Mettasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.62

Numbered Discourses 7.62

6. Abyākatavagga

6. The Undeclared Points

Mettasutta

Don’t Fear Good Deeds

“Mā, bhikkhave, puññānaṁ bhāyittha.

“Mendicants, don’t fear good deeds.

Sukhassetaṁ, bhikkhave, adhivacanaṁ yadidaṁ puññāni.

For ‘good deeds’ is a term for happiness.

Abhijānāmi kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, dīgharattaṁ katānaṁ puññānaṁ dīgharattaṁ iṭṭhaṁ kantaṁ manāpaṁ vipākaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ.

I recall undergoing for a long time the likable, desirable, and agreeable results of good deeds performed over a long time.

Satta vassāni mettacittaṁ bhāvesiṁ.

I developed a mind of love for seven years.

Satta vassāni mettacittaṁ bhāvetvā satta saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe nayimaṁ lokaṁ punāgamāsiṁ.

As a result, for seven eons of the cosmos contracting and expanding I didn’t return to this world again.

Saṁvaṭṭamāne sudāhaṁ, bhikkhave, loke ābhassarūpago homi,

As the cosmos contracted I went to the realm of sublime luminosity.

vivaṭṭamāne loke suññaṁ brahmavimānaṁ upapajjāmi.

As it expanded I was reborn in an empty mansion of divinity.

Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, brahmā homi mahābrahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī.

There I was the Divinity, the Great Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power.

Chattiṁsakkhattuṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sakko ahosiṁ devānamindo;

I was Sakka, lord of gods, thirty-six times.

anekasatakkhattuṁ rājā ahosiṁ cakkavattī dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato.

Many hundreds of times I was a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. My dominion extended to all four sides, I achieved stability in the country, and I possessed the seven treasures.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, imāni satta ratanāni ahesuṁ, seyyathidaṁ—

These were my seven treasures:

cakkaratanaṁ, hatthiratanaṁ, assaratanaṁ, maṇiratanaṁ, itthiratanaṁ, gahapatiratanaṁ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṁ.

the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure.

Parosahassaṁ kho pana me, bhikkhave, puttā ahesuṁ sūrā vīraṅgarūpā parasenappamaddanā.

I had over a thousand sons who were valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of my enemies.

So imaṁ pathaviṁ sāgarapariyantaṁ adaṇḍena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasinti.

After conquering this land girt by sea, I reigned by principle, without rod or sword.

Passa puññānaṁ vipākaṁ,

See the result of good deeds,

Kusalānaṁ sukhesino;

of skillful deeds, for one seeking happiness.

Mettaṁ cittaṁ vibhāvetvā,

I developed a mind of love

Satta vassāni bhikkhavo;

for seven years, mendicants.

Sattasaṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe,

For seven eons of expansion and contraction

Nayimaṁ lokaṁ punāgamiṁ.

I didn’t return to this world again.

Saṁvaṭṭamāne lokamhi,

As the world contracted

homi ābhassarūpago;

I went to the realm of sublime luminosity.

Vivaṭṭamāne lokasmiṁ,

And when it expanded

suññabrahmūpago ahuṁ.

I went to an empty mansion of divinity.

Sattakkhattuṁ mahābrahmā,

Seven times I was a Great Divinity,

vasavattī tadā ahuṁ;

and at that time I was the wielder of power.

Chattiṁsakkhattuṁ devindo,

Thirty-six times I was lord of gods,

devarajjamakārayiṁ.

acting as ruler of the gods.

Cakkavattī ahuṁ rājā,

Then I was king, a wheel-turning monarch,

jambumaṇḍassa issaro;

lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.

Muddhāvasitto khattiyo,

An anointed aristocrat,

manussādhipatī ahuṁ.

I was sovereign of all humans.

Adaṇḍena asatthena,

Without rod or sword,

vijeyya pathaviṁ imaṁ;

I conquered this land.

Asāhasena kammena,

Through non-violent action

samena manusāsi taṁ.

I guided it justly.

Dhammena rajjaṁ kāretvā,

After ruling this vast territory

asmiṁ pathavimaṇḍale;

by means of principle,

Mahaddhane mahābhoge,

I was born in a rich family,

aḍḍhe ajāyihaṁ kule.

affluent and wealthy.

Sabbakāmehi sampanne,

It was replete with all sense pleasures,

ratanehi ca sattahi;

and the seven treasures.

Buddhā saṅgāhakā loke,

This was well taught by the Buddhas,

tehi etaṁ sudesitaṁ.

who bring the world together.

Eso hetu mahantassa,

This is the cause of greatness

pathabyo me na vipajjati;

by which one is called a lord of the land.

Pahūtavittūpakaraṇo,

I was a majestic king,

rājā hoti patāpavā.

with lots of property and assets;

Iddhimā yasavā hoti,

successful and glorious,

jambumaṇḍassa issaro;

lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.

Ko sutvā nappasīdeyya,

Who would not be inspired by this,

api kaṇhābhijātiyo.

even someone of dark birth.

Tasmā hi attakāmena,

Therefore someone who desires self-knowledge,

mahattamabhikaṅkhatā;

and aspires to greatness themselves,

Saddhammo garukātabbo,

should respect the true teaching,

saraṁ buddhānasāsanan”ti.

remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.”

Navamaṁ.