snp.2.5 Suttanipata

To the Yakkha Sūciloma

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Radiant One was dwelling in Gaya at the Stone Couch in the place of the yakkha Sūciloma. At that time the yakkhas Khara and Sūciloma paused nearby and the former said: “That is a monk”. “He’s not a monk, he’s just a ‘mere-monk’; but wait until I find out whether he’s a monk or a ‘mere-monk’.”

Then the yakkha Sūciloma approached the Radiant One and pressed his body against him, at which the Radiant One drew back. The yakkha then said to him, “Are you afraid of me, monk?” “Friend, I am not afraid of you, but your touch is evil.”

“Monk, I shall ask you a question and if you do not reply to me I shall overturn your mind, split your heart, and grasping you by the feet fling you to the other side of the Ganges.”

“Friend, I do not see anyone indeed who in this world with its devas, Māras and Brahmā-gods, together with its people—monks and brahmins, rulers and ordinary persons—who could overturn my mind, split my heart and grasping me by the feet fling me to the other side of the Ganges. Still, friend, you can ask whatever you wish.”

Then the yakkha Sūciloma addressed the Radiant One with this verse.

Sūciloma
From whence the causes of both lust and hate,
from what are likes, dislikes and terror born,
what origin’s there for thoughts in mind,
as boys harass a (captive) crow?

Buddha
From causes here come lusts and hate,
from here, likes, dislikes and terror’s born,
present origin’s there for the thoughts in mind,
as boys release a (captive) crow.

Born of lubricity, arisen from self,
bearing branch-born roots as the banyan figs,
such are they in sensuality entwined,
as woods entangled by the stinky-vine.

Listen, O yakkha, for those who know,
from where these causes come—all they dispel,
they cross this flood so hard to cross,
uncrossed before, to not become again.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

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With Spiky

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Gayā on the cut-stone ledge in the haunt of Spiky the native spirit.
Now at that time the native spirits Shaggy and Spiky were passing by not far from the Buddha.
So Shaggy said to Spiky,
“That’s an ascetic.”
“That’s no ascetic, he’s a faker!
I’ll soon find out whether he’s an ascetic or a faker.”
Then Spiky went up to the Buddha and leaned up against his body,
but the Buddha pulled away.
Then Spiky said to the Buddha,
“Are you afraid, ascetic?”
“No, sir, I’m not afraid.
But your touch is nasty.”
“I will ask you a question, ascetic.
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!”
“I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans who could do that to me.
But anyway, ask what you wish.”
Then Spiky addressed the Buddha in verse:
“Where do greed and hate come from?
From where spring discontent, desire, and terror?
Where do the mind’s thoughts originate,
like a crow let loose by boys.”
“Greed and hate come from here;
from here spring discontent, desire, and terror;
here’s where the mind’s thoughts originate,
like a crow let loose by boys.
Born of affection, originating in oneself,
like the shoots from a banyan’s trunk;
the many kinds of attachment to sensual pleasures
are like camel’s foot creeper strung through the woods.
Those who understand where they come from
get rid of them—listen up, spirit!
They cross this flood so hard to cross,
not crossed before, so as to not be reborn.”