Ghaññhikaro Sutta

Translation by Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna

1. Standing on a side, Ghaññhãkara the son of the gods said this stanza in the presence of the Blessed One:


 * "Seven bhikkhus, destroyed greed and hatred,
 * Crossed the diffused ness of the world,
 * And took birth, as Aviha Brahmas.

2. How did they cross the difficult domains of death?
 * How did they give up the human bodies and gain heavenly ones?

3. The three Upaka, Phalagaõ.da and Pukkusati,
 * Bhaddiya, Khaõ.dadeva, Bahuraggi and Pingiya.
 * They gave up human bodies and obtained heavenly ones.

4. To tell their merit, how they overcame the snare of death,
 * Knowing whose Teaching did they cut the bond `to be'.

5. It's not in another's but the Blessed One's dispensation,
 * They learnt the Teaching and cut the bond `to be'.
 * They destroyed name and matter without a hold.
 * Knowing this Teaching they cut the bond `to be'"

6. "You say wise words, difficult to understand and realize.
 * Knowing whose Teaching do you speak words like these?"

7. "In the past, there was a potter named Gathikara in Vehalinga.
 * He, a lay disciple of the Blessed One Kassapa, cared for his mother and father.
 * Refraining from sexuality, he led a holy life and abstained from eating meat.
 * They came from the same village, they were your friends.
 * I know this, with the destruction of greed and anger,

The seven bhikkhus are released from the diffused ness of the world."

8. "As Bhaggava says there was, in the past a lay disciple of the Blessed One Kassapa, who cared for his mother and father.

He refrained from sexuality, led a holy life and abstained from eating meat.
 * We came from the same village, we were friends.
 * Thus the friends of yore have met,
 * We two having developed our selves, bear the last bodies."