Andhakavindasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā māgadhesu viharati andhakavinde. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati. Atha kho brahmā sahampati abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ andhakavindaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Andhakavinda. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down. Then, late at night, the glorious divinity Sahampati, lighting up the entirety of Andhakavinda, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni, Careyya saṁyojanavippamokkhā; Sace ratiṁ nādhigaccheyya tattha, Saṅghe vase rakkhitatto satīmā.

“One should frequent secluded lodgings, and practice to be released from fetters. If you don’t find enjoyment there, live in the Saṅgha, self-protected and mindful.

Kulākulaṁ piṇḍikāya caranto, Indriyagutto nipako satimā; Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni, Bhayā pamutto abhaye vimutto.

Walking for alms from family to family, with senses guarded, alert and mindful. One should frequent secluded lodgings, free of fear, freed in the fearless.

Yattha bheravā sarīsapā, Vijju sañcarati thanayati devo; Andhakāratimisāya rattiyā, Nisīdi tattha bhikkhu vigatalomahaṁso.

Where dreadful reptiles slither, where the lightning flashes and the heavens thunder in the dark of the night; there meditates a mendicant, free of goosebumps.

Idañhi jātu me diṭṭhaṁ, nayidaṁ itihītihaṁ; Ekasmiṁ brahmacariyasmiṁ, sahassaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ.

For this is ever seen by me, it isn’t just the testament of hearsay. Within a single spiritual dispensation there are a thousand conquerors of Death.

Bhiyyo pañcasatā sekkhā, dasā ca dasadhā dasa; Sabbe sotasamāpannā, atiracchānagāmino.

And of trainees, more than five hundred, and ten times ten tens, are all stream-enterers, freed from rebirth in the animal realm.

Athāyaṁ itarā pajā, puññabhāgāti me mano; Saṅkhātuṁ nopi sakkomi, musāvādassa ottapan”ti.

And as for the rest of folk who I think have shared in merit— I couldn’t even number them, for fear of speaking falsely.”