SN11:23 Magic
- DG BB TBW Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi
© Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
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1At Sāvatthī. The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, once in the past Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, was sick, afflicted, gravely ill. [n.662] Spk: He was afflicted with the illness that arose at the time he was cursed by the group of seers; see vv. 902–3. Then Sakka, lord of the devas, approached Vepacitti to inquire about his illness. Vepacitti saw Sakka coming in the distance and said to him: ‘Cure me, lord of the devas.’ - sn.i.239 ‘Teach me, Vepacitti, the Sambari magic.’ [n.663] Sambarimaya. MW has two relevant listings: śambaramaya = sorcery, magic; and śambari = jugglery, sorcery, illusion (as practised by the daitya Śambara). - ‘I won’t teach it, dear sir, until I have asked the asuras for permission.’
"Then, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, asked the asuras: ‘May I teach the Sambari magic to Sakka, lord of the devas?’ - ‘Do not teach him the Sambari magic, dear sir.’ [n.664] Spk paraphrases: "Even without the Sambari magic Sakka oppresses us, but if he learns it we are lost. Don’t destroy us for the sake of your own personal welfare."
"Then, bhikkhus, Vepacitti, lord of the asuras, addressed Sakka, lord of the devas, in verse:
2v.943 "‘A magician—O Maghava, Sakka,
King of devas, Suja's husband—
Goes to the terrible hell,
Like Sambara, for a hundred years.’"
[n.665] As C.Rh.D points out (at KS 1:305, n. 4), in this verse Vepacitti makes a distinction between Sambara and himself. Even though Spk identifies the two, the commentator does not seem to be bothered by the discrepancy but paraphrases the verse: "Just as Sambara, lord of the asuras, a magician who practised magic, was tortured in hell for a hundred years, so one who applies his magic is tortured." Spk-pṭ offers some further help with Sambara: "Sambara was the former head of the asuras, the originator (adipurisa) of the asura magic."
Spk continues: "Was Sakka able to cure him of his anger? Yes, he was able. How? At that time, it is said, the group of seers was still living. Therefore Sakka would have brought him to them and made him apologize, and he would then have become healthy. But because of his perverse nature (vañcitatta) he did not comply but simply left."
1Sāvatthiyaṁ … pe … bhagavā etadavoca: "Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo ābādhiko ahosi dukkhito bāḷhagilāno. Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo yena vepacitti asurindo tenupasaṅkami gilānapucchako. Addasā kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca: ‘tikiccha maṁ, devānamindā’ti. ‘Vācehi maṁ, vepacitti, sambarimāyan’ti. ‘Na tāvāhaṁ vācemi, yāvāhaṁ, mārisa, asure paṭipucchāmī’ti.
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo asure paṭipucchi: ‘vācemahaṁ, mārisā, sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ sambarimāyan’ti? ‘Mā kho tvaṁ, mārisa, vācesi sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ sambarimāyan’ti.
Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
2‘Māyāvī maghavā sakka,
devarāja sujampati;
Upeti nirayaṁ ghoraṁ,
sambarova sataṁ saman’"ti.