Mahagovindasutta 44.1-21
Mahāgovindasutta 44.1-21
- Language
- Pāli
44.1
Atha kho, bho, brahmā sanaṅkumāro mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṃ vā bāhaṃ pasāreyya, pasāritaṃ vā bāhaṃ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa sammukhe pāturahosi.
And then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing the Great Steward’s train of thought, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in the Great Steward’s presence.
44.2
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindassa brāhmaṇassa ahudeva bhayaṃ ahu chambhitattaṃ ahu lomahaṃso yathā taṃ adiṭṭhapubbaṃ rūpaṃ disvā.
At that, the Great Steward became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end, as he had never seen such a sight before.
44.3
Atha kho, bho, mahāgovindo brāhmaṇo bhīto saṃviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto brahmānaṃ sanaṅkumāraṃ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
So he addressed the divinity Sanaṅkumāra in verse:
44.4
“Vaṇṇavā yasavā sirimā,
“Who might you be, sir,
44.5
ko nu tvamasi mārisa;
so beautiful, glorious, majestic?
44.6
Ajānantā taṃ pucchāma,
Not knowing, I ask—
44.7
kathaṃ jānemu taṃ mayan”ti.
how am I to know who you are?”
44.8
“Maṃ ve kumāraṃ jānanti,
“In the realm of divinity they know me
44.9
brahmaloke sanantanaṃ;
as ‘The Eternal Youth’.
44.10
Sabbe jānanti maṃ devā,
All the gods know me thus,
44.11
evaṃ govinda jānahi”.
and so you should know me, Steward.”
44.12
“Āsanaṃ udakaṃ pajjaṃ,
“A Divinity deserves a seat and water,
44.13
madhusākañca brahmuno;
foot-salve, and sweet cakes.
44.14
Agghe bhavantaṃ pucchāma,
Sir, I ask you to please accept
44.15
agghaṃ kurutu no bhavaṃ”.
these gifts of hospitality.”
44.16
“Paṭiggaṇhāma te agghaṃ,
“I accept the gifts of hospitality
44.17
yaṃ tvaṃ govinda bhāsasi;
of which you speak.
44.18
Diṭṭhadhammahitatthāya,
I grant you the opportunity
44.19
samparāya sukhāya ca;
to ask whatever you desire—
44.20
Katāvakāso pucchassu,
about welfare and benefit in this life,
44.21
yaṃ kiñci abhipatthitan”ti.
or happiness in lives to come.”
Translations (3)
- Mahāgovinda — sr
- Der Große Verwalter — German
- The Great Steward — English
Commentaries (1)
- Sumaṅgalavilāsinī — Buddhaghosa, Pāli
Linked texts (4)
- Jātaka — Pāli
- 長阿含經 — Classical Chinese
- 大堅固婆羅門緣起經 — Classical Chinese
- Brahmāyusutta — Pāli