A~ta~na~tiya Suthraya

Thus, I have heard.
Once, the Buddha used to live on Gijjakuta Rock.
One day, the Buddha addressed the monks in the early morning after the night was over.

“Monks, last night the four dominant gods of four groups of lower range gods, called Yaksha, Naga, Kumbhanda, and Gandhabba came to see me illuminating all around the Gijjakuta rock shining with various colours, setting up guard posts in the four directions, deploying troops in the four directions, and covering the four directions with their intelligent services.
They bowed to me and sat beside me when they arrived.

And monks, some of those Yakshas bowed down to me and sat beside me;
Some of them were friendly to me.
They took a seat after a pleasant conversation.
Before sitting, some of them clasped their hands and worshipped me.
After telling me their names and tribes, some of them sat down.
Some sat quietly on the sidelines.
Monks, Vaishravana, the great king who sat beside me, told me this”,

“Venerable, your honour, some of these upper-class Yakshas are impressed with the Blessed One, while others of these upper-class Yakshas dislike you.

Although some of these middle-class Yakshas are impressed by the Blessed One, there is another group of middle-class Yakshas who dislike you.

And there are lower-class Yakshas who like you, but there are also lower-class Yakshas who dislike you; in fact, the majority of Yakshas dislike you.

If I explain why that is the case,
The Blessed One preaches against killing beings,
The Blessed One advise to avoid taking other’s belongings without permission,
The Blessed One advise to prevent wrongdoings in lust,
The Blessed One advise to avoid lying,
The Blessed One advise to avoid drinking alcohol because it causes one to lose awareness (which prevents one from consciously understanding the right thing).

Venerable the Blessed One,
Most Yakshas do not avoid killing.
They are not afraid of stealing.
They do not avoid wrong behaviour in lust.
They do not avoid lying.
They do not abstain from alcohol.

That is why they are dissatisfied and resentful of you.

Disciples of the Blessed One live in shelters constructed at the far end of difficult forests that provide the ideal setting for their physical and mental relaxation, such as places used for secret activities by humans that are extremely quiet, devoid of human habitation and human voices.
There are also many Yakshas behave in those areas.

They are opposed to what the Blessed One preaches for good.

Venerable Reverand, after you examine this A~ta~na~tiya chant, please teach to the four groups of Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upa~sika~ (monk-nun-male devotee-female devotee).
For them to be able to live comfortably and safely by being freed from persecution from those Yakshas by learning this A~ta~na~tiya chant”.

“Monks, I tolerated his words silently.
Then, monks, knowing that I had accepted it, Vaishravana, the great king, continued to expound this A~ta~na~tiya chant without hesitation”.

“Let us worship Vipassi Buddha, who is prosperous and wise!

Let us worship Sikhi Budda, who is kind to all beings born from lustful afflictions!
Let us worship Vessabu Buddha, who was a strict ascetic!

Let us worship Kakusanda Buddha, who defeated Mara’s army!

Let us worship Konagamana Buddha, who lived a noble life!

Let us worship Kashyapa Buddha, who was free of all dangers!

Let us worship the prosperous Buddha, the son of Sakya, who preached the practice of eradicating all possible suffering!”

“The human group listened to the teaching that led to appeasement. They wisely understood the Dhamma by inquiring into themselves and the world. They got rid of barren things and became the noble, great Arahath”.

“Let’s worship the great Gautama Buddha, who appeared for the sake of both gods and humans and is disciplined according to the Omniscient knowledge that includes all the knowledge needed to understand the true nature of the world as it is. The Buddha has banished all barren things”.

Know that what appears to be a vast and deep lake in the direction called sunrise direction by people where the sun, which is with a constellation, can be seen is the ocean. Also, with that sun rising, the night comes to an end, and the day begins.

That direction, which a glorious great king rules, is called the ‘Eastern Direction’ by people.
He is known as ‘Dhruthara~shtah’, and he rules over the Gandabbas. He is the Gandabbas’ anointed and lives a lavish and opulent life, always dancing and singing.

I, who have only one intangible (formless) potentiality known as the Mind, have heard that the great king, Dhruthara~shtah, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, possesses great power, and holds dominance, has eleven intangible (formless) potentialities capable of causing calamity to beings.

Regardless of that personality, he was impressed by the Gautama Buddha and sought refuge in him.
Even if he is not near or is far from the Buddha, he frequently remembers and worships the Buddha because he has become a noble by banishing barren things.

“May that Venerable Omniscient One be worshipped!
May that Great Noble One be worshipped!” And so on.

Pondering the positive effects and evils of what he has heard and seen, that Inhuman Great King Dhruthara~shtah remembers the Buddha and says this:
“Worship the Gauthama Buddha, who is Omniscient!
May the Omniscient Gauthama Buddha be worshipped!
May the Gauthama Buddha, who disciplines according to Omniscient knowledge, be worshipped!”

The direction where there are people who gossip like Prethas (greedy ghosts), pretend to be friendly to their face but then criticise them behind their back, are violent, commit murder, steal and cheat, is ruled by a glorious great king. That direction is called the ‘Southern direction’.

He is known as ‘Virulha’, and he rules over the Kumbha~ndas. He is the Kumbha~ndas’ anointed and lives a lavish and opulent life, always dancing and singing.

I, who have only one intangible (formless) potentiality known as the Mind, have heard that the great king, Virulha, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, possesses great power, and holds dominance, has eleven intangible (formless) potentialities capable of causing calamity to beings.

Regardless of that personality, he was impressed by the Gautama Buddha and sought refuge in him.
Even if he is not near or is far from the Buddha, he frequently remembers and worships the Buddha because he has become a noble by banishing barren things.
“May that Venerable Omniscient One be worshipped!
May that Great Noble One be worshipped!” And so on.

Pondering the positive effects and evils of what he has heard and seen, that Inhuman Great King Dhruthara~shtah remembers the Buddha and says this:
Worship the Gauthama Buddha, who is Omniscient!
“May the Omniscient Gauthama Buddha be worshipped!
May the Gauthama Buddha, who disciplines according to Omniscient knowledge, be worshipped!”

Know that what appears to be a vast and deep lake in the direction called sunset direction by people where the setting sun, which is with a constellation, can be seen is the ocean. Also, with the setting of the sun, the night appears, and the day comes to an end.

That direction, which a glorious great king rules, is called the ‘Western Direction’ by people.

He is known as ‘Viru~pa~ksha’, and he rules over the Nagas (Nagas are an Inhuman faction that can take on dual forms, humans and snakes, as a result of previous merits and demerit deeds). He is the Nagas’ anointed and lives a lavish and opulent life, always dancing and singing.

I, who have only one intangible (formless) potentiality known as the Mind, have heard that the great king, Viru~pa~ksha, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, possesses great power, and holds dominance has eleven intangible (formless) potentialities capable of causing calamity to beings.

Regardless of that personality, he was impressed by the Gautama Buddha and sought refuge in him.
Even if he is not near or is far from the Buddha, he frequently remembers and worships the Buddha because he has become a noble by banishing barren things.
“May that Venerable Omniscient One be worshipped!
May that Great Noble One be worshipped!” And so on.

Pondering the positive effects and evils of what he has heard and seen, that Inhuman Great King Dhruthara~shtah remembers the Buddha and says this:
Worship the Gauthama Buddha, who is Omniscient!
“May the Omniscient Gauthama Buddha be worshipped!
May the Gauthama Buddha, who disciplines according to Omniscient knowledge, be worshipped!”

There is a beautiful area surrounded by huge mountains and rocks where people are said to be able to preserve celibate virtue near the location where the Buddhas or the humans who do not possess the ego as ‘Mine’ appear.

Nobody in that area farming with ploughs or other machinery.
The fragrant paddy grown free from husks or powder in that ground where no human cultivation exists is consumed by the human who lives there.

Using a cow as a vehicle and travelling wherever the cow goes,
Using animals as vehicles and travelling wherever animals go,
Using a woman as a vehicle and travelling wherever the female goes,
Using a man as a vehicle and travelling wherever the man goes,
Using a teenage girl as a vehicle and travelling wherever she goes,
Using a teenage boy as a vehicle and travelling wherever he goes,

His queen and their entourage wander in all directions, using animals and humans as their mode of transportation. They behave in all directions, following those animals and humans.

That glorious great king, having divine elephant vehicles and divine horse vehicles, lives in a glamorous palace made of gold in the sky.

That king owns the well-built cities in the sky known as A~ta~na~ta, Kusina~ta, Parakusina~ta, Na~tapuriya, and Parakusithana~ta.

There is a kingdom called Visa~na that belongs to Kuvera, the great king among the kingdoms of Kasi~vantha from above, Janoghama from below, Navanavathiya, Ambarambaravathiya, and A~lakamanda.
Therefore, he is also known as ‘Vaishravana’ in addition to the name Kuvera.

Thathola, Thaththala, Tathothala, Ojasi, Thejasi, Thathojasi, Suro, Raja, Aritto, and Nemi are some of the Yakshas. They are immoral, persecute others and issue commands.

The water in a specific lake helps to form clouds, which contribute to the formation of rain. This is the ‘Dharani’ Lake.
There is a hall called ‘Bhagalavathi’ very close to that lake where the Yakshas meet.
There are numerous tree species that produce fruit throughout the year.
There are various types of glamorous, beautiful birds, such as peacocks, koswalihini (passerine songbirds), and Koels, who have beautiful singing sounds, and so on. It’s a lovely setting, with fruit-bearing trees and brightly coloured birds and animals.
There are also birds called Ottava and Chittaka that make echoing sounds similar to koel, as well as stretchy sounds.
Crooked walking cocks make sad noises while searching for palm stamen in the forest.
This place, which belongs to King Kuvera and is filled with the sounds of birds such as parrots, mainas, tree branches, and people, glows like a lake full of aquatic flowers at all times.

That direction, which a glorious great king rules, is called the ‘Nothern Direction’ by people.

He is known as ‘Kuvera’, and he rules over the Yakshas. He is the Yakshas’ anointed and lives a lavish and opulent life, always dancing and singing.

I, who have only one intangible (formless) potentiality known as the Mind, have heard that the great king, Kuvera, who is said to be miraculous, produces terrifying sounds, enjoys opulence, possesses great power, and holds dominance, has eleven intangible (formless) potentialities capable of causing calamity to beings.

Regardless of that personality, he was impressed by the Gautama Buddha and sought refuge in him.
Even if he is not near or is far from the Buddha, he frequently remembers and worships the Buddha because he has become a noble by banishing barren things.
“May that Venerable Omniscient One be worshipped!
May that Great Noble One be worshipped!” And so on.

Pondering the positive effects and evils of what he has heard and seen, that Inhuman Great King Dhruthara~shtah remembers the Buddha and says this:
Worship the Gauthama Buddha, who is Omniscient!
“May the Omniscient Gauthama Buddha be worshipped!
May the Gauthama Buddha, who disciplines according to Omniscient knowledge, be worshipped!”

“Great Venerable, this ~Ata~na~tiya chant helps your four groups of disciples, ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upa~sika~’, to be protected and to live comfortably without disturbances.
If ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upa~sika~’ carefully learns and studies this A~ta~na~tiya chant, they can be protected from those inhuman persecutions.

Those Inhumans are,

Yakshas or female Yakshas or adolescent girl Yakshas or adolescent boy Yakshas or Yaksha ministers or Yaksha retinues or Yaksha servants,

Gandhabbas or female Gandhabbas or adolescent girl Gandhabbas or Adolescent boy Gandhabbas or Gandhabba ministers or Gandhabba retinues or Gandhabba servants,

Kumbhandas or female Kumbhandas or adolescent girl Kumbhandas or Adolescent boy Kumbhandas or Kumbhanda ministers or Kumbhanda retinues or Kumbhanda servants,

Nagas or female Nagas or adolescent girl Nagas or Adolescent boy Nagas or Naga ministers or Naga retinues or Naga servants,

With very evil minds,

When monks-nuns-male devotees-female devotees travel, Yakshas accompany them; when they stop, Yakshas stay with them; when they sit, Yakshas sit close to them; and when they sleep, Yakshas sleep close to them.

Great One, those who persecute your ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upa~sika~’ in that manner do not receive any care or respect from the residents of cities or villages of the Alakamanda kingdom.
They will not be allowed to live in that land; they will not be allowed to participate in the meeting of Yakshas.

And, Your Honour, because I have banned them from marrying, those Inhumans will not be permitted to marry.
Also, the great Noble One, their entire souls are insulted and humiliated,
Furthermore, the great Noble One, empty metal vessels will be placed upside down on their heads, and their heads will be cut into seven pieces.

Your honour, the Appeased One, Inhumans are disobedient, cause disruption to humans, and make loud noises.

They do not even obey the great king;
they disobey the great king’s chief soldiers, and they disobey the great king’s lower soldiers.
They act in the same way.
Those Inhumans are referred to as ‘the expelled ones’ by the Great King.

Your honour, the mighty thieves of Magadha, just as they disobey the king who rules that country, just as they disobey the king’s people, just as they disobey the other men under the king’s people, so do those Yakshas.
Venerable, just as the king of Magadha referred to those thieves as ‘the expellers’, I too refer to those Yakshas as ‘the expellers’.

Your honour, the Appeased One, in that way, those Inhumans are disobedient, cause disruption to humans, and make loud noises.

They do not even obey the great king.
They disobey the great king’s chief soldiers, and they disobey the great king’s lower soldiers.
They act in the same way.
Venerable, that is why those Inhumans are referred to as ‘the expelled ones’ by the Great King.

Who is that, Venerable,

Inhumans are the,
Yakshas or female Yakshas or adolescent girl Yakshas or adolescent boy Yakshas or Yaksha ministers or Yaksha retinues or Yaksha servants,

Gandhabbas or female Gandhabbas or adolescent girl Gandhabbas or Adolescent boy Gandhabbas or Gandhabba ministers or Gandhabba retinues or Gandhabba servants,

Kumbhandas or female Kumbhandas or adolescent girl Kumbhandas or Adolescent boy Kumbhandas or Kumbhanda ministers or Kumbhanda retinues or Kumbhanda servants,

Nagas or female Nagas or adolescent girl Nagas or Adolescent boy Nagas or Naga ministers or Naga retinues or Naga servants,

With very evil minds

When ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upa~sika~’ travel, Yakshas accompany them; when they stop, Yakshas stay with them; when they sit, Yakshas sit close to them; and when they sleep, Yakshas sleep close to them.

These Inhumans should be blamed loudly enough for Yakshas, Great Yakshas, Yaksha commanders, and great Yaksha commanders to hear.

Scream out about the harassment you receive from Inhuman.
shout loudly in this way,
“A Yaksha is holding this one, and a Yaksha has entered his body,
A Yaksha tortures him,
this Yaksha severely tortures him,
he is harassed,
this Yaksha severely harasses him, and this Yaksha does not release him” and so on.

Who are these Yakshas, Great Yakshas, Yaksha commanders, and great Yaksha commanders?

Inda, So~ma, Waruna, Bha~radwa~ja, Paja~pathi,
Chandana, Ka~masettah, Kinnughandu, Nighandu,
Pana~da, Opamaknkna, Devasutha, Ma~thali~,
The Gandhabba Chiththasena, Janesbha who dominant to Bamboo tree
Sa~tha~gira, Hemavatha, Punnaka, Karathiya, Gula,
Si~vaka, Muchalinda, Vessamiththa, Yugandhara,
Go~pa~la, Suppage~dha, Hirineththi, Mandiya,
Pakncha~lachanda, A~lavaka, Pajjunna, Sumana, Sumukha,
Dadhimukha, Mani Ma~nivara, Di~gha with Se~rissaka

These Inhumans should be blamed loudly enough for Yakshas, Great Yakshas, Yaksha commanders, and great Yaksha commanders to hear.

Scream out about the harassment you receive from Inhuman.
shout loudly in this way,
“A Yaksha is holding this one, and a Yaksha has entered his body,
A Yaksha tortures him,
this Yaksha severely tortures him,
he is harassed,
this Yaksha severely harasses him, and this Yaksha does not release him” and so on.

Venerable Reverand, this A~ta~na~tiya chant is for the four groups of ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upa~saka- Upasika~’ to live comfortably receiving the protection by being freed from persecution from those Yakshas”.

“Then, Your great Noble, we want to go now. We have a lot of work to do”. They told me.
“Now is the time for you to leave, great king”, I told them.

“After that, monks, the four great kings stood up and bowed to me, then performed pradakshina (walking around the Noble with one’s right hand to the side of the Noble to pay homage to him) and disappeared.
A few of them had a friendly conversation with me and then disappeared, and another few disappeared with their fingers tied, just like they were expelled.
Others introduced themselves and then disappeared.
A few of them quietly disappeared.

Bhikkhus, learn this A~ta~na~tiya chant, study it carefully, understand it well, and apply it for the safety, well-being, and comfortable living of four groups of ‘Bhikshu-Bhikshuni-Upasaka-Upasika’ by freeing them from the persecutions that those Yakshas may bring”.

The Blessed One stated.
After hearing that sermon, the monks were overjoyed.

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