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Anguttara Nikaya

# AN 8.7 Devadatta Vipatti Sutta (Devadatta’s Failure) AN 8.7

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## Text

    [page 1]
    AN 8.7

    Devadatta Vipatti Sutta
    “Devadatta’s Failure”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana

    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2023

    While The Blessed One was living among the Gijja Peaks, in Rājagaha, Devadatta left the Lord’s
    Dispensation, and soon after, The Blessed One addressed the Bhikkhus by discussing Devadatta,
    and said the following:
    “Bhikkhus, it is appropriate and wise for the Bhikkhu to reflect on his failures from time to time,
    and from time to time, to also reflect on the failures of others.
    “Similarly, Bhikkhus, it is appropriate and wise for the Bhikkhu to reflect on his own
    accomplishments from time to time, and from time to time, to also reflect on the
    accomplishments of others.
    “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by eight things, Devadatta
    is now lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the
    realms of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, without
    getting any relief nor a chance for redemption. Now, what are these eight things?
    A. 1. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by gain, Devadatta is
    lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the realms of
    absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, during which he will get
    no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    2. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by loss & the fear of
    missing out, Devadatta is lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will
    be reborn in the realms of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world
    cycle, during which he will get no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    3. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by fame, Devadatta is
    lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the realms of
    absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, during which he will get
    no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    4. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by disgrace, Devadatta
    is lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the realms

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    of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, during which he will
    get no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    5. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by honor, Devadatta is
    lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the realms of
    absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, during which he will get
    no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    6. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by dishonor, Devadatta
    is lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be reborn in the realms
    of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle, during which he will
    get no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    7. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by evil thoughts and
    desires, Devadatta is lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will be
    reborn in the realms of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world cycle,
    during which he will get no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    8. “Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by evil companionships
    and friendships, Devadatta is lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he
    will be reborn in the realms of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world
    cycle, during which he will get no relief nor a chance for redemption.
    “In this way, Bhikkhus, while possessing a heart that is consumed and dominated by these eight
    things, Devadatta is now lost, headed straight to hell and nowhere else. After his death, he will
    be reborn in the realms of absolute misery, where he will stay and suffer for an entire world
    cycle, without getting any relief nor a chance for redemption.
    B. “For this reason, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any
    sense of gain, as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of loss, as
    soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of fame,
    as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of
    disgrace, as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of honor,
    as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of
    dishonor, as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it.

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    “Also, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any evil thoughts
    and desires, as soon as they are encountered, and fully overcome them.
     “And, Bhikkhus, it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address evil
    companionships or friendships, as soon as they are encountered, and fully overcome them.
    C. “And why, Bhikkhus, is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of
    gain, as soon as it is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of loss, as soon as it
    is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of fame, as soon as
    it is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of disgrace, as soon
    as it is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of honor, as soon as
    it is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of dishonor, as soon
    as it is encountered, and fully overcome it?
    “Why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any sense of evil thoughts and
    desires, as soon as they are encountered, and fully overcome them?
    “And why is it necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address any evil companionships
    or friendships, as soon as they are encountered, and fully overcome them?
    D. “Because, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing
    the heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of gain, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of gain, whenever he encounters it.
    “Similarly, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of loss, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of loss, whenever he encounters it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of fame, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of fame, whenever he encounters it.

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    “And, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of disgrace, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of disgrace, whenever he encounters it.
    “Further, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of honor, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of honor, whenever he encounters it.
    “And, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the sense of dishonor, burning in his mind with
    feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address the
    sense of dishonor, whenever he encounters it.
    “Also, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome evil thoughts and desires, burning in his mind
    with feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu, who does indeed quickly address
    them whenever he encounters them.
    “And, Bhikkhus, the contaminants that would have otherwise arisen, inevitably plaguing the
    heart of someone else who hasn’t yet overcome the presence of evil companionships or
    friendships, burning in his mind with feverish distress, simply would not occur for the Bhikkhu,
    who does indeed quickly address them, whenever he encounters them.
    “Thus, it is for this reason that it is necessary and wise for the Bhikkhu to quickly address these
    eight things, whenever he encounters them.
    “Therefore, Bhikkhus, you should train yourselves in this manner:
    ‘We will live by quickly addressing any sense of gain, as soon as it is encountered, and fully
    overcome it. We will quickly address any sense of loss, as soon as it is encountered, and fully
    overcome it. We will quickly address any sense of fame, as soon as it is encountered, and fully
    overcome it. We will quickly address any sense of disgrace, as soon as it is encountered, and
    fully overcome it. We will quickly address any sense of honor, as soon as it is encountered, and
    fully overcome it. We will quickly address any sense of dishonor, as soon as it is encountered,
    and fully overcome it. We will quickly address any evil thoughts and desires, as soon as they are
    encountered, and fully overcome them. We will quickly address evil companionships and
    friendships, as soon as they are encountered, and fully overcome them.’
    “It is in this manner, Bhikkhus, that you must train yourselves.”

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

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