Dighanikaya 11.488

11.488

Devayāniyo maggoti pāṭiyekko devalokagamanamaggo nāma natthi, iddhividhañāṇasseva panetaṃ adhivacanaṃ. Tena hesa yāva brahmalokāpi kāyena vasaṃ vattento devalokaṃ yāti. Tasmā ‘‘taṃ devayāniyo maggo’’ti vuttaṃ. Yena cātumahārājikāti samīpe ṭhitampi bhagavantaṃ apucchitvā dhammatāya codito devatā mahānubhāvāti maññamāno upasaṅkami. Mayampi kho, bhikkhu, na jānāmāti buddhavisaye pañhaṃ pucchitā devatā na jānanti, tenevamāhaṃsu. Atha kho so bhikkhu ‘‘mama imaṃ pañhaṃ na kathetuṃ na labbhā, sīghaṃ kathethā’’ti tā devatā ajjhottharati, punappunaṃ pucchati, tā ‘‘ajjhottharati no ayaṃ bhikkhu, handa naṃ hatthato mocessāmā’’ti cintetvā ‘‘atthi kho bhikkhu cattāro mahārājāno’’tiādimāhaṃsu. Tattha abhikkantatarāti atikkamma kantatarā. Paṇītatarāti vaṇṇayasaissariyādīhi uttamatarā etena nayena sabbavāresu attho veditabbo.

"The path to the gods": there is no distinct road for going to the world of the gods; rather, this is a designation for the knowledge of the modes of psychic power. For through it, exercising mastery with the body, he goes to the world of the gods even as far as the Brahmā world. Therefore it is said, "that path leading to the gods." "Where the [gods of the heaven of the] Four Great Kings were": without asking even the Blessed One who was standing near, impelled by nature, he approached, imagining: "The deities are of great supernatural power." "We too, bhikkhu, do not know": when asked a question belonging to the range of a Buddha, the deities do not know; that is why they spoke thus. Then that bhikkhu overpowered those deities, saying: "You cannot fail to answer this question of mine; answer quickly!" and asked again and again. They, thinking: "This bhikkhu is overpowering us; come, let us free ourselves from his hands," spoke beginning with: "There are, bhikkhu, the Four Great Kings." Therein, "more sublime": having surpassed [them], more attractive. "More exalted": superior in complexion, glory, authority, and so forth. In this manner the meaning should be understood in all sections.