Suvira Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anàthapiõóika in Jeta's grove in Sàvatthi.

2. From there the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus" and the bhikkhus said: "Yes, venerable sir."

3. And the Blessed One said thus:

4. "Bhikkhus, in the past the Titans became hostile towards the gods. Then Sakka the king of gods addressed Suvãra the son of gods and said: `Dear one, the Titans are hostile towards the gods. Go and meet the hostility.' Suvãra the son of the gods said `Yes, good sir, I will do it,' and became negligent.

5. For the second time, Sakka the king of gods addressed Suvãra the son of gods and said: `Dear one, the Titans are hostile towards the gods. Go and meet the hostility.' Suvãra the son of the gods said `Yes, good sir, I will do it,' and became negligent.

6. For the third time Sakka the king of gods addressed Suvãra the son of gods and said: "Dear one, the Titans are hostile towards the gods. Go and meet the hostility." Suvãra the son of the gods said "Yes, good sir, I will do it" and became negligent.

7. Bhikkhus, then Sakka the king of gods said this stanza to Suvãra the son of gods:


 * "Without an effort and without exercising yourself
 * pleasantness cannot be attained.
 * Suvãra, go there, where you can put your evil to rest."

8. "The lazy one, without effort does not do any work,
 * Sakka, I have prospered in all sensuality and am given a boon"

9. Suvãra, go to the place where the lazy, effortless
 * continually prosper in pleasantness
 * There, you can put your evil to rest."

10. "Sakka, king of gods, we enjoyed pleasantness without activity.
 * Sakka I am given a boon, to be without grief and worries."

11. "If there is anything without activity that does not decay for any reason,
 * That is the path to extinction. Suvãra, go there and put your evil to rest."

12. "Bhikkhus, Sakka, the king of gods, supported by the fruits of his merits holds power over the splendor of the thirty-three and rules over them praising the arousing of effort. Bhikkhus, you having gone forth in this well declared dispensation become resplendent if you arouse effort and make endeavor to attain the not yet attained and realize the not yet realized."