Andhakavindasutta
At Andhakavinda
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā māgadhesu viharati andhakavinde.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans at Andhakavinda.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti, devo ca ekamekaṁ phusāyati.
Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down.
Atha kho brahmā sahampati abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ andhakavindaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
Then, late at night, the beautiful divinity Sahampati, lighting up the entirety of Andhakavinda, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
“Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni, “One should frequent secluded lodgings,
Careyya saṁyojanavippamokkhā; and practice to be released from fetters.
Sace ratiṁ nādhigaccheyya tattha, If you don’t find enjoyment there,
Saṅghe vase rakkhitatto satīmā. live in the Saṅgha, guarded and mindful.
Kulākulaṁ piṇḍikāya caranto, Walking for alms from family to family,
Indriyagutto nipako satimā; with senses guarded, alert and mindful.
Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni, One should frequent secluded lodgings,
Bhayā pamutto abhaye vimutto. free of fear, freed in the fearless.
Yattha bheravā sarīsapā,
Where dreadful serpents slither,
Vijju sañcarati thanayati devo; where the lightning flashes and the heavens thunder
Andhakāratimisāya rattiyā, in the dark of the night;
Nisīdi tattha bhikkhu vigatalomahaṁso. there meditates a mendicant, free of goosebumps.
Idañhi jātu me diṭṭhaṁ, For this is ever seen by me,
nayidaṁ itihītihaṁ; it isn’t just what the testament says.
Ekasmiṁ brahmacariyasmiṁ, Within a single spiritual dispensation
sahassaṁ maccuhāyinaṁ. a thousand are conquerors of Death.
Bhiyyo pañcasatā sekkhā,
And of trainees there are more than five hundred,
dasā ca dasadhā dasa; and ten times ten tens;
Sabbe sotasamāpannā, all are stream-enterers,
atiracchānagāmino. freed from rebirth in the animal realm.
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā, And as for the rest of folk
puññabhāgāti me mano; who I think have shared in merit—
Saṅkhātuṁ nopi sakkomi, I couldn’t even number them,
musāvādassa ottapan”ti.
for fear of speaking falsely.”
