Isigilisuttaṃ – The Rock That Devours Sages
MAJJHIMA NIKĀYA III
\n III. 2. 6. Isigilisuttaṃ
\n (116) The Rock That Devours Sages
I heard thus.
At one time the Blessed One lived on the rock which devoured sages, and addressed the bhikkhus from there. ‘Bhikkhus, do you see this Vebhāra rock?”
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Bhikkhus, this Vebhāra rock had a different name and a different concept. Do you see this Paṇḍava rock?”
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Bhikkhus, this Paṇḍava rock had a different name and a different concept. Do you see this Vepulla rock?”
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Bhikkhus, this Vepulla rock had a different name and a different concept. Do you see this rock Gijja?”
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Bhikkhus, this Gijja rock had a different name and a different concept. Do you see this Isigili rock?”
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Bhikkhus, this Isigili rock had this same name and this same concept.
Bhikkhus, in the past five hundred silent enlightened ones lived on this Isigili rock as permanent residents. People see them entering the rock and do not see them afterwards. People who saw this, said this rock devours sages, thus the name and concept came to birth. Bhikkhus, I will tell the names of those silent enlightened ones, we will honour the names of those silent enlightened ones. I will tell them listen carefully.”
Those bhikkhus agreed and the Blessed One said thus.
“Bhikkhus, the silent enlightened ones, Ariṭṭha, Upariṭṭha, Tagarasikhī, Yasassī, Sudassana, Piyadassī, Gandhāra, Piṇḍola, Upāsabha, Nītha, Tatha, Suthava, Bhāvitatta, were permanent residents on this Isigili rock.
\n Listen honouring the names of those Great Beengs, they have pulled out the arrows. [1]
\n Ariṭṭha, Upariṭṭha, Tagarasikhī, Yasassī, Sudassana and Piyadassī,
\n Gandhāra, Piṇḍola, Upāsabha, Nītha, Suthava Tatha Suthava and Bhāvitatta.
\n Sumbha, Subha, Methula, Aṭṭhama, Athassumegha, Anīgha and Sudāṭha,
\n The majestic destroyers of the leader of being were Hiṇgū and Hiṇga.
\n The two Jālinas, the sage Aṭṭhaka, the enlightened one of Kosala and Subhāhu,
\n The trustworthy not attached wise men, Upanemi, Nemi and Santacitta,
\n Ka. lūpakālā, Vijita, Jita, Aṇga, Paṇga Gutijjita,
\n Passī expelled endearments, the origin of unpleasantness, Aparājita won overDeath.
\n Satthā, Pavattā, Sarabhanga, Lomahansa, Uccangamāya, Asita and Anāsava,
\n Manomaya, that dispelled measuring, Bandhumā, stainless Tadādhimutta andKetumā.
\n Ketumbarāga, Mātanga, Ariya, Accuta, Accutagāma and Byāmaka,
\n Sumangala, Dabbila, Supatiṭṭhita, Asayha, Khemābhirata and Sorata.
\n Durannaya, Sangha, Ujjaya, and the other sage Sayhanomanikkama,
\n The twelve Ānanda-Nanda Upanandas and Bhāradvāja the last of the clan,
\n Bodhi-Mahānāma, Uttara, Kesi, Sikhī, Sundara and Bhāradvāja.
\n The three Upatissas, the destroyers of the bond of being, the destroyers of craving Upasīdarī and Sīdarī
\n Mangala was enlightened. Usabha destroyed the seamstress, the origin of unpleasantness.
\n Upanīta, Uposatha, Sundara and Saccanāma, attained extinction
\n Jeta, Jayanta, Paduma, Uppala, Padumuttara, Rakkhita. and Pabbata,
\n Mānatthadda, Sobhita, Vītarāga, Kaṇha. and Buddha, well released in mind,
\n These and others with great power, the silent enlightened ones who have destryed being.
\n All these sages have overcome the bonds and extinguished.
\n Worship those immeasurable ones.
[1] They have pulled out the arrows (tesaṃ visallānaṃ). The Great Beings, it is said, have pulled out the arrows. The Great Beings are the four pairs who have attained the four paths and fruits. The arrows they have pulled out is their personal self views (sakkāyadiṭṭhi). When this arrow is pulled out a lot of the unpleasantness disappears then and there and later all unpleasant disappears. Pullng out arrows is the attaining of paths and fruits.
