SUTTA-NIPATA 2.5

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Suttanipata>>2.5 SUCHILOMASUTTA

Adapted From the Translation by V. Fausboll(1881)

The Yakkha(non-human, spirit) Suchiloma threatens to harm Buddha, if he cannot answer his questions. Buddha answers that all passions proceed from the body.

So it was heard by me:

At one time Bhagava(Lord Buddha) dwelt at Gaya (seated) on a stone seat in the realm of the Yakkha Suchiloma. And at that time the Yakkha Khara and the Yakkha Suchiloma passed by, not far from Bhagava(Lord Buddha). And then the Yakkha Khara said this to the Yakkha Suchiloma: 'Is this man a Samana(monk)?'

Suchiloma answered: 'He is no Samana, he is a Samanaka (a wretched Samana); however I will ascertain whether he is a Samana or a Samanaka.'

Then the Yakkha Suchiloma went up to Bhagava(Lord Buddha), and having gone up to him, he brushed against Bhagava(Lord Buddha) 's body. Then Bhagava(Lord Buddha) took away his body. Then the Yakkha Suchiloma said this to Bhagava(Lord Buddha) : 'O Samana(monk), are you afraid of me?'

Bhagava(Lord Buddha) answered: 'No, friend, I am not afraid of you, but your touching me is sinful.'

Suchiloma said: 'I will ask you a question, O Samana; if you can not answer it I will either scatter your thoughts or cleave your heart, or take you by the feet and throw you over to the other shore of the Ganga.'

Bhagava(Lord Buddha) answered: 'I do not see, O friend, neither in this world together with the world of the Devas, Maras, Brahmans, nor amongst the generation of Samana and Brahmanas, gods and men, the one 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 Ganga. However ask, O friend, what you may please.' Then the Yakkha Suchiloma addressed Bhagava(Lord Buddha)  in a stanza:

1. ' What origin have passion(raag) and aversion(dvesha,dosa), disgust, delight, and horror? from where do they arise? after arising do doubts vex the mind, as boys vex a crow?' (273)

2. Buddha said: 'Passion(raag) and aversion(dosa,dvesh) have their origin from this (body), disgust, delight, and horror arise from this body; arising from this (body) doubts vex the mind, as boys vex a crow. 3. 'They originate in desire, they arise in self, like the shoots of the banyan tree; far and wide they are connected, with sensual pleasures, like the maluva creeper spread in the wood. (274)

4. 'Those who know whenever it (sin) arises, drive it away. Listen, O Yakkha! They cross over this stream that is difficult to cross, and has not been crossed before, with a view to not being born again.' (275)

Suchilomasutta is ended.