Kinh Đại Hội

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;

dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.

Atha kho catunnaṁ suddhāvāsakāyikānaṁ devatānaṁ etadahosi:

“ayaṁ kho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;

dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.

Yannūna mayampi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike paccekaṁ gāthaṁ bhāseyyāmā”ti.

Atha kho tā devatā seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—suddhāvāsesu devesu antarahitā bhagavato purato pāturahesuṁ.

Atha kho tā devatā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Mahāsamayo pavanasmiṁ,

Devakāyā samāgatā;

Āgatamha imaṁ dhammasamayaṁ,

Dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan”ti.

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṁsu,

Cittamattano ujukaṁ akaṁsu;

Sārathīva nettāni gahetvā,

Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitā”ti.

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Chetvā khīlaṁ chetvā palighaṁ,

Indakhīlaṁ ūhacca manejā;

Te caranti suddhā vimalā,

Cakkhumatā sudantā susunāgā”ti.

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“Ye keci buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatāse,

Na te gamissanti apāyabhūmiṁ;

Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ,

Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī”ti.

1. Devatāsannipāta

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, dasasu lokadhātūsu devatā sannipatitā honti, tathāgataṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.

Yepi te, bhikkhave, ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tesampi bhagavantānaṁ etapparamāyeva devatā sannipatitā ahesuṁ seyyathāpi mayhaṁ etarahi.

Yepi te, bhikkhave, bhavissanti anāgatamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tesampi bhagavantānaṁ etapparamāyeva devatā sannipatitā bhavissanti seyyathāpi mayhaṁ etarahi.

Ācikkhissāmi, bhikkhave, devakāyānaṁ nāmāni;

kittayissāmi, bhikkhave, devakāyānaṁ nāmāni;

desessāmi, bhikkhave, devakāyānaṁ nāmāni.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasikarotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Silokamanukassāmi,

yattha bhummā tadassitā;

Ye sitā girigabbharaṁ,

pahitattā samāhitā.

Puthūsīhāva sallīnā,

lomahaṁsābhisambhuno;

Odātamanasā suddhā,

vippasannamanāvilā.

Bhiyyo pañcasate ñatvā,

vane kāpilavatthave;

Tato āmantayī satthā,

sāvake sāsane rate.

‘Devakāyā abhikkantā,

te vijānātha bhikkhavo’;

Te ca ātappamakaruṁ,

sutvā buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

Tesaṁ pāturahu ñāṇaṁ,

amanussānadassanaṁ;

Appeke satamaddakkhuṁ,

sahassaṁ atha sattariṁ.

Sataṁ eke sahassānaṁ,

amanussānamaddasuṁ;

Appekenantamaddakkhuṁ,

disā sabbā phuṭā ahuṁ.

Tañca sabbaṁ abhiññāya,

vavatthitvāna cakkhumā;

Tato āmantayī satthā,

sāvake sāsane rate.

‘Devakāyā abhikkantā,

te vijānātha bhikkhavo;

Ye vohaṁ kittayissāmi,

girāhi anupubbaso’.

Sattasahassā te yakkhā,

bhummā kāpilavatthavā;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Chasahassā hemavatā,

yakkhā nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Sātāgirā tisahassā,

yakkhā nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Iccete soḷasasahassā,

yakkhā nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Vessāmittā pañcasatā,

yakkhā nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Kumbhīro rājagahiko,

vepullassa nivesanaṁ;

Bhiyyo naṁ satasahassaṁ,

yakkhānaṁ payirupāsati;

Kumbhīro rājagahiko,

sopāgā samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Purimañca disaṁ rājā,

dhataraṭṭho pasāsati;

Gandhabbānaṁ adhipati,

mahārājā yasassiso.

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

indanāmā mahabbalā;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Dakkhiṇañca disaṁ rājā,

virūḷho taṁ pasāsati;

Kumbhaṇḍānaṁ adhipati,

mahārājā yasassiso.

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

indanāmā mahabbalā;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Pacchimañca disaṁ rājā,

virūpakkho pasāsati;

Nāgānañca adhipati,

mahārājā yasassiso.

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

indanāmā mahabbalā;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Uttarañca disaṁ rājā,

kuvero taṁ pasāsati;

Yakkhānañca adhipati,

mahārājā yasassiso.

Puttāpi tassa bahavo,

indanāmā mahabbalā;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Purimaṁ disaṁ dhataraṭṭho,

dakkhiṇena virūḷhako;

Pacchimena virūpakkho,

kuvero uttaraṁ disaṁ.

Cattāro te mahārājā,

samantā caturo disā;

Daddallamānā aṭṭhaṁsu,

vane kāpilavatthave.

Tesaṁ māyāvino dāsā,

āguṁ vañcanikā saṭhā;

Māyā kuṭeṇḍu viṭeṇḍu,

viṭucca viṭuṭo saha.

Candano kāmaseṭṭho ca,

kinnighaṇḍu nighaṇḍu ca;

Panādo opamañño ca,

devasūto ca mātali.

Cittaseno ca gandhabbo,

naḷorājā janesabho;

Āgā pañcasikho ceva,

timbarū sūriyavacchasā.

Ete caññe ca rājāno,

gandhabbā saha rājubhi;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Athāguṁ nāgasā nāgā,

vesālā sahatacchakā;

Kambalassatarā āguṁ,

pāyāgā saha ñātibhi.

Yāmunā dhataraṭṭhā ca,

āgū nāgā yasassino;

Erāvaṇo mahānāgo,

sopāgā samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Ye nāgarāje sahasā haranti,

Dibbā dijā pakkhi visuddhacakkhū;

Vehāyasā te vanamajjhapattā,

Citrā supaṇṇā iti tesa nāmaṁ.

Abhayaṁ tadā nāgarājānamāsi,

Supaṇṇato khemamakāsi buddho;

Saṇhāhi vācāhi upavhayantā,

Nāgā supaṇṇā saraṇamakaṁsu buddhaṁ.

Jitā vajirahatthena,

samuddaṁ asurāsitā;

Bhātaro vāsavassete,

iddhimanto yasassino.

Kālakañcā mahābhismā,

asurā dānaveghasā;

Vepacitti sucitti ca,

pahārādo namucī saha.

Satañca baliputtānaṁ,

sabbe verocanāmakā;

Sannayhitvā balisenaṁ,

rāhubhaddamupāgamuṁ;

‘Samayo dāni bhaddante,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ’.

Āpo ca devā pathavī,

tejo vāyo tadāgamuṁ;

Varuṇā vāraṇā devā,

somo ca yasasā saha.

Mettā karuṇā kāyikā,

āguṁ devā yasassino;

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino.

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Veṇḍudevā sahali ca,

asamā ca duve yamā;

Candassūpanisā devā,

candamāguṁ purakkhatvā.

Sūriyassūpanisā devā,

sūriyamāguṁ purakkhatvā;

Nakkhattāni purakkhatvā,

āguṁ mandavalāhakā.

Vasūnaṁ vāsavo seṭṭho,

sakkopāgā purindado;

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino.

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Athāguṁ sahabhū devā,

jalamaggi sikhāriva;

Ariṭṭhakā ca rojā ca,

umāpupphanibhāsino.

Varuṇā sahadhammā ca,

accutā ca anejakā;

Sūleyyarucirā āguṁ,

āguṁ vāsavanesino;

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino.

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Samānā mahāsamanā,

mānusā mānusuttamā;

Khiḍḍāpadosikā āguṁ,

āguṁ manopadosikā.

Athāguṁ harayo devā,

ye ca lohitavāsino;

Pāragā mahāpāragā,

āguṁ devā yasassino;

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino.

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Sukkā karambhā aruṇā,

āguṁ veghanasā saha;

Odātagayhā pāmokkhā,

āguṁ devā vicakkhaṇā.

Sadāmattā hāragajā,

missakā ca yasassino;

Thanayaṁ āga pajjunno,

yo disā abhivassati.

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Khemiyā tusitā yāmā,

kaṭṭhakā ca yasassino;

Lambītakā lāmaseṭṭhā,

jotināmā ca āsavā;

Nimmānaratino āguṁ,

athāguṁ paranimmitā.

Dasete dasadhā kāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino;

Iddhimanto jutimanto,

vaṇṇavanto yasassino;

Modamānā abhikkāmuṁ,

bhikkhūnaṁ samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Saṭṭhete devanikāyā,

sabbe nānattavaṇṇino;

Nāmanvayena āgacchuṁ,

ye caññe sadisā saha.

‘Pavuṭṭhajātimakhilaṁ,

oghatiṇṇamanāsavaṁ;

Dakkhemoghataraṁ nāgaṁ,

candaṁva asitātigaṁ’.

Subrahmā paramatto ca,

puttā iddhimato saha;

Sanaṅkumāro tisso ca,

sopāga samitiṁ vanaṁ.

Sahassaṁ brahmalokānaṁ,

mahābrahmābhitiṭṭhati;

Upapanno jutimanto,

bhismākāyo yasassiso.

Dasettha issarā āguṁ,

paccekavasavattino;

Tesañca majjhato āga,

hārito parivārito.

Te ca sabbe abhikkante,

sainde deve sabrahmake;

Mārasenā abhikkāmi,

passa kaṇhassa mandiyaṁ.

‘Etha gaṇhatha bandhatha,

rāgena baddhamatthu vo;

Samantā parivāretha,

mā vo muñcittha koci naṁ’.

Iti tattha mahāseno,

kaṇho senaṁ apesayi;

Pāṇinā talamāhacca,

saraṁ katvāna bheravaṁ.

Yathā pāvussako megho,

thanayanto savijjuko;

Tadā so paccudāvatti,

saṅkuddho asayaṁvase.

Tañca sabbaṁ abhiññāya,

vavatthitvāna cakkhumā;

Tato āmantayī satthā,

sāvake sāsane rate.

‘Mārasenā abhikkantā,

te vijānātha bhikkhavo’;

Te ca ātappamakaruṁ,

sutvā buddhassa sāsanaṁ;

Vītarāgehi pakkāmuṁ,

nesaṁ lomāpi iñjayuṁ.

‘Sabbe vijitasaṅgāmā,

bhayātītā yasassino;

Modanti saha bhūtehi,

sāvakā te janesutā’”ti.

Mahāsamayasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.

Thus I have heard: at one time the Gracious One was dwelling amongst the Sakyans in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu with a great Saṅgha of monks consisting of five hundred monks, all of them Worthy Ones, and almost all of the gods from the ten world-elements had assembled to see the Gracious One and the Saṅgha of monks.

Then this occurred to four gods from among the hosts in the Pure Abodes: “The Gracious One is dwelling amongst the Sakyans in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu with a great Saṅgha of monks consisting of five hundred monks, all of them Worthy Ones, and almost all of the gods from the ten world elements have assembled to see the Gracious One and the Saṅgha of monks. Well now, we too could approach the Gracious One, and after approaching the Gracious One we could recite a verse each in his presence.”

Then those gods, just as a strong man might stretch out a bent arm, or bend in an outstretched arm, in the same way disappeared from among the gods of the Pure Abodes and appeared in front of the Gracious One. Then those gods after worshipping the Gracious One, stood on one side. While standing on one side one of the gods recited this verse in the presence of the Gracious One:

Verse 1“There is a great convention in the wood,
and a host of gods have come,
we have come to this Dhamma convention
to see the Saṅgha, who are undefeated.”

Then another god recited this verse in the presence of the Gracious One:

Verse 2“In this place the monks are concentrated,
they have straightened out their minds by themselves,
like a charioteer who has taken the reins,
the wise protect their sense faculties.”

Then another god recited this verse in the presence of the Gracious One:

Verse 3“Having cut off the hindrance and obstacle,
and dug up the locking post, they are unmoved,
they live pure and unstained,
young nāgas, well-tamed by the Visionary.”

Then another god recited this verse in the presence of the Gracious One:

Verse 4“Whoever has gone to the Buddha for refuge
will not go to the lower worlds.
After giving up the human body
they will fill up the ranks of the gods.”

Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, saying: “Monks, almost all of the gods from the ten world-elements have assembled to see the Realised One and the Saṅgha of monks. Monks, those who in the past were Worthy Ones, Perfect Sambuddhas, for those Gracious Ones also at least as many gods have assembled as for me at the present time. Monks, those who in the future will be Worthy Ones, Perfect Sambuddhas, for those Gracious Ones also at least as many gods will assemble as for me at the present time.

Monks, I will declare the names of the hosts of gods, monks, I will proclaim the names of the hosts of gods, monks, I will reveal the names of the hosts of gods.

Listen to it, apply your minds well, and I will speak.” “Yes, reverend Sir,” those monks replied to the Gracious One, and the Gracious One said this:

Verse 5“I will repeat a famous verse (a Siloka),
wherever the gods of the Earth live:
There are monks who live in a hill cave,
who are resolute, composed,

Verse 6who are like lions crouching,
who have overcome all horror,
with minds that are cleansed, and purified,
which are clear, and undisturbed”.

Verse 7He knew there were more than five hundred
in the wood near Kapilavatthu like this,
therefore the Teacher addressed
those disciples who delight in the teaching:

Verse 8“A host of gods have drawn near to us,
you should know who they are, monks!”
Then those monks became ardent,
after hearing the Buddha’s teaching,

Verse 9and knowledge was manifest to them,
seeing those non-human beings—
and some of them saw a hundred,
a thousand, or seventy thousand.

Verse 10Some of them saw a hundred thousand
of those non-human beings,
and some saw an endless number
spread out in every direction.

Verse 11Having deep knowledge of all that
the Visionary desired to speak,
therefore the Teacher addressed
those disciples who delight in the teaching:

Verse 12“A host of gods have drawn near to us,
you should know who they are, monks!
I will proclaim their names to you
with lyrics in regular order.

Yakkhas

Verse 13There are seven thousand yakkhas,
Earth gods from Kapilavatthu,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 14From Hemavanta there are six thousand
yakkhas, diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 15From Sātāgira there are three thousand
yakkhas, diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 16Like this there are sixteen thousand
yakkhas, diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 17From Vessāmitta there are five hundred
yakkhas, diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 18From Rājagaha there is Kumbhīra,
who is settled on Vepulla,
and more than a hundred thousand
yakkhas who gather round him,
From Rājagaha there is Kumbhīra
he also came to the gathering in the wood.

The Four Great Kings

Verse 19The Easterly direction, the king
Dhataraṭṭha rules over that,
he is master of the Gandhabbas,
he is a resplendent Great King,

Verse 20also there are his many sons,
Inda by name, ones of great strength,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 21The Southerly direction, the king
Virūḷha rules over that,
he is master of the Kumbhaṇḍas,
he is a resplendent Great King,

Verse 22also there are his many sons,
Inda by name, ones of great strength,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 23The Westerly direction, the king
Virūpakkha rules over that,
he is master of the nāgas,
he is a resplendent Great King,

Verse 24also there are his many sons,
Inda by name, ones of great strength,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 25The Northerly direction, the king
Kuvera rules over that,
he is master of the yakkhas,
he is a resplendent Great King,

Verse 26also there are his many sons,
Inda by name, ones of great strength,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 27To the East there is Dhataraṭṭha,
in the South there is Virūḷhaka,
in the West there is Virūpakkha,
to the North there is Kuvera.

Verse 28These are the Four Great Kings,
from all sides, the four directions,
they stood blazing brilliantly
in the wood near Kapilavatthu.

Verse 29Their deceitful servants came,
who are fraudulent and treacherous:
the deceitful Kuteṇḍu, Veteṇḍu,
Viṭucca, and Viṭuḍa,

Verse 30Candana and Kāmaseṭṭha,
Kinnughaṇḍu and Nighaṇḍu,
Panāda and Opamañña,
and Mātali, the gods’ charioteer,

Verse 31The gandhabbas Citta and Sena,
the kings Nala and Janesabha
came, and also Pañcasikha,
Timbaru, and Suriyavaccasā.

Verse 32These and also other kings,
and gandhabbas along with their kings,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Nāgas and Supaṇṇas

Verse 33Then came Nāgas from Nābhasa,
and from Vesālī, and the Tacchakas,
the Kambalas, and Assataras came,
and nāgas from Pāyāga with their kin.

Verse 34The Yāmunā, and the Dhataraṭṭha nāgas came,
resplendent ones,
and Erāvaṇa, the great nāga,
he also came to the gathering in the wood.

Verse 35Those who carry away the nāga kings by force
—the divine, twice-born, winged ones, with clear vision
—through the air they came and arrived in the wood,
the Citras and Supaṇṇas, such are their names.

Verse 36But at that time the nāga kings were without fear,
for the Buddha made them safe from the supaṇṇas.
Calling on one another with gentle words,
the nāgas and supaṇṇas took refuge in the Buddha.

Asuras

Verse 37Defeated by Vajirahattha,
the asuras live in the ocean,
they are brothers of Vāsava,
having psychic power, resplendent,

Verse 38the very fearful Kālakañjas,
the Dānaveghasa asuras,
Vepacitti and Sucitti,
Pahārāda, together with Namuci,

Verse 39and a hundred of Bali’s sons,
all of them named after Veroca.
Having armed themselves, Bali’s army
came to lucky Rāhu and said:
“Now is the time, reverend Sir,
for the gathering of the monks in the wood.”

Devas

Verse 40The Water gods, and the Earth gods,
the Fire, and the Wind gods all came there,
the Varuṇa, and Vāruṇa gods,
Soma followed by Yasa,

Verse 41and a host of Friendly and Compassionate gods came, resplendent ones.
All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,

Verse 42who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent.
Rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 43The Veṇhu and Sahali and Asama gods, and the two Yama gods came.
The gods who depend on the Moon came,
with the Moon in front of them.

Verse 44The gods who depend on the Sun came,
with the Sun in front of them,
with the stars in front of them,
also the foolish Rain Cloud gods came.

Verse 45Sakka also came, who is called Vāsava, the best of the Vasū, and Purindada.
All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,

Verse 46who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 47Then came the Sahabhu gods,
blazing forth, like the crest of a fire,
and the Ariṭṭhakas and Rojas
and the splendid Ummapuppha gods.

Verse 48The Varuṇas and Sahadhammas,
the Accutas and Anejakas,
the Sūleyyas and Ruciras all came;
the Vāsavanesi gods came.

Verse 49All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 50The Samānas, Mahāsamānas,
Mānusas, Mānusuttamas,
and the Khiḍḍāpadūsikas came;
the Manopadūsikas came.

Verse 51Then the Hari gods came,
and those known as the Lohitavāsī.
The Pāragas, and Mahāpāragas came,
gods who are resplendent.

Verse 52All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 53The Sukkas, Karumhas, and Aruṇas came, with the Veghanasas.
The Vicakkhaṇa gods came with the Odātagayhas in front.

Verse 54The Sadāmattas, Hāragajas,
and the resplendent Missakas.
Pajjunna came thundering,
he who pours down rain in all directions.

Verse 55All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,
who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 56The Khemiyas, Tusitas, Yāmas,
and resplendent Kaṭṭhakas came.
The Lambītakas, Lāmaseṭṭhas,
those called the Jotis, and Āsavas,

Verse 57and the Nimmāṇaratis came;
then came the Paranimittas.
All of these ten hosts, ten kinds of gods,
who are diverse in colour,

Verse 58who have psychic power, who are bright,
beautiful, and resplendent,
rejoicing they have drawn near
the gathering of monks in the wood.

Verse 59All of these sixty hosts of gods,
who are diverse in colour,
in conformity with their names came;
these along with others similar thinking:

Verse 60“We shall see the casteless Saṅgha, unhindered,
flood-crossers, pollution-free,
and the nāga, who is beyond the flood,
who, like the Moon, has overcome the darkness.

Brahmās

Verse 61Subrahmā and Paramatta,
along with the sons of the powerful one came.
Sanaṅkumāra and Tissa
also came to the gathering in the wood.

Verse 62In the thousand brahma worlds
a Great Brahma has arisen,
a bright one, who stands out,
whose awesome body is resplendent.

Verse 63The ten Issarā brahmās came,
who individually wield power,
and in the midst of them came
Hārita with his entourage.

Māra and his Army

Verse 64Now when they had all drawn near,
Inda with the gods and the brahmās,
Māra’s army also drew near:
behold the foolishness of the Dark One!

Verse 65“Come now, seize them, and bind them he said,
let them be bound by passion,
surround them on all sides,
do not let anyone of them go free!”

Verse 66Thus in that place the great army leader
sent forth his dark army,
after striking the ground with his hand,
and making a fearful noise,

Verse 67like a storm cloud shedding rain,
thundering, with flashes of lightning—
but then he retreated,
angry, and unable to control himself.

Verse 68Knowing all that was happening
the Visionary desired to speak,
therefore the Teacher addressed
those disciples who delight in the teaching:

Verse 69“Māra’s army has drawn near to us,
you should know who they are, monks!”
Then those monks became ardent, after hearing the Buddha’s teaching.
They withdrew from the passionless monks, not one of their hairs was shaken!

Spoken by Māra

Verse 70“They are all victorious in battle,
beyond fear, and resplendent,
those disciples, famous among men, along with all beings, are glad.”