Dhajagga Sutta
The Top of the Standard
[Evam-me sutaṁ,] Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā, Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati, Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa, ārāme.
I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthī at Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.
Tatra kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi “Bhikkhavo ti.”
There he addressed the monks: “Monks.”
“Bhadante ti” te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, lord,” the monks responded to him.
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
The Blessed One said,
“Bhūta-pubbaṁ bhikkhave devāsura-saṅgāmo samupabyūḷho ahosi. Atha kho bhikkhave Sakko devānam’indo deve Tāvatiṁse āmantesi: “Sace mārisā devānaṁ saṅgāma-gatānaṁ uppajjeyya bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, mam’eva tasmiṁ samaye dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha. Mamañ-hi vo dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
The Blessed One said: “Once, monks, the devas & asuras were arrayed for battle. Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed the devas of the Thirty-three: ‘If, dear sirs, when the devas are engaged in battle, there should arise fear, terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should look up at the top of my standard. For when you look up at the top of my standard, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
No ce me dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha Pajāpatissa deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha. Pajāpatissa hi vo deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, yam- bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of my standard, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
No ce Pajāpatissa deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha Varuṇassa deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha. Varuṇassa hi vo deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
No ce Varuṇassa deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha, atha Īsānassa deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokeyyātha. Īsānassa hi vo deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissatīti.”
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
Taṁ kho pana bhikkhave Sakkassa vā devānam- indassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, Pajāpatissa vā deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, Varuṇassa vā deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, Īsānassa vā deva-rājassa dhajaggaṁ ullokayataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyethāpi no’pi pahiyyetha. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sakko hi bhikkhave devānam-indo avīta-rāgo avīta-doso avīta-moho, bhīru chambhī utrāsī palāyīti.
“Monks, in those who look up at the top of the standard of Sakka, lord of the devas; in those who look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king; in those who look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa, the deva-king; or in those who look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna, the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation they may have might be abandoned, or it might not. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of the devas, is not free of passion, free of aversion, or free of delusion. He can be frightened, terrorized, cowardly, quick to flee.
Ahañ-ca kho bhikkhave evaṁ vadāmi: “Sace tumhākaṁ bhikkhave arañña-gatānaṁ vā rukkha-mūla-gatānaṁ vā suññāgāra-gatānaṁ vā, uppajjeyya bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, mam’eva tasmiṁ samaye anussareyyātha, ‘Itipi so Bhagavā arahaṁ sammā-sambuddho, vijjā-caraṇa-sampanno sugato loka-vidū, anuttaro purisa-damma-sārathi satthā deva-manussānaṁ buddho Bhagavāti.’ Mamaṁ hi vo bhikkhave anussarataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
“But, monks, I tell you this: If, when you have gone to the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, there should arise fear, terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should recollect me thus: ‘Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy & rightly Self-awakened, consummate in clear-knowing & conduct, Well-gone, an expert with regard to the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of people fit to be tamed, teacher of devas & human beings, awakened, blessed.’ For when you recollect me, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
No ce maṁ anussareyyātha, atha Dhammaṁ anussareyyātha, ‘Svākkhāto Bhagavatā Dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehi-passiko, opanayiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.’ Dhammaṁ hi vo bhikkhave anussarataṁ, yam-bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
“If you don’t recollect me, then you should recollect the Dhamma thus: ‘The Dhamma is well taught by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting verification, pertinent, to be experienced by the observant for themselves.’ For when you recollect the Dhamma, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
No ce Dhammaṁ anussareyyātha, atha Saṅghaṁ anussareyyātha, ‘Supaṭipanno Bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, uju-paṭipanno Bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, ñāya-paṭipanno Bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, sāmīci-paṭipanno Bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisa-yugāni aṭṭha purisa-puggalā: Esa Bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho, āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjali-karaṇīyo, anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.’ Saṅghaṁ hi vo bhikkhave anussarataṁ, yam- bhavissati bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā loma-haṁso vā, so pahiyyissati.
“If you cannot recollect the Dhamma, then you should recollect the Saṅgha thus: ‘The Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practiced well, practiced straightforwardly, practice methodically, practiced masterfully, i.e., the four pairs, the eight-types (of noble ones): That is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples—worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect, the unexcelled field of merit for the world.’ For when you recollect the Saṅgha, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathāgato hi bhikkhave arahaṁ sammā-sambuddho, vīta-rāgo vīta-doso vīta-moho, abhīru acchambhī anuttarāsī apalāyīti.”
“Why is that? Because the Tathāgata, worthy & rightly Self-awakened, is free of passion, free of aversion, free of delusion. He is fearless, cannot be terrorized, bold, not quick to flee.”
Idam-avoca Bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato, athāparaṁ etad-avoca Satthā:
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the One Well-gone, the Teacher, further said this:
“Araññe rukkha-mūle vā
Suññāgāreva bhikkhavo
Anussaretha sambuddhaṁ
Bhayaṁ tumhāka no siyā.
“In wilderness, monks, at the foot of a tree, or in an empty dwelling,
recollect the Buddha: You will have no fear.
No ce buddhaṁ sareyyātha
Loka-jeṭṭhaṁ narāsabhaṁ
Atha dhammaṁ sareyyātha
Niyyānikaṁ sudesitaṁ.
If you don’t recall the Buddha—best in the world, the bull of men—
then recollect the Dhamma, pertinent, well taught.
No ce dhammaṁ sareyyātha
Niyyānikaṁ sudesitaṁ
Atha saṅghaṁ sareyyātha
Puññakkhettaṁ anuttaraṁ.
If you don’t recall the Dhamma—pertinent, well taught—
then recollect the Saṅgha, the field of merit
unexcelled.
Evam-buddhaṁ sarantānaṁ
Dhammaṁ saṅghañ-ca bhikkhavo
Bhayaṁ vā chambhitattaṁ vā
Loma-haṁso na hessatīti.”
For those who have thus recalled the Buddha, Dhamma, & Saṅgha, monks,
there will be no terror, horripilation, or fear.”
