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Alavaka Sutta: To the Alavaka Yakkha

Alavaka Sutta

Summary: A yakkha challenges the Buddha with riddles and threatens to beat him up.

SN 10.12 PTS: S i 213 CDB i 314

translated from the Pali by

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

1999-2018

Alternate translation: Piyadassi

This sutta also appears at Sn 1.10.

- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa -

Translator's note: This discourse is the source of many proverbs frequently quoted in Theravadin countries. In 1982, when Thailand was celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the founding of the current dynasty, His Majesty the King structured his chief address to the Thai people around the four qualities mentioned in the Buddha's last verse.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Alavi in the haunt of the Alavaka yakkha. Then the Alavaka yakkha went to the Blessed One and on arrival said to him: “Get out, contemplative!”

[Saying,] “All right, my friend,” the Blessed One went out.

“Come in, contemplative!”

[Saying,] “All right, my friend,” the Blessed One went in.

A second time… A third time, the Alavaka yakkha said to the Blessed One, “Get out, contemplative!”

[Saying,] “All right, my friend,” the Blessed One went out.

“Come in, contemplative!”

[Saying,] “All right, my friend,” the Blessed One went in.

Then a fourth time, the Alavaka yakkha said to the Blessed One, “Get out, contemplative!”

“I won't go out, my friend. Do what you have to do.”

“I will ask you a question, contemplative. If you can't answer me, I will possess your mind or rip open your heart or, grabbing you by the feet, hurl you across the Ganges.”

“My friend, I see no one in the cosmos with its devas, Maras & Brahmas, its contemplatives & brahmans, its royalty & commonfolk, who could possess my mind or rip open my heart or, grabbing me by the feet, hurl me across the Ganges. But nevertheless, ask me what you wish.”

[Alavaka:]

What is a person's highest wealth? What, when well-practiced, brings bliss? What is the highest of savors? Living in what way

	is one's life called the best?

[The Buddha:]

Conviction is a person's highest wealth. Dhamma, when well-practiced, brings bliss. Truth is the highest of savors.(1) Living with discernment,

	one's life is called best.

[Alavaka:]

How does one cross over the flood? How cross over the sea? How does one overcome suffering & stress? How is a person purified?

[The Buddha:]

Through conviction one crosses over the flood. Through heedfulness, the sea. Through persistence one overcomes

	suffering & stress.

Through discernment a person is purified.

[Alavaka:]

How does one gain discernment? How does one find wealth? How does one attain honor? How bind friends to oneself?

Passing from this world
to
the next world,

how does one not grieve?

[The Buddha:]

Convinced of the arahants' Dhamma for attaining Unbinding, — heedful, observant — one listening well

	gains discernment.

Doing what's fitting, enduring burdens, one with initiative

	finds wealth.

Through truth

	one attains honor.

Giving

	binds friends to oneself.

Endowed with these four qualities,

— truth,
self-control,
stamina,
relinquishment —

a householder of conviction, on passing away, doesn't grieve.

Now, go ask others, common brahmans & contemplatives, if anything better than

truth,
self-control,
endurance,
& relinquishment

here can be found.

[Alavaka:]

How could I go ask common brahmans & contemplatives? — now that today I understand

what benefits
the next life.

It was truly for my well-being that the Awakened One came

to stay in Alavi.

Today I understand where what is given bears great fruit.

I will wander from village to village,

	town to town,

paying homage to the Self-awakened One & the true rightness of the Dhamma.

Note

1.: This is apparently a reference to the concept of “savor” (rasa) in Indian aesthetic theory. For more on this topic, see the Introduction to //Dhammapada: A Translation.//

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Provenance:

The source of this work is the gift within Access to Insight “Offline Edition 2012.09.10.14”, last replication 12. March 2013, generously given by John Bullitt and mentioned as: ©1999 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Transcribed from a file provided by the translator.

This Zugang zur Einsicht edition is 2013 (ATI 1999-2012).

Translations, rebublishing, editing and additions are in the sphere of responsibility of Zugang zur Einsicht.

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How to cite this document (one suggested style): “Alavaka Sutta: To the Alavaka Yakkha” (SN 10.12), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 11 February 2012, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn10/sn10.012.than.html . Retrieved on 10 September 2012 (Offline Edition 2012.09.10.14), republished by Zugang zur Einsicht on http://www.zugangzureinsicht.org/html/tipitaka/sn/sn10/sn10.012.than_en.html retreived on: “date”

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Alavaka Sutta: To the Alavaka Yakkha

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