[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Buddhist Sanskrit literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit) › [Āgama sūtras of the mainstream schools](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama) › [Other mainstream sūtras](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other) › [Devatāsūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra) › [ལྷའི་མདོ](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo) › [The Devata Sutra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000) › 3 # ལྷའ་མད 3 The Devatā Sūtra 3 - **Language:** English ### [3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000.3) “Who is the affectionate relative, And who is the enemy with hateful intent? What is unbearable suffering, And what, the supreme happiness?” The Blessed One replied: “Merit is the affectionate relative, And negative deeds are the enemy with hateful intent. The sufferings of hell are unbearable,²² And the absence of aggregates, the supreme happiness.” The divine being asked: “What is attractive but not beneficial, And what is beneficial but not attractive? What is a harmful disease, And who, the supreme physician?” The Blessed One replied: “Lust is attractive but not beneficial, And liberation is beneficial but not attractive. Attachment is a harmful disease, And the Buddha is the supreme physician.” The divine being asked: “By what is this world obscured, And by what is it dominated? By what are friends separated, And what prevents progress to higher realms?” The Blessed One replied: “This world is obscured by lack of understanding, And is dominated by delusion. Friends are separated by greed, And attachment prevents progress to higher realms.” The divine being asked: “What increases friends?²³ And what pacifies enemies? How will higher realms be attained, And how will liberation occur?” The Blessed One replied: “Through generosity,²⁴ friends are increased, And through love, enemies are pacified. Through ethical discipline, higher realms are attained, And with understanding, liberation will occur.” The divine being asked: “When kings and thieves Exert great effort, What is it that cannot be plundered From any man or woman?” The Blessed One replied: “Even if kings and thieves Exert great effort, - [Previous: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000.2) - [Next: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000.4) ## Linked texts (1) - [ལྷའི་མདོ](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo.3) — Classical Tibetan --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.other.devatasutra*bo~en-84000.3) · Pramāṇa