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sn.11.22 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Ugly

At Savatthī in Jeta’s Grove. There the Blessed One said this: “Bhikkhus, once in the past a certain ugly deformed yakkha sat down on the seat of Sakka, lord of the devas. Thereupon the Tavatiṁsa devas found fault with this, grumbled, and complained about it, saying: ‘It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is amazing indeed, sir! This ugly deformed yakkha has sat down on the seat of Sakka, lord of the devas!’ But to whatever extent the Tavatiṁsa devas found fault with this, grumbled, and complained about it, to the same extent that yakkha became more and more handsome, more and more comely, more and more graceful.

“Then, bhikkhus, the Tavatiṁsa devas approached Sakka and said to him: ‘Here, dear sir, an ugly deformed yakkha has sat down on your seat…. But to whatever extent the devas found fault with this … that yakkha became more and more handsome, more and more comely, more and more graceful.’—‘That must be the anger-eating yakkha.’

“Then, bhikkhus, Sakka, lord of the devas, approached that anger-eating yakkha. Having approached, he arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, knelt down with his right knee on the ground, and, raising his joined hands in reverential salutation towards that yakkha, he announced his name three times: ‘I, dear sir, am Sakka, lord of the devas! I, dear sir, am Sakka, lord of the devas!’ To whatever extent Sakka announced his name, to the same extent that yakkha became uglier and uglier and more and more deformed until he disappeared right there.

“Then, bhikkhus, having sat down on his own seat, instructing the Tavatiṁsa devas, Sakka, lord of the devas, on that occasion recited these verses:

“‘I am not one afflicted in mind,
Nor easily drawn by anger’s whirl.
I never become angry for long,
Nor does anger persist in me.

“‘When I’m angry I don’t speak harshly
And I don’t praise my virtues.
I keep myself well restrained
Out of regard for my own good.’”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh


Ugly

Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.

“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a native spirit who was ugly and deformed. He sat on the throne of Sakka, lord of gods.
But the gods of the Thirty-Three complained, grumbled, and objected,
‘It’s incredible, it’s amazing!
This ugly and deformed spirit is sitting on the throne of Sakka, the lord of gods.’
But the more the gods complained, the more attractive, good-looking, and lovely that spirit became.
So the gods went up to Sakka and told him what had happened, adding,





‘Surely, good sir, that must be the anger-eating spirit!’
Then Sakka went up to that spirit, arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground, raised his joined palms toward the anger-eating spirit, and pronounced his name three times:
‘Good sir, I am Sakka, lord of gods! Good sir, I am Sakka, the lord of gods!’
But the more Sakka pronounced his name, the uglier and more deformed the spirit became,
until eventually it vanished right there.
Then Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the Thirty-Three, recited this verse:
‘My mind isn’t easily upset;
I’m not easily drawn into the maelstrom.
I don’t get angry for long,
anger doesn’t last in me.
When I do get angry I don’t speak harshly,
nor do I advertise my own virtues.
I carefully restrain myself
out of regard for my own welfare.’”