Itivuttaka 82

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Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

82. Devasaddasuttam (Celebration of Angels/Devas)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, these three divine sounds sound forth among the devas(angels) on appropriate occasions. Which three?

When a disciple of the noble ones, shaving off his hair & beard, clothing himself in the ochre robe, makes up his mind to go forth from the home life into homelessness, on that occasion the divine sound sounds forth among the devas: ‘This disciple of the noble ones has made up his mind to do

battle with Mara(devil/deathlord).’ This is the first divine sound that sounds forth among the devas(angels) on appropriate occasions.

“When a disciple of the noble ones lives devoted to developing the seven [sets of] qualities that are wings to awakening,[1] on that occasion the divine sound sounds forth among the devas: ‘This disciple of the noble ones is doing battle with Mara.’ This is the second divine sound that sounds forth among the devas on appropriate occasions.

“When a disciple of the noble ones, through the ending of asavas(wants/desires), dwells in the asava(want/desire)-free awareness in moksha & moksha with direct understanding, directly knowing & realizing it for himself right in the here-&-now, on that occasion the divine sound sounds forth among the devas(angels): ‘This disciple of the noble ones has won the battle. Having been in the front lines of the battle, he now dwells victorious.’ This is the third divine sound that sounds forth among the devas on appropriate occasions.

“These are the three divine sounds that sound forth among the devas on appropriate occasions.”

Seeing he’s won the battle —the disciple of the Rightly Self-awakened One (of Buddha)— even the devas(angels) pay homage to this great one, thoroughly mature. “Homage to you, O thoroughbred man— you who have won the hard victory, defeating the army of Death, unhindered in emancipation(moksha,nirvana).” Thus they pay homage, the devas(angels), to one who has reached the one's goal, for they see in him no means [2] that would bring him under Death’s sway.

NOTES:

1. The wings to awakening are the four establishings of mindfulness, the four right exertions, the four bases for power, the five faculties, the five strengths, the seven factors for awakening, and the noble eightfold path.

2. Reading na passanti with the Sri Lankan edition. The Thai edition reads, namassanti, “they pay homage,” which makes no sense.