sn.1.11 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Nandana

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapiṇḍika’s Park. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus!”

“Venerable sir!” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

“Once in the past, bhikkhus, a certain devatā of the Tavatiṁsa host was revelling in Nandana Grove, supplied and endowed with the five cords of celestial sensual pleasure, accompanied by a retinue of celestial nymphs. On that occasion he spoke this verse:

“‘They do not know bliss
Who have not seen Nandana,
The abode of the glorious male devas
Belonging to the host of Thirty.’

“When this was said, bhikkhus, a certain devatā replied to that devatā in verse:

“‘Don’t you know, you fool,
That maxim of the arahants?
Impermanent are all formations;
Their nature is to arise and vanish.
Having arisen, they cease:
Their appeasement is blissful.’”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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The Garden of Delight

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,
“Mendicants!”
“Venerable sir,” they replied.
The Buddha said this:
“Once upon a time, mendicants, a certain deity of the company of the Thirty-Three was amusing themselves in the Garden of Delight, escorted by a band of nymphs, and supplied and provided with the five kinds of heavenly sensual stimulation. On that occasion they recited this verse:
‘They don’t know pleasure
who don’t see the Garden of Delight!
It’s the abode of lordly gods,
the glorious host of Thirty!’
When they had spoken, another deity replied with this verse:
‘Fool, don’t you understand
the saying of the perfected ones:
All conditions are impermanent,
their nature is to rise and fall;
having arisen, they cease;
their stilling is true bliss.’”