True DhammaLibrary · Community
SN 10.2PTS (1st ed) SN 1.2061 min read

Sakka In Name Only

Sakkanāmasutta

A spirit tells the Buddha that if he is truly free he should not be instructing others.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 10.2Linked Discourses 10.2
  • 0.21. Indakavagga1. With Indaka

0.3SakkanāmasuttaSakka In Name Only

1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

1.2Atha kho sakkanāmako yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:Then a spirit who was Sakka in name only went up to the Buddha, and addressed him in verse:1

2.1“Sabbaganthappahīnassa,“You’ve given up all ties,2.2vippamuttassa te sato;and are fully freed.2.3Samaṇassa na taṁ sādhu,It’s not a good idea for you, ascetic,2.4yadaññamanusāsasī”ti.to be instructing others.”

3.1“Yena kenaci vaṇṇena,“No matter how you explain why3.2saṁvāso sakka jāyati;people gather together, Sakka,23.3Na taṁ arahati sappañño,it’s unworthy for a wise person3.4manasā anukampituṁ.not to think of the other with sympathy.3

4.1Manasā ce pasannena,If you instruct others4.2yadaññamanusāsati;with a mind clear and confident,4.3Na tena hoti saṁyutto,your compassion and empathy4.4yānukampā anuddayā”ti.don’t create attachments.”

Translator’s notes

  1. The suffix -nāmaka is a slight. Compare “Senior in name only” (SN 21.10:1.2) and nāmaka in the sense “mere words” (MN 80:15.5, MN 99:10.5). His verse is similar to that of Māra in SN 4.14.

    ↩ sn10.2:1.2

  2. The Buddha avoids nāmaka and politely calls him “Sakka”.

    ↩ sn10.2:3.2

  3. Accepting the variant ananukampituṁ at Ne 37:194.4, which is endorsed by that text’s commentaries. The text as stands enjoins lack of compassion, which cannot be right.

    ↩ sn10.2:3.4