• So It Was Said 89 Itivuttaka 89
  • The Book of the Threes Tikanipāta
  • Chapter Four Catutthavagga

About Devadatta Devadattasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, overcome and overwhelmed by three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable. “Tīhi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho. What three? Katamehi tīhi? Corrupt wishes … Pāpicchatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho. Bad friendship … Pāpamittatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho. When there is still more to be done, stopping half-way after achieving some trifling distinction. Sati kho pana uttarikaraṇīye oramattakena visesādhigamena antarā vosānaṁ āpādi. Overcome and overwhelmed by these three things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.” Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Let none of wicked desire “Mā jātu koci lokasmiṁ, ever be reborn into this world. pāpiccho udapajjatha; And by this too you should know Tadamināpi jānātha, the place where those of corrupt wishes go. pāpicchānaṁ yathā gati.

He once was considered astute, Paṇḍitoti samaññāto, deemed to be evolved, bhāvitattoti sammato; his glory stood forth like a flame, Jalaṁva yasasā aṭṭhā, the renowned Devadatta. devadattoti vissuto.

Seduced by heedlessness, So samānamanuciṇṇo, he attacked the Realized One. āsajja naṁ tathāgataṁ; He has fallen to Avīci hell, Avīcinirayaṁ patto, four-doored and terrifying. catudvāraṁ bhayānakaṁ.

When someone betrays the innocent, Aduṭṭhassa hi yo dubbhe, who have done no wrong, pāpakammaṁ akubbato; their bad deeds impact the one Tameva pāpaṁ phusati, with corrupt heart, lacking regard for others. duṭṭhacittaṁ anādaraṁ.

One might think to pollute Samuddaṁ visakumbhena, the ocean with a pot of poison, yo maññeyya padūsituṁ; but it wouldn’t work, Na so tena padūseyya, for the sea is terribly large. bhesmā hi udadhi mahā.

So too when someone attacks Evamevaṁ tathāgataṁ, with words the Realized One—yo vādena vihiṁsati; rightly comported, of peaceful mind—Sammaggataṁ santacittaṁ, the words don’t take. vādo tamhi na rūhati.

The astute would befriend one like this, Tādisaṁ mittaṁ kubbetha, and follow them around. tañca seveyya paṇḍito; A mendicant who walks the path Yassa maggānugo bhikkhu, attains the ending of suffering.” khayaṁ dukkhassa pāpuṇe”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Dasamaṁ.

Catuttho vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Vitakkāsakkārasadda, cavanaloke asubhaṁ; Dhammaandhakāramalaṁ, devadattena te dasāti.