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Godlike

Devadhammajātaka

“Those only ‘godlike’ call.”—This story was told by the Blessed One while at Jetavana, about a wealthy Brother.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1JātakaStories of Past Lives 6
  • 0.2EkakanipātaThe Book of the Ones
  • 0.3ApaṇṇakavaggaSure Bet

0.46. DevadhammajātakaGodly Qualities: a past life story

1.1PTS 1.129“Hiriottappasampannā,Endowed with conscience and prudence,11.2sukkadhammasamāhitā;and comprised of bright qualities,1.3Santo sappurisā loke,the good and true persons in the world1.4devadhammāti vuccare”ti.are said to have godly qualities.2

2.1Devadhammajātakaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The story tells of how two brothers are asked by a water-spirit what are “godly qualities”. Their replies—“the sun and moon” and the “four directions”—win them only imprisonment. The third brother replies correctly.

    ↩ ja6:1.1

  2. Devadhamma (“godly qualities”) appears at Ja 458:7.3 where it means “god’s character”.

    ↩ ja6:1.4