AN 8.46 Anuruddha Sutta. Anuruddha and the Agreeable Deities.

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AN 8.46 Anuruddha Sutta. Anuruddha and the Agreeable Deities.

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AN 8.46 Anuruddha Sutta. Anuruddha and the Agreeable Deities.
Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato


AN 8.46 Anuruddha Sutta. Anuruddha and the Agreeable Deities.

https://suttacentral.net/an8.46

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Now at that time Venerable Anuruddha had retreated to solitude for the day’s meditation. Then several deities of the Loveable Group went up to Venerable Anuruddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him: “Sir, Anuruddha, we are the deities called ‘Loveable’. We wield sovereignty and control over three things. We can turn any color we want. We can get any voice that we want. We can get any pleasure that we want. We are the deities called ‘Loveable’. We wield sovereignty and control over these three things.”

Then Venerable Anuruddha thought: “If only these deities would all turn blue, of blue color, clad in blue, adorned with blue!” Then those deities, knowing Anuruddha’s thought, all turned blue.

Then Venerable Anuruddha thought: “If only these deities would all turn yellow …” “If only these gods would all turn red …” “If only these gods would all turn white …” Then those deities, knowing Anuruddha’s thought, all turned white.

Then one of those deities sang, one danced, and one snapped her fingers. Suppose there was a quintet made up of skilled musicians who had practiced well and kept excellent rhythm. They’d sound graceful, tantalizing, sensuous, lovely, and intoxicating. In the same way the performance by those deities sounded graceful, tantalizing, sensuous, lovely, and intoxicating. But Venerable Anuruddha averted his senses.

Then those deities, thinking “Master Anuruddha isn’t enjoying this,” vanished right there. Then in the late afternoon, Anuruddha came out of retreat and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding:

“How many qualities do females have so that—when their body breaks up, after death—they are reborn in company with the Gods of the Loveable Group?”

“Anuruddha, when they have eight qualities females—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Loveable Group. What eight? Take the case of a female whose mother and father give her to a husband wanting what’s best for her, out of kindness and compassion. She would get up before him and go to bed after him, and be obliging, behaving nicely and speaking politely.

She honors, respects, esteems, and venerates those her husband respects, such as mother and father, and ascetics and brahmins. And when they arrive she serves them with a seat and water.

She’s skilled and tireless in her husband’s household duties, such as knitting and sewing. She understands how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.

She knows what work her husband’s domestic bondservants, employees, and workers have completed, and what they’ve left incomplete. She knows who is sick, and who is fit or unwell. She distributes to each a fair portion of various foods.

She ensures that any income her husband earns is guarded and protected, whether money, grain, silver, or gold. She doesn’t overspend, steal, waste, or lose it.

She’s a lay follower who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha.

She’s ethical. She doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or use alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.

She’s generous. She lives at home rid of the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, loving to let go, committed to charity, loving to give and to share.

When they have these eight qualities females—when their body breaks up, after death—are reborn in company with the Gods of the Loveable Group.
  • She’d never look down on her husband,
    who’s always keen to work hard,
    always looking after her,
    and bringing whatever she wants.

    And a good woman never scolds her husband
    with jealous words.
    Being astute, she reveres
    those respected by her husband.

    She gets up early, works tirelessly,
    and manages the domestic help.
    She’s loveable to her husband,
    and preserves his wealth.

    A lady who fulfills these duties
    according to her husband’s desire,
    is reborn among the gods
    called ‘Loveable’.”
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Re: AN 8.46 Anuruddha Sutta. Anuruddha and the Agreeable Deities.

Post by mikenz66 »

Comments from Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation (which is also available on Sutta Central):
  • Now on that occasion the Venerable Anuruddha had gone off to pass the day and was in seclusion when a number of agreeable-bodied deities approached him, paid homage to him, stood to one side, and said to him:
    • In relation to AN 5.33, Mp identifies these deities with the “devas who delight in creation” (nimmānaratino devā). Mp relates the origin of the present sutta thus: “It is said that those deities, having examined their own glory, asked themselves: ‘How did we obtain such glory?’ Reflecting, they saw Anuruddha and knew: ‘In the past, when he was a wheel-turning monarch, we were his consorts. We accepted his guidance and thus we have obtained this glory. Let’s go. We will bring the elder and [together] we will enjoy (anubhavissāma) this glory.’ Thus during the day they approached Anuruddha.”
  • Then one of those deities sang, one danced, and one snapped her fingers. Just as, when a musical quintet is well trained and its rhythm well coordinated, ...
    • Suppaṭipatāḷitassa. Paṭipatāḷita is not in PED, but SED sv prati > pratitāla, explained as “in music, a kind of measure.” Mp (Ce) glosses suppaṭipatāḷitassa as pamāṇena ṭhitabhāvajānanatthaṃ suṭṭhu paṭipatāḷitassa, which I would translate: “well coordinated for the purpose of maintaining a particular measure.”
  • Thereupon the Venerable Anuruddha drew in his sense faculties. Then those deities, [thinking:] “Master Anuruddha is not enjoying [this],” disappeared right on the spot.
    • Tā devatā ‘na khvayyoanuruddho sādiyatī’ ti tatth’ev’ antaradhāyiṃsu.
      Mp: “[The deities thought:] ‘Master Anuruddha does not enjoy our dancing and singing. He closes his eyes and refuses to look at us. Why should we go on dancing and singing?’ Then they disappeared right there.”
  • “If she possesses eight qualities, Anuruddha, a woman, with the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in companionship with the agreeable-bodied deities. What eight?
    • The first five items here are substantially identical with those mentioned at AN 5.33, except for the grammatical changes needed to adapt to the context.
      See: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=32516
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