AN 3.63

Venāgapurasutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena venāgapuraṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Assosuṁ kho venāgapurikā brāhmaṇagahapatikā: “samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito venāgapuraṁ anuppatto. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

At Venāgapura

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Venāgapura. The brahmins and householders of Venāgapura heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Venāgapura. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

Atha kho venāgapurikā brāhmaṇagahapatikā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā appekacce bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu, sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce nāmagottaṁ sāvetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu, appekacce tuṇhībhūtā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho venāgapuriko vacchagotto brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then the brahmins and householders of Venāgapura went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. Then the brahmin Vacchagotta of Venāgapura said to the Buddha:

“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. Yāvañcidaṁ bhoto gotamassa vippasannāni indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, sāradaṁ badarapaṇḍuṁ parisuddhaṁ hoti pariyodātaṁ; evamevaṁ bhoto gotamassa vippasannāni indriyāni parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, tālapakkaṁ sampati bandhanā pamuttaṁ parisuddhaṁ hoti pariyodātaṁ; evamevaṁ bhoto gotamassa vippasannāni indriyāni parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nekkhaṁ jambonadaṁ dakkhakammāraputtasuparikammakataṁ ukkāmukhe sukusalasampahaṭṭhaṁ paṇḍukambale nikkhittaṁ bhāsate ca tapate ca virocati ca; evamevaṁ bhoto gotamassa vippasannāni indriyāni parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. Yāni tāni, bho gotama, uccāsayanamahāsayanāni, seyyathidaṁ— āsandi pallaṅko gonako cittako paṭikā paṭalikā tūlikā vikatikā uddalomī ekantalomī kaṭṭissaṁ koseyyaṁ kuttakaṁ hatthattharaṁ assattharaṁ rathattharaṁ ajinappaveṇī kadalimigapavarapaccattharaṇaṁ sauttaracchadaṁ ubhatolohitakūpadhānaṁ, evarūpānaṁ nūna bhavaṁ gotamo uccāsayanamahāsayanānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing, how your faculties are so very clear, and the complexion of your skin is pure and bright. It’s like a golden brown jujube in the autumn, or a ripe palmyra fruit freshly plucked from the stalk, or a pendant of Black Plum River gold, fashioned by a deft smith, well-wrought in the forge, and placed on a cream rug where it shines and glows and dazzles. In the same way, your faculties are so very clear, and the complexion of your skin is pure and bright. Surely the worthy Gotama gets when he wants, without trouble or difficulty, various kinds of high and luxurious bedding, such as: sofas, couches, woolen covers—shag-piled, colorful, white, embroidered with flowers, quilted, embroidered with animals, double or single fringed—and silk covers studded with gems, as well as silken sheets, wollen carpets, rugs for elephants, horses, or chariots, black antelope hides and woven rugs, and spreads of fine deer hide, with a canopy above and red cushions at both ends.”

“Yāni kho pana tāni, brāhmaṇa, uccāsayanamahāsayanāni, seyyathidaṁ— āsandi pallaṅko gonako cittako paṭikā paṭalikā tūlikā vikatikā uddalomī ekantalomī kaṭṭissaṁ koseyyaṁ kuttakaṁ hatthattharaṁ assattharaṁ rathattharaṁ ajinappaveṇī kadalimigapavarapaccattharaṇaṁ sauttaracchadaṁ ubhatolohitakūpadhānaṁ. Dullabhāni tāni pabbajitānaṁ laddhā ca pana na kappanti.

“Brahmin, these various kinds of high and luxurious bedding are hard for renunciates to find. And even if they do get them, they’re not allowed.

Tīṇi kho, imāni, brāhmaṇa, uccāsayanamahāsayanāni, yesāhaṁ etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Katamāni tīṇi? Dibbaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, brahmaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, ariyaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ. Imāni kho, brāhmaṇa, tīṇi uccāsayanamahāsayanāni, yesāhaṁ etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti.

There are, brahmin, these three high and luxurious beds that I get these days when I want, without trouble or difficulty. What three? The heavenly high and luxurious bed, the divine high and luxurious bed, and the noble high and luxurious bed. These are the three high and luxurious beds that I get these days when I want, without trouble or difficulty.”

“Katamaṁ pana taṁ, bho gotama, dibbaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassa bhavaṁ gotamo etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti? “Idhāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yaṁ gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharāmi, so pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya tameva gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā piṇḍāya pavisāmi. So pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vanantaññeva pavisāmi. So yadeva tattha honti tiṇāni vā paṇṇāni vā tāni ekajjhaṁ saṅgharitvā nisīdāmi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto caṅkamāmi, dibbo me eso tasmiṁ samaye caṅkamo hoti. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto tiṭṭhāmi, dibbaṁ me etaṁ tasmiṁ samaye ṭhānaṁ hoti. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto nisīdāmi, dibbaṁ me etaṁ tasmiṁ samaye āsanaṁ hoti. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto seyyaṁ kappemi, dibbaṁ me etaṁ tasmiṁ samaye uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ hoti. Idaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, dibbaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassāhaṁ etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti.

“But what, worthy Gotama, is the heavenly high and luxurious bed?” “Brahmin, when I am living supported by a village or town, I robe up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, enter the town or village for alms. After the meal, on my return from almsround, I enter within a forest. I gather up some grass or leaves into a pile and sit down cross-legged, setting my body straight, and bringing mindfulness to the present. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, I enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. And with the fading away of rapture, I enter and remain in the third absorption, where I meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, I enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. When I’m practicing like this, if I walk, at that time my walking is heavenly. When I’m practicing like this, if I stand, at that time my standing is heavenly. When I’m practicing like this, if I sit, at that time my sitting is heavenly. When I’m practicing like this, if I lie down, at that time my lying is heavenly. This is the heavenly high and luxurious bed that I get these days when I want, without trouble or difficulty.”

“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. Ko cañño evarūpassa dibbassa uccāsayanamahāsayanassa nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, aññatra bhotā gotamena.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing! Who but the worthy Gotama could get such a heavenly high and luxurious bed when he wants, without trouble or difficulty?

Katamaṁ pana taṁ, bho gotama, brahmaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassa bhavaṁ gotamo etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti? “Idhāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yaṁ gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharāmi, so pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya tameva gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā piṇḍāya pavisāmi. So pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vanantaññeva pavisāmi. So yadeva tattha honti tiṇāni vā paṇṇāni vā tāni ekajjhaṁ saṅgharitvā nisīdāmi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharāmi, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ, iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena pharitvā viharāmi. Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā … upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharāmi, tathā dutiyaṁ, tathā tatiyaṁ, tathā catutthaṁ, iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjhena pharitvā viharāmi. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto caṅkamāmi, brahmā me eso tasmiṁ samaye caṅkamo hoti. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto tiṭṭhāmi …pe… nisīdāmi …pe… seyyaṁ kappemi, brahmaṁ me etaṁ tasmiṁ samaye uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ hoti. Idaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, brahmaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassāhaṁ etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti.

But what, worthy Gotama, is the divine high and luxurious bed?” “Brahmin, when I am living supported by a village or town, I robe up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, enter the town or village for alms. After the meal, on my return from almsround, I enter within a forest. I gather up some grass or leaves into a pile and sit down cross-legged, setting my body straight, and bringing mindfulness to the present. I meditate spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, I spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. I meditate spreading a heart full of compassion to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, I spread a heart full of compassion to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. I meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, I spread a heart full of rejoicing to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. I meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, I spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. When I’m practicing like this, if I walk, at that time my walking is divine. … my standing is divine. … my sitting is divine. When I’m practicing like this, if I lie down, at that time my lying is divine. This is the divine high and luxurious bed that I get these days when I want, without trouble or difficulty.”

“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. Ko cañño evarūpassa brahmassa uccāsayanamahāsayanassa nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, aññatra bhotā gotamena.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing! Who but the worthy Gotama could get such a divine high and luxurious bed when he wants, without trouble or difficulty?

Katamaṁ pana taṁ, bho gotama, ariyaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassa bhavaṁ gotamo etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti? “Idhāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, yaṁ gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā upanissāya viharāmi, so pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya tameva gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā piṇḍāya pavisāmi. So pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto vanantaññeva pavisāmi. So yadeva tattha honti tiṇāni vā paṇṇāni vā tāni ekajjhaṁ saṅgharitvā nisīdāmi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So evaṁ jānāmi: ‘rāgo me pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo; doso me pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo; moho me pahīno ucchinnamūlo tālāvatthukato anabhāvaṅkato āyatiṁ anuppādadhammo’. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto caṅkamāmi, ariyo me eso tasmiṁ samaye caṅkamo hoti. So ce ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, evaṁbhūto tiṭṭhāmi …pe… nisīdāmi …pe… seyyaṁ kappemi, ariyaṁ me etaṁ tasmiṁ samaye uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ hoti. Idaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, ariyaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ, yassāhaṁ etarahi nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī”ti.

But what, worthy Gotama, is the noble high and luxurious bed?” “Brahmin, when I am living supported by a village or town, I robe up in the morning and, taking my bowl and robe, enter the town or village for alms. After the meal, on my return from almsround, I enter within a forest. I gather up some grass or leaves into a pile and sit down cross-legged, setting my body straight, and bringing mindfulness to the present. I know this: ‘I’ve given up greed, hate, and delusion, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so they’re unable to arise in the future.’ When I’m practicing like this, if I walk, at that time my walking is noble. … my standing is noble. … my sitting is noble. When I’m practicing like this, if I lie down, at that time my lying is noble. This is the noble high and luxurious bed that I get these days when I want, without trouble or difficulty.”

“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama. Ko cañño evarūpassa ariyassa uccāsayanamahāsayanassa nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, aññatra bhotā gotamena.

“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing! Who but the worthy Gotama could get such a noble high and luxurious bed when he wants, without trouble or difficulty?

Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ kho bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.

Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways. We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”