天請問經

Thus have I heard. At one time the Bhagavān was dwelling in the country of Śrāvastī, residing in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika in the Jeta Grove.

At that time there was a deva of wondrous and surpassing countenance who, after midnight had passed, came to the place where the Buddha dwelt, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, then withdrew and stood to one side. That deva possessed a most awe-inspiring and majestic radiance, illuminating all around the gardens and groves of Jeta.

Then the deva, using a wondrous gāthā, made his request of the Buddha, saying:

"What is the sharp sword and blade?

What is the foul poison?

What is the blazing fire?

What is the deepest darkness?"

At that time the World-Honored One also used a gāthā (Gāthā: a verse) to address that deva, saying:

"Harsh speech: the sharp sword and blade

Greed and Desire: the foul poison

Anger: the blazing fire

Ignorance: the deepest darkness."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"Who is the one called 'gaining benefit'?

Who is the one called 'losing benefit'?

What is the sturdy armor?

What is the sharp blade and staff?"

The World-Honored One said:

"The giver is the one called 'gaining benefit'

The receiver is the one called 'losing benefit'

Patience is the sturdy armor

Wisdom is the sharp blade and staff."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What is the robber and thief?

What is the wealth of the Wise?

What, among the Devas and the World,

is named as that which robs and steals?"

The World-Honored One said:

"Wrong thinking (false reflection) is the robber and thief

Śīla (Sīla: the Precepts) is the wealth of the Wise

Among the various Devas and the World,

Breaking the Precepts is that which robs and steals."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What is the most peaceful and joyful?

What is the great wealth and nobility?

What is ever upright and dignified?

What is ever ugly and base?"

The World-Honored One said:

"Having few desires: the most peaceful and joyful

Knowing contentment: the great wealth and nobility

Upholding the Precepts: ever upright and dignified

Breaking the Precepts: ever ugly and base."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What is a wholesome kinsman?

What is the mind of malice and enmity?

What is the heaviest suffering and hardship?

What is the foremost joy?"

The World-Honored One said:

"Merit is the wholesome kinsman

Sin is the mind of malice and enmity

The Hells: the heaviest suffering

Non-arising (the unborn): the foremost joy."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What is it that is loved yet does not accord?

What is it that accords yet is not loved?

What is the most feverish sickness?

Who is the Great Physician?"

The World-Honored One said:

"The various Desires: loved yet do not accord

Liberation: accords yet is not loved

Craving is the most feverish sickness

The Buddha is the Great Physician."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What is it that veils the World?

What is it that deludes the World?

What causes one to relinquish kin and friends?

What blocks rebirth in the Heavens?"

The World-Honored One said:

"Lacking Wisdom (without wisdom): veils the World

The World: Delusion deludes it

Avarice relinquishes kin and friends

Defiling attachment: blocks rebirth in the Heavens."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"What thing is not burned by fire,

cannot be shattered by wind,

is not destroyed by water,

and is able to sustain the World?

What is able, together with kings and bandits,

to resist bandits valiantly,

and cannot be seized away

by humans or by Non-humans?"

The World-Honored One said:

"Merit is not burned by fire,

cannot be shattered by wind,

is not destroyed by water,

and is able to sustain the World.

Merit is able, together with kings and bandits,

to resist bandits valiantly,

and cannot be seized away

by humans or by Non-humans."

The deva again made his request, saying:

"Now, because I have a doubt,

I beg the Buddha to help sever and remove it:

From this life passing into the life to come,

who is it that deceives himself?"

The World-Honored One said:

"If one has abundant precious wealth

yet does not cultivate Merit,

from this life passing into the life to come,

it is he who deceives himself."

At that time, when that deva had heard the World-Honored One expound this Sūtra, he was at once joyful and delighted, and praised it saying, "Truly, this has never been before!" He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and then, before the Buddha, suddenly vanished from sight.

THE SŪTRA OF THE DEVA'S REQUEST AND INQUIRY (The End)