Sakalika Sutta
Nala Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

8. Sakalika Sutta
Splinter of Rock Discourse

        38. Thus have I heard:

        At one time the Bhagava was residing in Maddakucchi¹ Park, a deer sanctuary near Rajagaha. At that time the Bhagava's foot was struck by a splinter of rock.² The Bhagava felt excessive physical pain which was tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant. Not complaining at, all the Bhagava endured the pain with mindfulness and comprehension. He lay on his right side on the great robe which was spread on the ground folded fourfold, with one foot slightly further than the other one on which it rested.

        During that time, soon after the middle watch of the night, seven hundred devas of exceeding beauty who became devas by (practising and) imparting the doctrine of the virtuous, approached the Bhagava, illuminating the entire Maddakucchi Park. They made obeisance to the Bhagava and stood at a suitable place. And standing thus, one of them uttered this expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        Friends! How like the powerful elephant is Samana Gotama' It is because he is like the powerful elephant that he is not complaining at all but is enduring with mindfulness and comprehension this physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant!"

        Then another deva uttered this' expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Friends" How like the brave lion is Samana Gotama! It is because he is like the brave lion that he is not complaining at all, but is enduring with mindfulness and comprehension this physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant!"

        Then another deva uttered this expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Friends! How like a hero is Samana Gotama! It is because he is like a hero that he is not complaining at all, but is enduring with mindfulness and comprehension the physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant!"

        Then another deva uttered this expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Friends! How like the unrivalled bull is Samana Gotama! It is because he is like the unrivalled bull that he is not complaining at all, but is enduring with mindfulness and comprehension the physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant."

        Then another deva uttered this expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Friends! How like the draught ox is Samana Gotama! It is because he is like the draught ox that he is not complaining at all, but is enduring with mindfulnes and comprehension the physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty and unpleasant!"

        Then another deva uttered the expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Friends! How self-disciplined is Samana Gotama. It is because he is self-disciplined that he is not complaining at all, but is enduring with mindfulness and comprehension the physical pain which is tormenting, acute, harsh, severe, nasty, and unpleasant!"

        Then another deva uttered this expression of joy in the presence of the Bhagava:

        "Look at the perfectly developed concentration (of the Bhagava)! Look at the mind that is completely released (from defilements), that is not swayed (by greed), that is not turned away (by anger), and that does not need any effort towards suppression (of passion). Who ever would consider hurting such man who is like the powerful elephant, the brave lion, who is a hero, who is like the unrivalled bull, the draught ox, and who is self-disciplined, must be nothing but a stupid person!"

        (Then the Bhagava said:)

        "The brahmins who are adept in the five Vedas and follow the austere practice may strive for a hundred years. yet their mind cannot gain complete release from defilements. Lowly as their mind is, they can never cross over to the other shore (Nibbana).

        "Those who are overwhelmed by Craving and who follow rites and rituals outside the Ariya Path may engage themselves in mortifying practices for a hundred years, yet their mind cannot gain complete release from defilements. Lowly as their mind is, they can never cross over to the other shore (Nibbana).

        "In this world, he who is conceited³ , lacks self-control (i.e., tranquillity of mind).

        For one who lacks tranquillity of mind, there can be no Magga Insight. A forest-dweller may lead a lonely life, yet if he lacks mindfulness, he cannot cross over the planes of existences where death prevails, to the other shore(which is Nibbana).

        "He who abandons conceit, who has a tranquilled mind, and who has wisdom is free from (attachment to) all existence. A forest-dweller leading a lonely life, if he practises mindfulness, can cross over the planes of existence where death prevails to the other shore (which is Nibbana)."

End of the Sakalika Sutta,

the eighth in this vagga.

        1. Maddakucchi Park: So called because it was the place where Queen Vedehi, mother of the patricide Prince Ajatasattu, on learning the potential danger of her own child she was carrying in her womb, tried unsuccessfully to abort the child foetus. (Maddati, to press, to trample; kucchi, the belly, the womb)

        2. The splinter of rock that struck the Buddha's foot was the result of bhikkhu Devadatta's attempt against the Buddha's life. While the Buddha was at the foot of Mount Gijiakuta, Devadatta rolled a boulder down on him. But the boulder, struck another boulder on the way down and only a splinter hit the Buddha's foot.

        3. He who is conceited: manakamassa: lit., for him who desires conceit.