Sudattasuttaṃ [SN 10.8, PTS 1.211–1.212]

8.

The Discourse on Sudatta

242. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Cool Grove. Now at that time the householder Anāthapiṇḍika had arrived at Rājagaha on some business. The householder Anāthapiṇḍika heard - "A Buddha, it seems, has arisen in the world." And at that very moment he wished to approach the Blessed One for an audience. Then this occurred to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika - "It is not the right time today to approach the Blessed One for an audience. Tomorrow I shall go to see the Blessed One at the proper time," and he lay down with his mindfulness directed to the Buddha. During the night he rose three times, thinking it was dawn. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the cemetery gate. Non-human spirits opened the gate. Then as the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was leaving the city, the light disappeared, darkness appeared, fear, trepidation, and terror arose, and he wished to turn back from that very place. Then the demon Sivaka, having vanished, proclaimed a sound -

Then the darkness disappeared for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, light appeared, and whatever fear, trepidation, and terror there was, that subsided. For the second time the light disappeared for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, darkness appeared, fear, trepidation, and terror arose, and he wished to turn back from that very place. For the second time the demon Sivaka, having vanished, proclaimed a sound -

Then the darkness disappeared for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, light appeared, and whatever fear, trepidation, and terror there was, that subsided. For the third time the light disappeared for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, darkness appeared, fear, trepidation, and terror arose, and he wished to turn back from that very place. For the third time the demon Sivaka, having vanished, proclaimed a sound -

Then the darkness disappeared for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, light appeared, and whatever fear, trepidation, and terror there was, that subsided. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Cool Grove, approached the Blessed One.

Now at that time the Blessed One, having risen towards the break of dawn, was walking up and down in the open air. The Blessed One saw the householder Anāthapiṇḍika coming from afar. Having seen him, having descended from the walking path, he sat down on the prepared seat. Having sat down, the Blessed One said this to the householder Anāthapiṇḍika - "Come, Sudatta." Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, thinking "The Blessed One addresses me by name," joyful and elated, right there having fallen at the Blessed One's feet with his head, said this to the Blessed One - "I hope, venerable sir, the Blessed One slept happily?"