Āḷavaka Sutta | Sn I-10

10. Āḷavaka Sutta

Discourse On The Demon Āḷavaka

Thus have I heard:

On one occasion the Buddha was staying in the palace of Āḷavaka the demon.

At that time, Āḷavaka approached the Buddha and ordered: Get out, monk!

Very well, friend, the. Buddha said and he went out.

Then the demon said, Enter, monk.

And the Buddha said, Very well, friend and did as bidden.

Again the demon said, Get out, monk!

And the Buddha said, Very well, friend and did as bidden.

Enter, monk, the demon said again and Very well, friend the Buddha said and obey him.

For the 3^rd time the demon asked the Buddha to get out and when out, again ordered in.

But when for the 4^th time the demon commanded, the Buddha refused, saying, I am not getting out, friend. Do whatever you like.

Thereupon Āḷavaka said,

I will ask you some questions, monk:

If you cannot answer them, I will either send you out of your mind or break open your heart, or take you by the feet and caste you away onto the yonder bank of the Ganga River!

(The Buddha said:)

Āḷavaka, in all the celestial worlds of Brahmas, Devas and Humans, including Māra himself, and all the human world of the monarchs, recluses, monks, Brahmins and monarchs,

I see nobody who could either send me out of my mind, or break open my heart, or take me by the feet and caste me away onto the yonder bank of the Ganga anyway,

Friend Āḷavaka, ask to me the questions you have to ask.

Then Āḷavaka put his questions in the following stanzas;

183. What is the most precious thing a man can possess (in life )?
What mode of good conduct brings really wholesome results?
What is the most wholesome taste (in life)?
What mode of livelihood is called the best (in life)? (1)

184. (Āḷavaka),

Faith (Saddha) is the most precious thing a man can possess (in life).
The 10 meritorious actions bring wholesome results.
There is no taste as wholesome as truthfulness.
A livelihood based on knowledge is called the best. (2)

185. How could one cross the (4) floods (of Saṁsāra)?
How could one cross the ocean (of Saṁsāra)?
How could one get liberation from the world's ills?
How could one attain perfection? (3)

186, (Āḷavaka),

By means of faith (saddhā) one can cross the (4) floods of (Saṁsāra),
By means of vigilant mind one can cross the ocean (of Saṁsāra).
By means of vigour one can get liberation from the world's ills.
By means of knowledge one can attain perfection. (4).

187. How is knowledge acquired? How is wealth acquired?
How is fame achieved? How are friendships made.
How .could one avoid mourning in the hereafter? (5)

188. Hearing attentively
and believing in the Arahant’s proven Path to Nibbāna,
with diligence and a discerning mind
one acquires knowledge. (6)

189. By doing what is appropriate, not neglecting one's responsibility
and making due exertion, one acquires wealth.
By truthfulness one establish his good reputation.
By giving friendships are made. (7)

190. A well-meaning householder with faith
upholds these 4 things, namely;

- and he will have no mourning in the hereafter, (8)

191. Come! Āḷavaka, ask the many other recluses and Brahmins

whether there could be any more than these 4; i.e.

(9)

192. (No! No Venerable Sir!) Today I have learnt (From the Buddha) on matters relating to well-being in the future existence. Why should I ask any other recluse or Brahmin? (10)

193. It was indeed for my benefit that the Buddha has come and stayed in Ālāvi. I have (The great fortune) today to come to know the Buddha. Offerings made to the Buddha have resounding results. (11)

194. I will now roam about from village to village, from city to city,
singing words of praise and homage to the Buddha
and the well-uttered Teaching. (12)

End of the Tenth Āḷavaka Sutta