SN 2.1

Paṭhamakassapa sutta: With Kassapa (1st)

Paṭhamakassapasutta

Paṭhamavagga

A deity named Kassapa comes to the Buddha and speaks of the training of a mendicant in seclusion and right speech.

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So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Then, late at night, the glorious godling Kassapa, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, “The Buddha has revealed the mendicant, but not his instructions to a mendicant.”

The commentary says that godlings (devaputta) are born “in the lap of the gods”, that is, not from a womb. Typically, in contrast with the “deities” (devatā), they are named individuals. The commentary also takes the term as gendered, with devaputta as “son of god” and devadhītā as “daughter of god”. But as the latter term is not attested in early Pali (or Sanskrit) we should probably take devaputta as gender neutral (like devatā). This is supported by pre-Buddhist Sanskrit, where we only find devaputra as an adjective, “the heaven and earth, whose children are gods”, where those children are “two young women, sisters” (Rig Veda 1.185.4). Many of the Suttas in this chapter refer to Indra (i.e. Sakka) under different names. Indra was a son of the original Kassapa, so this may refer to Indra with the patronymic.

This is an unusual thing to say, as the Buddha obviously gave instructions for mendicants very often. It must have a specific context. The commentary supplies a context, but it relies on a later legend. This suggests that the verse below, which is phrased as a direct exhortation to the mendicants, is to be read as Kassapa quoting the Buddha’s own words. However, no such verse is attributed to the Buddha in the Pali canon. At Thag 3.7:3.1 it is spoken by the mendicant Vāraṇa.

“Well then, Kassapa, clarify this matter yourself.”

“You should all train <j>to learn well-spoken words,
to attend closely to ascetics,
to sit alone in hidden places,
and to settle the mind.”

That is what the godling Kassapa said, and the Teacher concurred. Then Kassapa, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

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