Samayasutta

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.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones. And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of mendicants. Then four deities of the pure abodes, aware of what was happening, thought: “Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”

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:

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha. They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Mahāsamayo pavanasmiṁ, Devakāyā samāgatā; Āgatamha imaṁ dhammasamayaṁ, Dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan”ti.

“There’s a great congregation in the woods, where heavenly hosts have assembled. We’ve come to this righteous congregation to see the invincible Saṅgha!”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṁsu, Cittamattano ujukaṁ akaṁsu; Sārathīva nettāni gahetvā, Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitā”ti.

“The mendicants there are immersed in samādhi, they’ve straightened their own minds. Like a charioteer holding the reins, the astute ones protect their senses.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Chetvā khīlaṁ chetvā palighaṁ, Indakhīlaṁ ūhacca manejā; Te caranti suddhā vimalā, Cakkhumatā sudantā susunāgā”ti.

“They snapped the post and snapped the cross-bar, unstirred, they tore out Indra’s pillar. They live pure and immaculate, the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Ye keci buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatāse, Na te gamissanti apāyabhūmiṁ; Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ, Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī”ti.

“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge won’t go to a plane of loss. After giving up this human body, they swell the heavenly host.”