alpa-devatā-sūtra
The Lesser Sutra of the God
I prostrate before all Enlightened Ones and Bodhisattvas!
Thus have I heard.
The Blessed One was staying at Shravasti in the Jetavana Grove, Anathapindika’s Park. Then, a certain deity approached the Blessed One. Upon arriving, he prostrated, placing his head at the Blessed One’s feet, and stood before him. Standing there, the deity asked the Blessed One a question:
What is moral discipline? What is the conduct? What are the qualities? What actions should be performed? What is the wisdom appropriate to the dwelling place? Which beings will go to the heavens?
The Teacher, embracing the god with love and compassion, made the following prediction to him:
O man! How does one ascend to the heavens? O Deity, hear me with special attention!
Refrain from taking life. Adhere to discipline and find joy in true obligations. No harm from *bhuta* spirits shall befall anyone who follows this path, and such beings shall ascend to the heavens.
Let one refrain from taking what is not given and rejoice in the gifts one bestows. Let one renounce theft and not steal. Such beings shall go to heaven.
Do not pursue another man's wife, and abstain from deviant sexual acts. Remain mindful of your own wife. Such beings shall go to heaven.
Refraining from usurping the aims of others or acting solely for one's own sake—and avoiding deceitful speech—such beings will go to the heavenly realms.
Abandon the sowing of discord among friends and the use of divisive words that lead to conflict; instead, rejoice wholeheartedly in the aspirations of all. Such beings will go to the heavenly realms.
Purify your speech completely, casting aside all harsh and coarse language, and speak pleasant words to everyone. Such beings will go to the heavenly realms.
Completely cast aside empty words that are devoid of meaning. Let one speak the Teaching [or truthful words] from time to time. Such beings will go to the heavens.
When another acts for their own sake in the city or the monastery, do not harbor an attitude of attachment toward them. Such beings will go to the heavens.
With a loving mind, one inflicts no harm. Through the absence of harmful intent, no harm comes to any beings. And such beings will go to the heavens.
Let one have faith in actions, in the full ripening of actions, and in both. Rightly uphold the right view. Such beings shall go to the heavenly realms.
All these virtuous teachings constitute the ten paths of the wholesome doctrine. Let one uphold them in the proper manner. Such beings shall go to the heavenly realms.
The Brahmin shall attain Nirvana, free from all enemies and fears. And having crossed the world without attachment, he shall no longer behold the existence of the manifold [sufferings].
The Blessed One spoke thus. Then that deity rejoiced and praised what the Blessed One had said.
Thus concludes the short sutra of the deity.
Translated and verified by the translator and great proofreader Bende Yeshede. Translated by Lama Dondrub Dorje Tulku.