Discourse
on Atanatiya
(Atanatiya Sutta) (1)
Thus have
I heard:
On one occasion
the Blessed One was living on the Vulture's Peak near Rajagaha
(Rajagir).
Then four
great kings (2) having placed a guard
over the four quarters, with a large army of Yakkhas, of Gandhabbas,
of Kumbhandas, of Nagas; having placed troops; having placed
a barricade of soldiers on four sides, came to the presence
of the Blessed One, when the night was far advanced, illuminating
the entire Vulture's Peak with their surpassing radiance, saluted
the Blessed One and sat on one side. From among the (attendant)
Yakkhas, some saluted the Blessed One, and sat on one side;
some exchanged greetings with the Blessed One conversing in
a friendly and courteous manner, and sat on one side; some saluted
him with clasped hands, and sat on one side; some announced
their name and lineage, and sat on one side; some sat on one
side in silence.
Then the
great King Vessavana (Skt. Vaisravana)(3)
,
who was seated on one side, said to the Blessed One:
'Venerable
Sir (bhante), there are eminent Yakkhas who are not pleased
with the Blessed One, there are also eminent Yakkhas pleased
with the Blessed One. There are Yakkhas of middle rank who are
not pleased with the Blessed One, and there are those who are
pleased with the Blessed One. There are Yakkhas of inferior
rank who are not pleased with the Blessed One, and there are
those who are pleased with the Blessed One. The Yakkhas, Bhante,
as a rule, are not pleased with the Blessed One. What is the
reason for this?'
'Well, the
Blessed One teaches the Dhamma to establish abstention from
killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech,
and from liquor that causes intoxication and negligence. To
them such teaching is unpleasant and unpalatable.'
'Surely
bhante, there are disciples of the Blessed One. They frequent
the remote recesses of forest and woodland wilderness where
there is no sound, no tumult, where breezes are void of human
contact, and suitable for man's seclusion and quiet contemplation.
There are eminent Yakkhas who haunt these forests, who have
no faith in the word of the Blessed One.
Bhante,
may the Blessed One learn the Atanata protection so that
the displeased Yakkhas may be pleased, so that the monks and
nuns, laymen and laywomen, may be at ease, guarded, protected
and unharmed.'
The Blessed
One gave consent by his silence. Then the great King Vessavana,
knowing that the Blessed One has consented recited the Atanatiya
protection:
1. Homage
to Vipassi (the Buddha) possessed of the eye (of wisdom) and
splendour. Homage to Sikhi (the Buddha) compassionate towards
all beings.
2. Homage
to Vessabhu (the Buddha) free from all defilements and possessed
of ascetic energy. Homage to Kakusanda (the Buddha), the conqueror
of (the five-fold) host of Mara.
3. Homage
to Konagamana (the Buddha) who has shed all defilements, and
had lived the holy life. Homage to Kassapa (the Buddha) who
is fully freed from all defilements.
4. Homage
to Angirasa (the Buddha Gotama), the son of the Sakyas, who
is full of radiance, and who proclaimed the Dhamma that dispels
all suffering.
5. Those
in the world, who have extinguished (the flames of passion),
and have perceived through insight (meditation), things as they
really are, they never slander anyone; they are mighty men who
are free from fear.
6. Gotama
(the Buddha) dear to gods and men, endowed with knowledge and
virtue (4), mighty and fearless, all do
homage to him (homage be to him).
7-8. When
the resplendent sun - offspring of Aditi - with its full orb,
arises, then the night ceases, and it is called the day. The
direction from which the sun rises (is the East). There exists
the ocean deep and vast.
9. This
- a spreading sheet of water - they know as the ocean. Where
there is East (to the East of Mount Meru) they say that quarter
is East.
10. Custodian
of this quarter is a great king named Dhatarattha who has a
retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the Gandhabbas.
11. Attended
by Ghandhabbas he enjoys their song and dance. Many are his
(Datharatta's) sons, all of one name, so have I heard.
12-13. Eighty
and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they.
They too, beholding the Buddha - Kinsman of the sun, mighty
and fearless - salute him from afar: "Homage to thee, who
art unique among mankind; glory to thee, the noblest among men."
14-15. As
by thy omniscience (5), thou hast looked
on (mankind with a knowing eye), even the non-humans pay reverence
to thee. This we have often heard. We, therefore, request the
Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha).
They too say: "We reverence, Gotama, the Conqueror, we
reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue."
16-18. The
direction from where the petas (corpses), backbiters,
murderers, the fierce brigands, and the deceitful are removed,
is the direction (to the right of Mount Meru), and is called
the quarter of the South. The custodian of this quarter is a
great king named Virulha who has a retinue of attendants, and
is the sovereign lord of Kumbhandas. Attended by the Kumbhandas
he enjoys their song and dance.
19. Many
are his (Virulha's) sons, all of one name, so have I heard.
Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their names, and mighty
are they.
20. They
too, beholding the Buddha - Kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless
- salute him from afar: "Homage to thee, who art unique
among mankind; glory to thee, the highest among men."
21-22. As
by thy omniscience, thou hast looked on (mankind with a knowing
eye), even the non-humans pay reverence to thee. This we have
often heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage
to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They too say: "We
reverence, Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is
endowed with knowledge and virtue."
23-24. When
the resplendent sun - offspring of Aditi - with its full orb,
sets, then the day ceases, and it is called night. The direction
where the sun sets (is the West). There exists the ocean deep
and vast.
25. This
- a spreading sheet of water - they know as the ocean. Where
there is West (to the West of Mount Meru) they say that quarter
is West.
26. Custodians
of this quarter is a great king named Virupakkha who has a retinue
of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the Nagas.
27. Attended
by Nagas he enjoys their song and dance. Many are his (Virupakkha's)
sons, all of one name, so have I heard.
28-29. Eighty
and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they.
They too, beholding the Buddha - Kinsman of the sun, mighty
and fearless - salute him from afar: "Homage to thee, who
art unique among mankind; glory to thee, the noblest among men."
30-31. As
by thy omniscience, thou hast looked on (mankind with a knowing
eye), even the non-humans pay reverence to thee. This we have
often heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage
to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They too say: "We
reverence, Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is
endowed with knowledge and virtue."
32. Where
lies delightful Uttarakuru (the Northern continent), where towers
beautiful Mount Meru, there are born men who are selfless and
unattached.
33. They
neither sow the seed nor use (6) the plough.
Spontaneously grown corn is there for them to enjoy.
34. The
rice, purged of the red powder and of husk, clean and sweet-scented,
is boiled in golden vessels; it is this that they partake of.
35. They
make of cows a single-seated mount (like mounting on horse back)
(7), and ride about from place to place.
36-37. They
make use of women and men, girls and boys as vehicles, and travel
from place to place in them.
38. Mounting
on vehicles (on elephants and horses) they (the Yakkhas of King
Vessavana) travel in every direction.
39. This
king who has a retinue of attendants, is possessed of elephants
and horses on which he rides. He also has celestial chariots,
palaces and palanquins. He has cities well built in the celestial
regions.
Their names
are Atanata, Kusinata, Parakusinata, Natapuriya, Parakusitanata.
To the North, the city of Kapilavata, to the South, Janogha,
and cities named Navanavati, Ambara-ambaravati and the kingdom
of Alakamanda. Happy one (addressing the Buddha), this Kuvera
(another name for Vessavana) has a kingdom named Visna, therefore,
the great king Kuvera is called Vessavana. There are Yakkhas
(of this king) who hold investigations and make them known.
They are Tatola, Tattala, Tatotala, Ojasi, Tejasi, Tatojasi,
Suro, Raja (Sura-raja) Arittho, Nemi (Arittha-nemi). There (in
Visana kingdom) lies the lake Dharani whence rain-clouds (drawing
water) pour them forth. And there is also the hall named Bhagalavati
where the Yakkhas assemble.
40. There
(round about the hall) are trees bearing perpetual fruit. (On
these trees) there are multitudes of birds. There also is heard
the cry of peacocks and herons, and the melodious song of kokilas
(the Indian cuckoo).
41. There
(near the lake) the cry of the birds, who call 'Live ye! Live
ye!' ('jivamjivaka') is heard. The bird Otthavacittaka
('O lift your hearts!'), the jungle fowls, the crabs and the
Pokkharasataka birds roam the woods.
42. There
the cry of the parot, the myna-birds and the dandamanavaka
birds is heard. And Kuvera's lotus-lake ever lies in her beauty
in all seasons.
43-44. That
direction (to the North of Mount Meru) is called by people the
quarter of the North. The custodian of this quarter is a great
king named Kuvera who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign
lord of the Yakkhas. Attended by the Yakkhas he enjoys their
songs and dance.
45. Many
are his (Kuvera's) sons, all of one name, so have I heard. Eighty
and ten and one are they, Inda their names, and mighty are they.
46. They
too, beholding the Buddha, kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless,
salute him from afar: "Homage to thee, who art unique among
mankind! Glory to thee, the noblest among men."
47-48. As
by thy pure omniscience thou hast looked on (mankind); even
the non-humans pay reverence to thee, this we have heard. We,
therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the
Conqueror (the Buddha). They, too, say, "We reverence Gotama,
the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge
and virtue".
'Happy One,
this is the Atanata protection whereby both the monks and nuns,
laymen and laywomen may live at ease, guarded, protected and
unharmed.
If any monk
or nun, layman or laywoman learns by heart this Atanata protection,
and be word-perfect in repeating it, and if any non-human male
or female Yakkha, youth or maiden Yakkha, Yakkha Minister or
any Yakkha, or Yakkha attendant; male or female Gandhabba
..
(as before); male or female Kumbhanda
.. male or female
Naga
..were to walk with him or her, or stand or sit or
lie down with him or her with malevolent intent, such a non-human,
Happy One, will not obtain hospitality from any town or township,
will not obtain a place to dwell, nor could live in the Kingdom
of Alakamanda. He will not be able to attend the meetings of
the Yakkhas. Further he would not be accepted or given in marriage,
he would be reproached (by casting remarks on his deformed teeth
or eyes or any part of the body), and the non-humans would put
an empty bowl over his head and split it (head) in seven pieces.
Happy One,
there are non-humans who are fierce, violent, given to retaliation;
those non-humans heed neither the (four) great kings, nor their
ministers nor their attendants. They are called rebels against
the (four) great kings. Even as in the kingdom of Magadha, the
thieves heed neither the king of Magadha, nor the ministers,
nor their attendants, and are called rebels against the king
of Magadha, so there are non-humans who are fierce
..(as
before). They are called rebels against the (four) great kings.
Happy One,
if any non-human - male or female Yakkha, youth or maiden Yakkha,
yakkha minister or any Yakkha, or Yakkha attendant; male or
female Gandhabba
..(as before); male or female Kumbhanda
..
male or female Naga
..were to walk with a monk or nun,
or a layman or laywoman, or stand, or sit, or lie down with
him or her with malevolent intent, then should (the molested
one) inform, cry aloud and shout to those Yakkhas, to the mighty
Yakkhas, their commanders and chief commanders saying: "This
Yakkha is seizing me, takes possession of me, is harassing me,
assailing me, is harming me, harming me intensely and would
not let me go!"
Who are
the Yakkhas, mighty Yakkhas and commanders, and chief commanders
(to whom such appeal should be made?)
49. Inda,
Soma, and Varuna, Bharadvaja, Pajapati, Candana, Kamasettha
too, Kinnughandu, Nigahandu;
50. Panada,
Opamanna too, Devasuta and Matali, Cittasena and Gandhabba,
Nala, Raja, Janesabha;
51. Satagira,
Hemavata, Punnaka, Karatiya, Gula, Sivaka, Mucalinda too, Vessamitta,
Yugandhara;
52. Gopala,
Suppagedha too, Hiri, Netti and Mandiya, Pancalacanda, Alavaka,
Pajjunna, Sumana, Sumukha, Dadimukkha,
With these Serisakka.
These are
the Yakkhas, mighty Yakkhas, the commanders, the chief commanders
to whom (the molested one) should inform, cry aloud and shout
saying: "This Yakkha is seizing me, takes possession of
me, is harassing me, assailing me, is harming me, and harming
me intensely, and this Yakkha would not let me go!"
This, Happy
One, is the Atanata protection whereby monks and nuns, laymen
and laywomen may live at ease, guarded, protected and unharmed.
Happy One,
we now take our leave of you; for we have many duties to attend
to (so said the four Great Kings).'
'Great Kings,
it is time for your departure' (replied the Buddha).
The four
great kings arose from their seats, and saluting the Blessed
One, circled round him on his right side, and there and then
vanished. From among the (attendant) Yakkhas some arose from
their seats, and saluted the Blessed One, circled round him
on his right side, and there and then vanished; some exchanged
greetings with the Blessed One conversing in a friendly and
courteous manner, and there and then vanished; some saluted
the Blessed One with clasped hands, and there and then vanished;
some announced their name and lineage, and there and then vanished;
some in silence there and then vanished.
When the
night had passed the Blessed One addressed the monks: (The Buddha
related to the monks word for word what has been said by the
great King Vessavana, see above.) 'Learn by heart, monks, the
Atanata protection, constantly make use of it, bear it in mind.
This Atanata protection, monks, pertains to your welfare, and
by virtue of it, monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen may live
at ease, guarded, protected and unharmed.'
This the
Blessed One said. Those monks glad at heart rejoiced at the
words of the Blessed One.
Here
Ends the Book of Protection
NOTES:
1. D.32
2. They are, Dhatarathha, Virulha, Virupakkha
and Vessavana, presiding over the four quarters in the
celestial regions.
3.Vessavana, King of the northern quarter, according
to the commentary was familiar with the Buddha, expert in conversation,
and well-disciplined, and thus he became the spokesman.
4. Vijja-carana,
literally science and conduct.
5. Kusalena, an unusual phrase: 'omniscience', 'pure
wisdom' sublime wisdom, Com.
6. Na piniyanti, literally they do not carry the plough.
7. Tam pitthim abhiruyha, mounting on the back, Com.