SN1:39 Pajjunna's Daughter (1)
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then, when the night had advanced, Kokanada, Pajjunna's daughter, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Great Wood, approached the Blessed One. [n.90] Pajjunna (Skt Parjanya) is the deva-king of rain clouds; originally a Vedic deity, Spk assigns him to the heaven of the Four Great Kings. He is mentioned at DN III 205,6. Nothing else is known about his two daughters, named after the red lotus (see v. 401a). Having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One: [n.91] These four verses, in the old āryā metre, have been reconstructed by Alsdorf, Die āryā-Strophen des Pali-Kanons, p. 321.
2v.129 "I worship the Buddha, the best of beings,
Dwelling in the woods at Vesālī. sn.i.30
Kokanada am I,
Kokanada, Pajjunna's daughter.
[n.92] Neither Spk nor Spk-pṭ offers help with the singular sattassa in pāda a, but I take this simply as a metrical adaptation of sattanaṁ. The line then expresses the same idea as SN45.139 (V 41,23–42,2).
3v.130 "Earlier I had only heard that the Dhamma
Has been realized by the One with Vision;
But now I know it as a witness
While the Sage, the Fortunate One, teaches.
4v.131 "Those ignorant people who go about
Criticizing the noble Dhamma
Pass on to the terrible Roruva hell
And experience suffering for a long time.
[n.93] Spk: There are two Roruva hells: the Smokey Roruva (dhūmaroruva) and the Flaming Roruva (jalaroruva). The Smokey Roruva is a separate hell, but the Flaming Roruva is a name for the great hell Avīci, called Roruva because when beings are roasted there they cry out again and again (punappunaṁ ravaṁ ravanti). At SN3.20 the Flaming Roruva is spoken of as the Great Roruva (maharoruva).
5v.132 "But those who have peace and acquiescence
In regard to the noble Dhamma,
On discarding the human body,
Will fill the host of devas."
[n.94] Spk-pṭ glosses khantiya in pāda b as ñāṇakhantiya, which implies that here the word does not bear its usual meaning of patience, but the special sense of "acquiescence" (in the Teaching). See the expression dhammanijjhanakkhanti at MN II 173,21–22.
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ vihārati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ mahāvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
2"Vesālīyaṁ vane vihārantaṁ,
Aggaṁ sattassa sambuddhaṁ;
Kokanadāhamasmi abhivande,
Kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā.
3Sutameva pure āsi,
Dhammo cakkhumatānubuddho;
Sāhaṁ dāni sakkhi jānāmi,
Munino desayato sugatassa.
4Ye keci ariyaṁ dhammaṁ,
Vigarahantā caranti dummedhā;
Upenti roruvaṁ ghoraṁ,
Cirarattaṁ dukkhaṁ anubhavanti.
5Ye ca kho ariye dhamme,
Khantiyā upasamena upetā;
Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ,
Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī"ti.