SN 1.36

Saddhāsutta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Faith

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Saddhā dutiyā purisassa hoti, No ce assaddhiyaṁ avatiṭṭhati; Yaso ca kittī ca tatvassa hoti, Saggañca so gacchati sarīraṁ vihāyā”ti.

“Faith is a person’s partner. If faithlessness doesn’t linger, fame and renown are theirs, and when they discard this corpse they go to heaven.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then another deity recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Kodhaṁ jahe vippajaheyya mānaṁ, Saṁyojanaṁ sabbamatikkameyya; Taṁ nāmarūpasmimasajjamānaṁ, Akiñcanaṁ nānupatanti saṅgā”ti.

“Give up anger, get rid of conceit, and get past all the fetters. Chains don’t torment one who has nothing, not clinging to name and form.”

“Pamādamanuyuñjanti, bālā dummedhino janā; Appamādañca medhāvī, dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

“Fools and simpletons devote themselves to negligence. But the wise protect diligence as their best treasure.

Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, mā kāmarati santhavaṁ; Appamatto hi jhāyanto, pappoti paramaṁ sukhan”ti.

Don’t devote yourself to negligence, or delight in erotic intimacy. For if you’re diligent and practice absorption, you’ll attain ultimate happiness.”