Devadattasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.68

Numbered Discourses 4.68

7. Pattakammavagga

7. Fitting Deeds

Devadattasutta

Devadatta

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.

Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta:

“attavadhāya, bhikkhave, devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

Parābhavāya, bhikkhave, devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kadalī attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

It’s like a banana plant …

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, veḷu attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

or a bamboo …

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, naḷo attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

or a reed, all of which bear fruit to their own ruin and downfall …

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, assatarī attavadhāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti, parābhavāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti;

It’s like a mule, which becomes pregnant to its own ruin and downfall.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādīti.

In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

Phalaṁ ve kadaliṁ hanti,

The banana plant is destroyed by its own fruit,

phalaṁ veḷuṁ phalaṁ naḷaṁ;

as are the bamboo and the reed.

Sakkāro kāpurisaṁ hanti,

Honor destroys a reprobate,

gabbho assatariṁ yathā”ti.

as pregnancy destroys a mule.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.