Protection from "Bad Spirits" (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly translation based on Ven. Piyadasi (Atanatiya Sutra, DN 32)

(Mitjoruohoniemi/flickr.com)

 

Space beings, akasha devas (Jasspierxia/flickr.com)

VULTURES PEAK, India - Once upon a time the Buddha was living on Vulture's Peak near Rajgir. The Four Space Kings -- having guarded the four quarters with a large army of ogres (yakkhas), fairies (gandhabbas), gnomes (kumbhandas), and dragons (nagas) and having placed troops and a barricade of soldiers set up on all four sides -- came to the presence of the Buddha when the night was far advanced.

  

Illuminating the entire peak with their surpassing radiance, they saluted him and respectfully sat to one side. From among the (attendant) ogres, some saluted and sat to one side; some exchanged greetings with the Buddha, conversing in a friendly and courteous manner, then sat to one side; some saluted him with clasped hands then sat to one side; some announced their name and lineage then sat to one side; some simply sat to one side in silence.
 
Then the great sky King Vessavana (Sanskrit, Vaisravana), while seated to one side, said to the Buddha:

  

The text's most famous yakkha, Alavaka

"Venerable sir, there are eminent ogres who are not pleased with the Blessed One; there are also eminent ogres pleased with the Blessed One. There are ogres of middle rank who are not pleased with the Blessed One, and there are those who are pleased with the Blessed One. There are ogres of inferior rank who are not pleased with the Blessed One, and there are those who are pleased with the Blessed One. Venerable sir, the ogres as a rule are not pleased with the Blessed One. What is the reason for this?"

  

"Well, the Blessed One teaches the Dharma to establish beings in abstaining from 

1. killing
2. stealing
3. sexual misconduct
4. false speech
5. intoxicants that occasion negligence. 

"To them such a teaching is unpleasant and unpalatable."

  

"Surely, venerable sir, there are disciples of the Blessed One. They frequent the remote recesses of forests. There in woodland wildernesses there is no sound, no tumult, where breezes are void of human contact suitable for physical and mental seclusion and quiet contemplation. But there are eminent ogres (yakkhas) who haunt these forests, who have no confidence in the word of the Blessed One.

  

"Venerable sir, may the Blessed One learn the Atanata protection [the name of a town, according to the commentary (Dighanikaya-attakatha-tika, vol iii, p. 194), where King Vessavana and the other sky rulers assembled and recited this protection, which speaks of the virtues of seven Buddhas: Vipassi, Sikhi, Vessabhu, Kakusanda, Konagama, Kassapa, and Gotama] so that the displeased ogres may be pleased, so that the monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen, may be at ease, guarded, protected, and unharmed."
  

Buddha, Thiksey, Ladakh (Hitlersmiles/flickr.com)

The Blessed One gave consent by his silence. Then the great sky King Vessavana, knowing that the Blessed One had consented, recited the Atanatiya protection:
  
Reverence to Seven Buddhas

1. "Homage to Vipassi Buddha possessed of the eye [of wisdom] and splendor. Homage to Sikhi Buddha compassionate towards all beings.

2. "Homage to Vessabhu Buddha free from all defilements and possessed of ascetic energy. Homage to Kakusanda Buddha, the conqueror of [the fivefold] army of Mara.

3. "Homage to Konagamana (the Buddha) who has shed all defilements and had lived the holy life. Homage to Kassapa Buddha who is fully freed from all defilements.

4. "Homage to Angirasa Buddha, the son of the Shakyas, who is full of radiance and who proclaimed the Dharma that dispels all suffering.

5. "Those in the world, who have extinguished (the flames of passion) and have perceived through meditative insight things as they really are, they never slander anyone; they are mighty ones who are free from fear.

6. "Gotama (Gautama) Buddha, dear to devas and men, endowed with knowledge and virtue, mighty and fearless, all do homage to him.
  

7-8. "When the resplendent sun -- offspring of Aditi with its full orb -- arises, then night ceases, and it is called day. From the direction the sun rises (east) there exists the ocean deep and vast.

9. "This spreading sheet of water they know as the ocean [possibly space]. Where there is east (east of Mount Sumeru) they say that quarter is east. [The great sky kings each guard a quarter of the sky/space.]

10. "Guardian of this quarter is the great sky king named Dhatarattha who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the fairies (gandhabbas).

11. "Attended by these angelic beings he enjoys their song and dance. Many are his (Datharatta's) offspring, all of one name, so have I heard.

12-13. "Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they. They too, beholding the Buddha -- Kinsman of the Sun, mighty and fearless -- salute him from afar: "Homage and glory to that one unique and noblest among humans."

14-15. "With sublime wisdom, you have looked on humankind with a knowing eye so that even non-humans pay reverence. This we have often heard. Therefore, we request the ogres (yakkhas) to pay homage to Gotama Buddha, the Conqueror. They too say: 'We pay reverence to Gotama, the Conqueror; we pay reverence to Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'"
  

16-18. "The direction from where the ghosts (petas, subtle-body spirits of the dead), backbiters, murderers, fierce brigands, and the deceitful are removed is the direction (to the right of Mount Sumeru) called the south. The custodian of this quarter is the great sky king named Virulha, who has a retinue of attendants. He is the sovereign lord of gnomes (kumbhandas). Attended by the them he enjoys their song and dance.

19. "Many are his offspring, all of one name, so have I heard. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their names, and mighty are they.

20. "They too, beholding the Buddha -- Kinsman of the Sun, mighty and fearless -- salute him from afar: 'Homage and glory to you who are unique and highest among humans.'
  

21-22. "By your sublime wisdom you have looked on humankind with a knowing eye so that even non-humans pay you reverence. This we have often heard. Therefore, we request the ogres to pay homage to Gotama Buddha, the Conqueror. They too say: 'We pay reverence to Gotama, the Conqueror; we pay reverence to Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'
  

23-24. "When the resplendent sun -- offspring of Aditi with its full orb -- sets, the day ceases, and it is called night. In the direction where the sun sets (the west) there exists the ocean deep and vast.

25. "This spreading sheet of water they know as the ocean (and space). West (of Mount Sumeru) they call the western quarter.

26. "Guardian of this quarter is a great sky king named Virupakkha, who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the dragons (nagas).

27. "Attended by dragons he enjoys their song and dance. Many are his offspring, all of one name, so have I heard.

28-29. "Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they. They too, beholding the Buddha -- Kinsman of the Sun, mighty and fearless -- salute him from afar: 'Homage and glory to you, unique and noblest among humankind.'

30-31. "By your sublime wisdom you have looked on humankind with a knowing eye so that even non-humans pay you reverence. This we have often heard. Therefore we request the ogres to pay homage to Gotama, Buddha the Conqueror. They too say: 'We pay reverence to Gotama, the Conqueror; we pay reverence to Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

32. "In delightful Uttarakuru (north), where towers beautiful Mount Sumeru, there are born humans who are selfless and unattached.

33. "They neither sow seed nor use the plow. Spontaneously grown grain is there for them to enjoy.

34. "The rice, purged of the red powder and of husk, clean and sweet-scented, is boiled in golden vessels; it is this that they partake of.

35. "They make of cows a single-seated mount and ride about from place to place.

36-37. "They make use of women and men, girls and boys as vehicles, and travel from place to place in them.

38. "Mounting vehicles (craft or elephants and horses) they (the ogres under King Vessavana) travel in every direction.

39. "This king who has a retinue of attendants is possessed of elephants and horses on which he rides. He also has celestial chariots [flying craft, vimanas], palaces [larger ships], and palanquins [platforms]. He has cities well built in celestial regions.
  

"These cities are named Atanata, Kusinata, Parakusinata, Natapuriya, and Parakusitanata. To the north, the city of Kapilavata, to the South Janogha, and cities named Navanavati, Ambara-ambaravati, and the kingdom of Alakamanda.

(Addressing the Buddha:) "Happy one, this Kuvera [another name for Vessavana] has a kingdom named Visna. Therefore, the great sky king Kuvera is called Vessavana. There are ogres under this king who hold investigations and make them known. They are Tatola, Tattala, Tatotala, Ojasi, Tejasi, Tatojasi, Suro, Raja (Sura-raja) Arittho, and Nemi (Arittha-nemi). There (in Visana kingdom) lies the lake Dharani where rain-clouds (drawing water) pour them forth. There is also a hall named Bhagalavati where the ogres assemble.

40. "There (around the hall) are trees bearing perpetual fruit. (On these trees) there are multitudes of birds. There also is heard the cry of peacocks and herons and the melodious song of kokilas (the Indian cuckoo).

41. "There (near the lake) the cry of the birds that call out 'Live! Live!' (jivamjivaka) is heard. The bird Otthavacittaka ('O lift your hearts!'), the jungle fowl, the crabs, and the Pokkharasataka birds roam the woods.

42. "There the cry of the parrot, the myna-birds, and the Dandamanavaka birds is heard. And Kuvera's lotus-lake is beautiful through all seasons.

43-44. "That direction (north of Mount Sumeru) is called by people the northern quarter. The guardian of this quarter is a great sky king named Kuvera who has a retinue of attendants. He is the sovereign lord of the ogres. Attended by them he enjoys their songs and dance.

45. "Many are his offspring, all of one name, so have I heard. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their names, and mighty are they.

46. "They too -- beholding the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun, mighty and fearless -- salute him from afar: 'Homage to you unique and noblest among humankind!'
   

47-48. "By your sublime wisdom you have looked on humankind) so that even non-humans pay you reverence. Thus have we heard. Therefore, we request the ogres to pay homage to Gotama Buddha, the Conqueror. They, too, say, 'We pay reverence to Gotama, the Conqueror; we pay reverence to Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

"Happy One, this is the Atanata protection whereby both monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen may live at ease, guarded, protected, and unharmed.
  

"If any monk or nun, layman or laywoman learns by heart this Atanata protection and is word-perfect in repeating it, and if any non-human

• male or female ogre, youth or maiden ogre, ogre minister, or any ogre, or ogre attendant; 
• male or female fairy...
• male or female gnome...
• male or female dragon... 

"were to walk with him or her, or stand or sit or lie down with him or her with malevolent intent, such a non-human, Happy One, will not obtain hospitality from any town or township, will not obtain a place to dwell, nor live in the Kingdom of Alakamanda. 

  

"Such a one will not be able to attend the meetings of the ogres and furthermore would not be accepted or given in marriage, but instead would be reproached (by casting remarks on his deformed teeth or eyes or any part of the body), and the non-humans would put an empty bowl over such a one's head and split it in seven pieces. [The "splitting of a head into seven pieces" was a common saying in ancient India. It seems to mean that it would be "an unbearable situation."]

 

"Happy One, there are non-humans who are fierce, violent, given to retaliation; those non-humans heed neither the (four) great sky kings nor their ministers nor their attendants. They are called rebels against the (four) great sky kings.
  
"Even as in the kingdom of Magadha [where the Buddha resided], the thieves heed neither the king of Magadha, nor the ministers, nor their attendants, but are called rebels against the king of Magadha, so there are non-humans who are fierce... They are called rebels against the (four) great sky kings.
  

"Happy One, if any non-human -- male or female ogre... fairy... gnome... dragon... were to walk with a monk or nun, or a layman or laywoman, or stand, or sit, or lie down with him or her with malevolent intent, then should (the molested individual) inform, cry aloud, and shout to those ogres, to the mighty ogres, their commanders and chief commanders saying: 'This ogre is seizing me, is taking possession of me, is harassing me, is assailing me, is harming me, harming me intensely and will not let me go!' [then something will be done but] who are the ogres, mighty ogres and commanders, and chief commanders (to whom such appeal should be made)?

49. "Inda, Soma, and Varuna, Bharadvaja, Pajapati, Candana, Kamasettha too, Kinnughandu, Nigahandu,

50. Panada, Opamanna too, Devasata and Matali, Cittasena and Gandhabba, Nala, Raja, Janesabha,

51. Satagira, Hemavata, Punnaka, Karatiya, Gula, Sivaka, Mucalinda too, Vessamitta, Yugandhara,

52. Gopala, Suppagedha too, Hiri, Netti, and Mandiya, Pañcalacanda, Alavaka, Pajjunna, Sumana, Sumukha, Dadamukkha, and along with these Serisakka.
  
"These are the ogres, mighty ogres, the commanders, the chief commanders to whom (the molested person should inform, cry aloud, and shout saying: 'This ogre is seizing me, is taking possession of me, is harassing me, is assailing me, is harming me, and harming me intensely, and this ogre will not let me go!'
  

"This, Happy One, is the Atanata protection whereby monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen may live at ease, guarded, protected, and unharmed.

"Happy One, we now take our leave of you; for we have many duties to attend to" (so said the four great sky kings)."
  

"Great sky kings, it is time for your departure" (replied the Buddha).
  

The four great sky kings arose from their seats and saluting the Buddha respectfully circled around (circumambulated) him staying to his right side, and there and then they vanished. From among the (attendant) ogres some arose from their seats and saluted the Buddha, circled around him on his right side, and there and then they vanished; some exchanged greetings with the Buddha conversing in a friendly and courteous manner, and there and then they vanished; some saluted the Buddha with clasped hands, and there and then they vanished; some announced their name and lineage and there and then vanished; some in silence there and then vanished.
  

The Buddha (bezen.wordpress.com)

When the night had passed the Buddha addressed the monks residing with him: (The Buddha related word for word what King Vessavana said).
  
"Monastics, learn by heart the Atanata protection, and constantly make use of it, bearing it in mind. This Atanata protection pertains to your welfare, and by virtue of it monks and nuns, laymen and laywomen may live at ease, guarded, protected, and unharmed."
  

This is what the Buddha said. Those monks glad at heart rejoiced at the words of the Buddha.

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