snp.1.10 Suttanipata

With the Yakkha Āḷavaka

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Lord dwelt at Āḷavī in the haunt of the yakkha Āḷavaka. Then the latter went to the Lord’s dwelling and spoke to him as follows: “Monk, come out!”

“Very well, friend” said the Buddha (and came out).

“Monk, go in!”

“Very well, friend” said the Buddha and entered his dwelling. He repeated these demands twice, but on the fourth demand the Buddha said:

“I shall not come out to you, friend, do what you will.”

“Monk, I shall ask you a question and if you cannot answer it I shall either overthrow your mind, split your heart, or seizing you by the feet, throw you to the other side of the Ganges river.”

“I do not see, friend, anyone in the world with its devas, Māras and Brahmās, in this generation with its monks and brahmins, princes and men who can either overthrow my mind, or split my heart, or seize me by the feet and throw me to the other side of the Ganges river. However, friend, ask what you will.”

Āḷavaka
For humans here what wealth is best?
What often done brings happiness?
What surely has the sweetest taste?
How living do they say “life’s best”?

Buddha
Faith the wealth for humans best,
Dharma done brings happiness,
Truth surely has the sweetest taste,
“Lived with wisdom” this life’s best.

Āḷavaka
How can the flood be overcrossed?
How overcrossed the sea?
How dukkha can be overcome?
How win to purity?

Buddha
By faith the flood is overcrossed.
By vigilance the sea.
By effort dukkha’s overcome.
By wisdom, purity.

Āḷavaka
How wisdom will be won
with riches also found?
How attain to fame
and bring together friends?
When passing from this world, to next,
how does one not grieve?

Buddha
One with faith in arahats’ Dharma
for attainment of Nirvāṇa
diligent, wishing to listen,
and discerning, wisdom wins.

One who acts appropriately,
who’s steady and industrious,
finds wealth and fame, attained by truth;
by giving, friends are gained.

A faithful household seeker has
attained these four: truthfulness,
virtue, courage, generosity too,
and so grieves not when passing hence.

Now if you wish, ask others too,
numerous monks and brahmins—if
truth, generosity, taming self,
patience too—what’s better than these?

Āḷavaka
Why should I consult with these
monks and brahmins numerous,
when now for myself I know
who brings my future’s benefit?

For my benefit truly He came here,
the Buddha visiting Āḷavī.
Now do I know where a gift
bestowed will bear great fruit.

Village to village I shall roam,
town to town revering him—
the Full Awakened One, and
the Dharmaness of perfect Dharma.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

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With Āḷavaka

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī in the haunt of the native spirit Āḷavaka.
Then the native spirit Āḷavaka went up to the Buddha, and said to him:
“Get out, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Get in, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, sir,” the Buddha went in.
For a second time …
And for a third time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“Get out, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, sir,” the Buddha went out.
“Get in, ascetic!”
Saying, “All right, sir,” the Buddha went in.
And for a fourth time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha,
“Get out, ascetic!”
“No, sir, I won’t get out.
Do what you must.”
“I will ask you a question, ascetic.
If you don’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane, or explode your heart, or grab you by the feet and throw you to the far shore of the Ganges!”
“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me.
But anyway, ask what you wish.”
Then the native spirit Āḷavaka addressed the Buddha in verse:
“What’s a person’s best wealth?
What brings happiness when practiced well?
What’s the sweetest taste of all?
The one who they say has the best life: how do they live?”
“Faith here is a person’s best wealth.
the teaching brings happiness when practiced well.
Truth is the sweetest taste of all.
The one who they say has the best life lives by wisdom.”
“How do you cross the flood?
How do you cross the deluge?
How do you get over suffering?
How do you get purified?”
“By faith you cross the flood,
and by diligence the deluge.
By energy you get past suffering,
and you’re purified by wisdom.”
“How do you get wisdom?
How do you earn wealth?
How do you get a good reputation?
How do you hold on to friends?
How do the departed not grieve
when passing from this world to the next?”
“One who is diligent and discerning
gains wisdom by wanting to learn,
having faith in the perfected ones,
and the teaching for becoming extinguished.
Being responsible, acting appropriately,
and working hard you earn wealth.
Truthfulness wins you a good reputation.
You hold on to friends by giving.
A faithful householder
who has these four qualities
does not grieve after passing away:
truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity.
Go ahead, ask others as well,
there are many ascetics and brahmins.
See whether anything better is found
than truth, self-control, generosity, and patience.”
“Why now would I question
the many ascetics and brahmins?
Today I understand
what’s good for the next life.
It was truly for my benefit
that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī.
Today I understand
where a gift is very fruitful.
I myself will journey
village to village, town to town,
paying homage to the Buddha,
and the natural excellence of the teaching!”