So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī in the haunt of the native spirit Āḷavaka. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā āḷaviyaṁ viharati āḷavakassa yakkhassa bhavane. Then the native spirit Āḷavaka went up to the Buddha, and said to him: Atha kho āḷavako yakkho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Get out, ascetic!” “nikkhama, samaṇā”ti. Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went out. “Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami. “Get in, ascetic!” “Pavisa, samaṇā”ti. Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went in. “Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.

For a second time … Dutiyampi kho …pe… And for a third time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, tatiyampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Get out, ascetic!” “nikkhama, samaṇā”ti. Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went out. “Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā nikkhami. “Get in, ascetic!” “Pavisa, samaṇā”ti. Saying, “All right, good sir,” the Buddha went in. “Sādhāvuso”ti bhagavā pāvisi.

And for a fourth time the native spirit Āḷavaka said to the Buddha, Catutthampi kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Get out, ascetic!” “nikkhama, samaṇā”ti. “No, good sir, I won’t get out. “Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, nikkhamissāmi. Do what you must.” Yaṁ te karaṇīyaṁ, taṁ karohī”ti.

“I will ask you a question, ascetic. “Pañhaṁ taṁ, samaṇa, pucchissāmi. If you don’t answer me, I’ll drive you insane, or explode your heart, or grab you by the feet and throw you to the far shore of the Ganges!” Sace me na byākarissasi, cittaṁ vā te khipissāmi, hadayaṁ vā te phālessāmi, pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipissāmī”ti.

“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me. “Na khvāhaṁ taṁ, āvuso, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yo me cittaṁ vā khipeyya hadayaṁ vā phāleyya pādesu vā gahetvā pāragaṅgāya khipeyya. But anyway, ask what you wish.” Api ca tvaṁ, āvuso, puccha yadākaṅkhasī”ti. Then the native spirit Āḷavaka addressed the Buddha in verse: Atha kho āḷavako yakkho bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“What’s a person’s best wealth? “Kiṁ sūdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ, What brings happiness when practiced well? Kiṁ su suciṇṇaṁ sukhamāvahāti; What’s the sweetest taste of all? Kiṁ su have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ, The one they say has the best life: how do they live?” Kathaṁjīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhaṁ”.

“Faith here is a person’s best wealth. “Saddhīdha vittaṁ purisassa seṭṭhaṁ, the teaching brings happiness when practiced well. Dhammo suciṇṇo sukhamāvahāti; Truth is the sweetest taste of all. Saccaṁ have sādutaraṁ rasānaṁ, The one they say has the best life lives by wisdom.” Paññājīviṁ jīvitamāhu seṭṭhaṁ”.

“How do you cross the flood? “Kathaṁ su tarati oghaṁ, How do you cross the deluge? kathaṁ su tarati aṇṇavaṁ; How do you get over suffering? Kathaṁ su dukkhamacceti, How do you get purified?” kathaṁ su parisujjhati”.

“By faith you cross the flood, “Saddhāya tarati oghaṁ, and by diligence the deluge. appamādena aṇṇavaṁ; By energy you get past suffering, Vīriyena dukkhamacceti, and you’re purified by wisdom.” paññāya parisujjhati”.

“How do you get wisdom? “Kathaṁ su labhate paññaṁ, How do you earn wealth? kathaṁ su vindate dhanaṁ; How do you get a good reputation? Kathaṁ su kittiṁ pappoti, How do you hold on to friends? kathaṁ mittāni ganthati; How do the departed not grieve Asmā lokā paraṁ lokaṁ, when passing from this world to the next?” kathaṁ pecca na socati”.

“One who is diligent and discerning “Saddahāno arahataṁ, gains wisdom by wanting to learn, dhammaṁ nibbānapattiyā; having faith in the perfected ones, Sussūsaṁ labhate paññaṁ, and the teaching for becoming extinguished. appamatto vicakkhaṇo.

Being responsible, acting appropriately, Patirūpakārī dhuravā, and working hard you earn wealth. uṭṭhātā vindate dhanaṁ; Truthfulness wins you a good reputation. Saccena kittiṁ pappoti, You hold on to friends by giving. dadaṁ mittāni ganthati.

A faithful householder of discernment Yassete caturo dhammā, who possesses these four qualities saddhassa gharamesino; does not grieve after passing away: Saccaṁ dhammo dhiti cāgo, truth, principle, steadfastness, and generosity. sa ve pecca na socati.

Go ahead, ask others as well, Iṅgha aññepi pucchassu, there are many ascetics and brahmins. puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe; See whether anything better is found Yadi saccā damā cāgā, than truth, principle, generosity, and patience.” khantyā bhiyyodha vijjati”.

“Why now would I question “Kathaṁ nu dāni puccheyyaṁ, the many ascetics and brahmins? Puthū samaṇabrāhmaṇe; Today I understand Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi, what’s good for the next life. Yo attho samparāyiko.

It was truly for my benefit Atthāya vata me buddho, that the Buddha came to stay at Āḷavī. Vāsāyāḷavimāgamā; Today I understand Yohaṁ ajja pajānāmi, where a gift is very fruitful. Yattha dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ.

I myself will journey So ahaṁ vicarissāmi, village to village, town to town, Gāmā gāmaṁ purā puraṁ; paying homage to the Buddha, Namassamāno sambuddhaṁ, and the clear rightness of the teaching!” Dhammassa ca sudhammatan”ti.

Āḷavakasuttaṁ dasamaṁ.