Sutta Nipāta 1-10: Āḷavakasutta

So it was heard by me:

At one time Bhagavat dwelt at Āḷavī, in the realm of the Yakkha Āḷavaka. Then the Yakkha Āḷavaka went to the place where Bhagavat dwelt, and having gone there he said this to Bhagavat:

‘ Come out, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat came out.

‘ Enter, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat entered.

A second time the Yakkha Āḷavaka said this to Bhagavat: ‘Come out, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat came out.

‘ Enter, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat entered.

A third time the Yakkha Āḷavaka said this Bhagavat: ‘Come out, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat came out.

‘ Enter, O Samaṇa!’

‘ Yes, O friend!’ so saying Bhagavat entered.

A fourth time the Yakkha Āḷavaka said this to Bhagavat: ‘Come out, O Samaṇa!’

‘ I shall not come out to thee, O friend, do what thou pleasest.’

‘ I shall ask thee a question, O Samaṇa, if thou canst not answer it, I will either scatter thy thoughts or cleave thy heart, or take thee by thy feet and throw thee over to the other shore of the G aṅg ā.’

‘ I do not see, O friend, any one in this world nor in the world of gods, Māras, Brahmans, amongst the beings comprising gods, men, Samaṇas, and Brāhmaṇas, who can either scatter my thoughts or cleave my heart, or take me by the feet and throw me over to the other shore of the G aṅg ā; however, O friend, ask what thou pleasest.’

Then the Yakkha Āḷavaka addressed Bhagavat in stanzas:

1. ‘What in this world is the best property for a man? what, being well done, conveys happiness? what is indeed the sweetest of sweet things? how lived do they call life the best?’ (180)

2. Bhagavat said: ‘Faith is in this world the best property for a man; Dhamma, well observed, conveys happiness; truth indeed is the sweetest of things; and that life they call the best which is lived with understanding.’ (181)

3. Āḷavaka said: ‘How does one cross the stream (of existence)? how does one cross the sea? how does one conquer pain? how is one purified?’ (182)

4. Bhagavat said: ‘By faith one crosses the stream, by zeal the sea, by exertion one conquers pain, by understanding one is purified.’ (183)

5. Āḷavaka said: ‘How does one obtain understanding? how does one acquire wealth? how does one obtain fame? how does one bind friends (to himself)? how does one not grieve passing away from this world to the other?’ (184)

6. Bhagavat said: ‘He who believes in the Dhamma of the venerable ones as to the acquisition of Nibbāna, will obtain understanding from his desire to hear, being zealous and discerning. (185)

7. ‘He who does what is proper, who takes the yoke (upon him and) exerts himself, will acquire wealth, by truth he will obtain fame, and being charitable he will bind friends (to himself). (186)

8. ‘He who is faithful and leads the life of a householder, and possesses the following four Dhammas (virtues), truth, justice (dhamma), firmness, and liberality,—such a one indeed does not grieve when passing away. (187)

9. ‘Pray, ask also other Samaṇas and Brāhmaṇas far and wide, whether there is found in this world anything greater than truth, self-restraint, liberality, and forbearance.’ (188)

10. Āḷavaka said: ‘Why should I now ask Samaṇas and Brāhmaṇas far and wide? I now know what is my future good. (189)

11. ‘For my good Buddha came to live at āḷavī; now I know where (i.e. on whom bestowed) a gift will bear great fruit. (190)

12. ‘I will wander about from village to village, from town to town, worshipping the perfectly enlightened (sambuddha) and the perfection of the Dhamma.’ (191)

Āḷavakasutta is ended.