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SN 55.35PTS SN 5.3931 min read

Footprints of the Gods (2nd)

Dutiyadevapadasutta

The four factors of stream-entry are footprints of the gods, for the gods hold non-violence as supreme.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 55.35Linked Discourses 55.35
  • 0.24. Puññābhisandavagga4. Overflowing Merit

0.3DutiyadevapadasuttaFootprints of the Gods (2nd)

1.1“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, devānaṁ devapadāni avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya.“Mendicants, these four footprints of the gods are in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings.

2.1Katamāni cattāri?What four?2.2Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—Firstly, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha:2.3itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’2.4So iti paṭisañcikkhati:Then they reflect:2.5‘kiṁ nu kho devānaṁ devapadan’ti?‘What now is the footprint of the gods?’2.6So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:2.7‘abyābajjhaparame khvāhaṁ etarahi deve suṇāmi.‘I hear that these days the gods consider non-harming to be supreme.12.8Na ca kho panāhaṁ kiñci byābādhemi tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā.But I don’t hurt any creature firm or frail.2.9Addhāhaṁ devapadadhammasamannāgato viharāmī’ti.I definitely live in possession of a footprint of the gods.’2.10Idaṁ paṭhamaṁ devānaṁ devapadaṁ avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya.This is the first footprint of the gods in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings.

3.1Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako dhamme …pe…Furthermore, a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the teaching …3.2saṅghe …pe….the Saṅgha …

4.1PTS 5.394Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.Furthermore, a noble disciple’s ethical conduct is loved by the noble ones, unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion.4.2So iti paṭisañcikkhati:Then they reflect:4.3‘kiṁ nu kho devānaṁ devapadan’ti?‘What now is the footprint of the gods?’4.4So evaṁ pajānāti:They understand:4.5‘abyābajjhaparame khvāhaṁ etarahi deve suṇāmi.‘I hear that these days the gods consider non-harming to be supreme.4.6Na kho panāhaṁ kiñci byābādhemi tasaṁ vā thāvaraṁ vā.But I don’t hurt any creature firm or frail.4.7Addhāhaṁ devapadadhammasamannāgato viharāmī’ti.I definitely live in possession of a footprint of the gods.’4.8Idaṁ catutthaṁ devānaṁ devapadaṁ avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāya.This is the fourth footprint of the gods in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings.4.9Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri devānaṁ devapadāni avisuddhānaṁ sattānaṁ visuddhiyā apariyodātānaṁ sattānaṁ pariyodapanāyā”ti.These four footprints of the gods are in order to purify unpurified beings and cleanse unclean beings.”

4.10Pañcamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The use of eterahi (“these days”) suggests that this was not always the case, alluding to the violent tendencies in the past (i.e. the Vedas) of deities such as Indra, who in Buddhism had become apostles of peace (eg. SN 11.6).

    ↩ sn55.35:2.7