相应部第 6 相应（Sujato 英译）第 6 阅读页 · SN6.6 · The Negligent Divinity

Linked Discourses 6.6Linked Discourses 6.61. The Appeal1. The Appeal

The Negligent DivinityThe Negligent DivinityAt Sāvatthī.At Sāvatthī.Now at that time the Buddha had gone into retreat for the day’s meditation.Now at that time the Buddha had gone into retreat for the day’s meditation.

Then the independent divinities Subrahmā and Suddhāvāsa went to the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post. But Subrahmā said to Suddhāvāsa,Then the independent divinities Subrahmā and Suddhāvāsa went to the Buddha and stationed themselves one by each door-post. But Subrahmā said to Suddhāvāsa,“Good fellow, it’s the wrong time to pay homage to the Buddha.“Good fellow, it’s the wrong time to pay homage to the Buddha.He has gone into retreat for the day’s meditation.He has gone into retreat for the day’s meditation.

But such-and-such realm of divinity is successful and prosperous, while the divinity living there is negligent.But such-and-such realm of divinity is successful and prosperous, while the divinity living there is negligent.Come, let’s go to that realm of divinity and inspire awe in that divinity!”Come, let’s go to that realm of divinity and inspire awe in that divinity!”“Yes, good fellow,” replied Suddhāvāsa.“Yes, good fellow,” replied Suddhāvāsa.

Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from in front of the Buddha and appeared in that realm of divinity.Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from in front of the Buddha and appeared in that realm of divinity.That divinity saw those divinities coming off in the distance and said to them,That divinity saw those divinities coming off in the distance and said to them,“Well now, good fellows, where have you come from?”“Well now, good fellows, where have you come from?”

“Good fellow, we’ve come from the presence of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.“Good fellow, we’ve come from the presence of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.Shouldn’t you go to attend on that Blessed One?”Shouldn’t you go to attend on that Blessed One?”When they had spoken, that divinity refused to accept their advice. He multiplied himself a thousand times and said to Subrahmā,When they had spoken, that divinity refused to accept their advice. He multiplied himself a thousand times and said to Subrahmā,

“Good fellow, can’t you see that I have such psychic power?”“Good fellow, can’t you see that I have such psychic power?”“I see that, good fellow.”“I see that, good fellow.”“Since I have such psychic power and might, what other ascetic or brahmin should I go to and attend upon?”“Since I have such psychic power and might, what other ascetic or brahmin should I go to and attend upon?”

Then Subrahmā multiplied himself two thousand times and said to that divinity,Then Subrahmā multiplied himself two thousand times and said to that divinity,“Good fellow, can’t you see that I have such psychic power?”“Good fellow, can’t you see that I have such psychic power?”“I see that, good fellow.”“I see that, good fellow.”

“That Buddha has even more psychic power and might than you or me.“That Buddha has even more psychic power and might than you or me.Shouldn’t you go to attend on that Blessed One?”Shouldn’t you go to attend on that Blessed One?”Then that divinity addressed Subrahmā in verse:Then that divinity addressed Subrahmā in verse:

“There are three hundreds of phoenixes, four of swans,“There are three hundreds of phoenixes, four of swans,and five of tigerhawks. To he who practiced absorptionand five of tigerhawks. To he who practiced absorptionbelongs this palace; it shines, Divinity,belongs this palace; it shines, Divinity,

lighting up the northern quarter!”lighting up the northern quarter!”“So what if your palace shines,“So what if your palace shines,lighting up the northern quarter?lighting up the northern quarter?

A clever person, seeing the strife in form,A clever person, seeing the strife in form,its chronic trembling, takes no pleasure in it.”its chronic trembling, takes no pleasure in it.”Then after inspiring awe in that divinity, the independent divinities Subrahmā and Suddhāvāsa vanished right there.Then after inspiring awe in that divinity, the independent divinities Subrahmā and Suddhāvāsa vanished right there.

And after some time that divinity went to attend on the Buddha.And after some time that divinity went to attend on the Buddha.