Devasadda Sutta
Thus it was said by the Teacher,
The Arahant,
as I heard it:
“Monks, three heavenly cries resound among the devas
on certain special occasions arise.[1]
What three?
[1. Headed for Battle]
(1) Whenever a disciple of the Ariyas
shaves off their hair and beard
wrap themselves in the saffron robe
and willfully leave their home behind
and become homeless seekers; [2]
On that occasion, a heavenly cry comes forth among the devas: [3]
“This disciple of the Ariyas is headed for battle against Māra!” [i]
This is the first heavenly cry.
[2. Battling]
(2) Whenever a disciple of the ariyas
is unremittingly dedicated to development
in the seven prerequisites of awakening; [4]
On that occasion, a heavenly cry comes forth among the devas:
“This disciple of the Ariyas is giving battle to Māra!”
This is the second heavenly cry.
[3. Victory]
(3) Whenever a disciple of the ariyas
understands and abides in the stillness
of stilling of the [mental] currents
Liberated in mind,
Liberated by discernment,
seeing here and now,
realizing by direct knowledge, for oneself; [5]
On that occasion, a heavenly cry comes forth among the devas:
“This disciple of the Ariyas has won the battle!
At the head of the battlefield,
he has overthrown [unwholesome states],
he is now the ruler of himself!” [6]
This is the third heavenly cry.
“Monks, those three heavenly cries resound among the devas
on these special occasions arise.”
This is what the Teacher said.
Then, he further said this:
“Those followers of the fully awakened Buddha,
Who have seen the victory in battle,
Even the devas pay respect to them,
Those great beings, rid of vanity, saying: [7]
‘We pay homage to this extraordinary being,
Victor of this middle-ground, so hard to win,
Vanquisher of death’s army,
Unobstructed through unbinding.” [8]
Such is the praise of the devas, for those
Who are accomplished in [the higher] mind,
In them, seeing nothing by which
They could fall under the Wicked one’s sway.” [9]
This is what the Teacher said,
as I have heard it.
[1] “Tayome, bhikkhave, devesu devasaddā niccharanti samayā samayaṁ upādāya.
[2] Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjāya ceteti,
[3] tasmiṁ samaye devesu devasaddo niccharati:
[4] sattannaṁ bodhipakkhiyānaṁ dhammānaṁ bhāvanānuyogamanuyutto viharati,
[5] āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati,
[6] ‘eso ariyasāvako vijitasaṅgāmo tameva saṅgāmasīsaṁ abhivijiya ajjhāvasatī’ti.
[7] “Disvā vijitasaṅgāmaṁ, sammāsambuddhasāvakaṁ; Devatāpi namassanti, mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.
[8] Namo te purisājañña, yo tvaṁ dujjayamajjhabhū; Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ, vimokkhena anāvaraṁ.
[9] Iti hetaṁ namassanti, devatā pattamānasaṁ; Tañhi tassa na passanti, yena maccuvasaṁ vaje”ti.
[i] ‘eso ariyasāvako mārena saddhiṁ saṅgāmāya cetetī’ti.
