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SN 2.21PTS (1st ed) SN 1.561 min read

With Shiva

Sivasutta

The deity Siva says one should associate only with the good, and this will lead to happiness. The Buddha adds that associating with the good leads to the end of suffering. Siva is the Pali spelling of Sanskrit Śiva, and this marks a rare appearance of a god of this name in the early texts.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.21Linked Discourses 2.21
  • 0.23. Nānātitthiyavagga3. Various Sectarians

0.3SivasuttaWith Shiva

1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

1.3Atha kho sivo devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.Then, late at night, the glorious godling Shiva, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,11.4Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sivo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!2.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!2.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,2.4seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.things get better, not worse.

3.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!3.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!3.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,3.4paññā labbhati nāññato.wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.

4.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!4.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!4.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,4.4sokamajjhe na socati.you grieve not among the grieving.

5.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!5.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!5.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,5.4ñātimajjhe virocati.you dazzle among your relatives.

6.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!6.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!6.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,6.4sattā gacchanti suggatiṁ.sentient beings go to a good place.

7.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!7.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!7.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,7.4sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.sentient beings live happily.”

8.1Atha kho bhagavā sivaṁ devaputtaṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:Then the Buddha replied to Shiva in verse:

9.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!9.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!9.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,9.4sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.you’re released from all suffering.”

Translator’s notes

  1. This is the only clear appearance of Shiva (siva, “auspicious”, “kindly”) in early Pali (but see Sivaka at SN 10.8). In the Rig Veda he appears a few times under the name Rudra, the “roarer”, where he is feared but approached as dispenser of blessed healing (Rig Veda 2.33). Along with other gods, he is there sometimes described as śiva, “kindly, blessed”. As time went on his kindly aspect became more prominent, but he never lost his destructive side. He was not normally known as Shiva until the Purāṇic period.

    The next few deities have names that are similar in meaning: khema, serī.

    ↩ sn2.21:1.3