Sakka and Verocana (SA-2.50)

Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī at the Jeta Grove in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.

At that time Sakka Devānaṁ Inda and the asura Verocana came to the Buddha at night. Splendid and radiant, they paid homage at the Buddha’s feet and sat to one side. The brilliance of Sakka and Verocana filled the Jeta Grove with light just as if it were daytime. Then Verocana sat to one side and spoke this verse:

“People who strive continuously /
will certainly attain what they seek.
Having attained the benefits they sought /
they have peace and happiness.”

Sakka also spoke a verse:

“People who strive continuously /
will certainly attain what they seek.
Having attained the benefits they sought, /
practicing patience is supreme.”

Then Sakka asked the Buddha: “World-honored One, was what we said beneficial or not beneficial?”

The Buddha told Sakka: “What is well explained is always well spoken. Now hear what I have to say.” And he spoke a verse:

“For the sake of gain, sentient beings /
all strive for whatever they desire.
The desire for gains, the wish for happiness: /
if people strive with strong effort they will attain what they seek
Once the goal is attained, patience is supreme; /
therefore one should practice patience.”

Having heard what the Buddha had said Sakka and Verocana paid homage at his feet, vanished from that place and returned to their heavenly palaces.

Translation by Marcus Bingenheimer, 2005–8 (minor revisions 2009). First version published in Buddhist Studies Review vol. 23.1 (2006). The translations used here were revised by the translator and published in his Studies in Āgama Literature—with Special Reference to the Shorter Chinese Saṁyuktāgama, Dharma Drum Buddhist College, 2010.

Translated from the Taishō text of the CBETA-Database (Version Feb. 2006). All sutta titles added by the translator.

This series of translations were part of the project “A Digital Comparative Edition of the Bieyi za ahan jing” conducted at the Chung-hwa Institute for Buddhist Studies (中華佛學研究所) and the Dharma Drum Buddhist College (法鼓佛教研修學院), funded by the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (蔣經國國際學術交流基金會). The full project, including parallel Chinese, Pali, and Sanskrit texts, is available online here.

Used with kind permission of the translator.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.