t found in you.

Kacci taṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,

I hope that discontent doesn’t

aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

overwhelm you as you sit alone.”

“Anagho ve ahaṁ yakkha,

“I’m genuinely not gloomy, spirit,

atho nandī na vijjati;

and no delight is found in me.

Atho maṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,

And also discontent doesn’t

aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

overwhelm me as I sit alone.”

“Kathaṁ tvaṁ anagho bhikkhu,

“How are you not gloomy, mendicant?

kathaṁ nandī na vijjati;

How is delight not found in you?

Kathaṁ taṁ ekamāsīnaṁ,

How does discontent not

aratī nābhikīratī”ti.

overwhelm you as you sit alone?”

“Aghajātassa ve nandī,

“Delight is born from gloom,

nandījātassa ve aghaṁ;

gloom is born from delight;

Anandī anagho bhikkhu,

sir, you should know me as

evaṁ jānāhi āvuso”ti.

a mendicant free of delight and gloom.”

“Cirassaṁ vata passāmi,

“After a long time I see

brāhmaṇaṁ parinibbutaṁ;

a brahmin fully quenched.

Anandiṁ anaghaṁ bhikkhuṁ,

A mendicant free of delight and gloom,

tiṇṇaṁ loke visattikan”ti.

he has crossed over clinging to the world.”

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Delight

Delight

A mental quality of relishing and taking pleasure in what is experienced—especially in sensuality or the prospect of continued becoming. When it fastens onto gratification, it nourishes craving and keeps the mind circling around what it wants to experience again.

Also known as: relishing, enjoyment, taking pleasure
Pāli: nandi, ārāmatā
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Sorrow

Sorrow

Grief or sadness that follows loss or disappointment, dimming the mind’s natural brightness. It clouds clear perception.

Also known as: grief, sadness
Pāli: soka, socati
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Last updated on July 27, 2026