Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

' In former times, lord, war had broken out between gods and asuras. Now in that fight the gods won and the asuras were defeated. Then when the battle was over, to me the conqueror the thought occurred : 'The gods will henceforth enjoy not only celestial nectar but also asura-nectar." But, lord, the experiencing satisfaction and happiness such as this, which was wrought by blows and by wounds, does not conduce to detachment, nor to disinterestedness, nor to cessation, nor to peace, nor to the higher spiritual knowledge1, nor to enlightenment, nor to Nirvana. But this satisfaction, lord, this happiness that I have experienced in hearing the Dhamma of the Exalted One, this which is not wrought by blows and by wounds does conduce to detachment, to disinterestedness, to cessation, to peace, to spiritual knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nirvana.'

8. ' What are the things present to your mind, ruler of gods, when you confess to experiencing such satisfaction and such happiness ? '

'Six are the things present to my mind, lord, that I feel such satisfaction and happiness : —

' I who here merely as a god exist
Have [by my acts]2 incurred the destiny
To live again once more. Hear, sir, and know !

' This, lord, is the first meaning implied in what
I said. [286]

' Deceasing from the gfods I shall forsake The life that 's not of men, and straight shall go Unerring to that womb I fain would choose.

1 Abhinna, i.e. knowledge of that advanced (abhi-) nature, which is neither conveyed by the channels of sense, nor is occupied with sense-experience as such.

2 Cy. afinena kammavipakena, by another result of action.

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1 This, lord, is the second meaning implied in what
I said.

' I who have had my problems rendered clear And live delighting in His Word, shall then Live righteously, mindful and self-possessed.

1 This, lord, is the third meaning implied in what
I said.

' And if into my life thus rightly led
Enlightenment should come, then shall I dwell
As one who Knows, and this shall be the end.

' This, lord, is the fourth meaning implied in what
I said.

' Deceasing from the human sphere, I then Forsake the life of men, and lo ! once more A god I'll be, best in the Deva-world.

' This, lord, is the fifth meaning implied in what
I said.

' Finer than Devas are the Peerless Gods * All glorious, while my last span of life Shall come and go 'tis there my home will be.

[287] ' This, lord, is the sixth meaning implied in my confession of experiencing such satisfaction and such happiness.

' These, lord, are the six things present to my mind that I feel such satisfaction and such happiness.'

9. ' With aspirations unfulfilled, perplexed

And doubting, long I wandered seeking him Who-had-on-That -wise-Thither-Come. Me-

thought,
Hermits who dwell secluded and austere
Must sure enlightened be ! To them I'll fare.
" What must I do to win, what doing fail ? '
Thus asked they rede me naught in Path or Ways.

1 Those called Akani//M.

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But me, forsooth, whereas they know that I Who come, am Sakka of the gods, 'tis me They ask, " What would'st thou that thou comest

here ? "
Thereat to them I teach, as I have heard,
As all may hear, the Dhamma ; whereat they
Rejoicing cry, forsooth, " Vasava have we seen ! "

But since I've seen the Buddha, seen my doubts
Dispelled, now would I, all my fears allayed,
On him, the Enlightened One, adoring wait.
Him do I worship who hath drawn the dart
Of craving, him the Buddha, peerless Lord.
Hail, mighty hero ! hail, kin to the sun !
[288] E'en as by gods is Brahma reverenced,
Lo ! even thus to-day we worship thee.
Thou art the Enlightened One, Teacher

Supreme
Art thou, nor in the world, with all its heav'ns
Of gods, is any found like unto thee ! '

10. Then spake Sakka, ruler of gods, to Five-crest of the Gandhabbas : — ' Great has been your help to me, dear Five-crest, in that you first placated the Exalted One. For it was after you had first placated him, that we were admitted to his presence to see the Exalted One, the Arahant, Buddha Supreme. I will take the place of father to you, and you shall be king of the Gandhabbas, and I will give to you Bhadda, the Sunmaiden, whom you have longed for.'