Māghasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.3

Linked Discourses 2.3

1. Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Māghasutta

With Māgha

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho māgho devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Māgha, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

and addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kiṁsu chetvā sukhaṁ seti,

“When what is slain do you sleep at ease?

kiṁsu chetvā na socati;

When what is slain is there no sorrow?

Kissassu ekadhammassa,

What is the one thing

vadhaṁ rocesi gotamā”ti.

whose killing you approve?”

“Kodhaṁ chetvā sukhaṁ seti,

“When anger’s slain you sleep at ease.

kodhaṁ chetvā na socati;

When anger’s slain there is no sorrow.

Kodhassa visamūlassa,

Anger has a poisonous root

madhuraggassa vatrabhū;

and a sweet tip, O Smiter of the Constrictor.

Vadhaṁ ariyā pasaṁsanti,

The noble ones praise its killing,

tañhi chetvā na socatī”ti.

for when it’s slain there is no sorrow.”