Sakkapañhasutta untranslated

Sakkapañhasutta. The twenty-first Sutta of the Dīghanikāya (DN.ii.263-89). Sakka visits the Buddha at the Indasālaguhā in Vediyagiri, and, having obtained leave from the Buddha through Pañcasikha, asks a series of fourteen questions on the causes of:

• malice and avarice,
• favour and disfavour,
• of desire,
• of mental preoccupation,
• obsession (papañca),
• happiness (somanassa),
• sorrow (domanassa),
• equanimity,
• good behaviour of body and speech (as enjoined in the Pātimokkha),
• right pursuit (pariyesanā),
• control of the sense faculties,
• the presence of divers persuasions (anekadhātu), and
• failure in attaining the right ideal.

For details of this visit see Sakka. A summary of the Sutta is given at DN­a.iii.738.

The Sutta also contains the story of the Sākiyan maiden Gopikā. Sakka is greatly pleased with the Buddha’s answers, and, together with eighty thousand Devas, becomes a Sotāpanna.

In order to show his gratitude to Pañcasikha, he obtains for him as his wife, Timbarū’s daughter, Bhaddā Suriyavaccasā. The Sutta is quoted by name at SN.iii.13.

Buddhaghosa says that the Sutta comes under the Vedalla division. DN­a.i.24; also Gv.67.