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SN 31.1PTS SN 3.2491 min read

Plain Version

Suddhikasutta

Centaurs may live in fragrant roots and other vegetation.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 31.1Linked Discourses 31.1
  • 0.21. Gandhabbavagga1. Centaurs

0.3SuddhikasuttaPlain Version

1.1PTS 3.250Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme …pe…At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. …1.2bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

1.3“gandhabbakāyike vo, bhikkhave, deve desessāmi.“Mendicants, I will teach you about the gods of the centaur realm.11.4Taṁ suṇātha.Listen …

1.5Katamā ca, bhikkhave, gandhabbakāyikā devā?And what are the gods of the centaur realm?1.6Santi, bhikkhave, mūlagandhe adhivatthā devā.There are gods who live in fragrant roots,21.7Santi, bhikkhave, sāragandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant heartwood,1.8Santi, bhikkhave, pheggugandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant softwood,1.9Santi, bhikkhave, tacagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant bark,1.10Santi, bhikkhave, papaṭikagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant shoots,1.11Santi, bhikkhave, pattagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant leaves,1.12Santi, bhikkhave, pupphagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant flowers,1.13Santi, bhikkhave, phalagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant fruit,1.14Santi, bhikkhave, rasagandhe adhivatthā devā.fragrant sap,1.15Santi, bhikkhave, gandhagandhe adhivatthā devā.and fragrant scents.1.16Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, gandhabbakāyikā devā”ti.These are called the gods of the centaur realm.”

1.17Paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The gandhabba (Sanskrit gandharva) is a complex mythic entity, but I think he sprang ultimately from the awe-inspiring sight of men on horseback, potent, unpredictable, violent, and sexy, from which came both the Greek kentauros and Sanskrit gandharva, “centaur”. See further discussions at SN 11.4:1.10, DN 20:9.3, DN 21, and MN 93:18.61.

    ↩ sn31.1:1.3

  2. Here the centaur shows one of his many secondary characteristics, an association with fragrance (gandha), which arose as a pun on the word gandhabba. This serves to highlight his sensual and erotic nature.

    ↩ sn31.1:1.6