Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
VII. Pattakamma Vagga

The Book of the Fours

VII: Deeds of Merit

Sutta 68

Devadatta Suttaṃ

Devadatta

[83]

THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Rājagaha, on the hill Vultures' Peak,
not long after Devadatta had left (the Order).¹

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks thus concerning Devadatta:²

"To the ruin of self, monks,
did (love of) gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta;
to the misfortune of others, monks,
did (love of) gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta.

Just as, monks, the plantain gives fruit
to the ruin of self,
gives fruit
to the misfortune of others, so,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
to the ruin of self,
come upon Devadatta;
to the misfortune of others, monks,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta.

Just as, monks, a bamboo gives fruit
to the ruin of self,
gives fruit
to the misfortune of others, so,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
to the ruin of self,
come upon Devadatta;
to the misfortune of others, monks,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta.

Just as, monks, a reed gives fruit
to the ruin of self,
gives fruit
to the misfortune of others, so,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
to the ruin of self,
come upon Devadatta;
to the misfortune of others, monks,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta.

Just as a mule conceives
to her own ruin,
to the misfortune of others, even so, monks,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
to the ruin of self,
come upon Devadatta;
to the misfortune of others, monks,
did love of gains, favours and flattery
come upon Devadatta.

Truly its fruit the plantain doth destroy,
Their fruit destroys the bamboo and the rush;
So homage doth destroy the fool,
Just as its embryo the mule.'

¹ Cf. Vin. Texts, iii, 256.