Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
51. Iddhi-Pāda Saṃyutta
2. Pāsāda-Kampana Vagga
Sutta 16
Paṭhama Samaṇa-Brāhmaṇā or Mahiddhi Suttaṃ
Mighty Magic Power
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
"Whatsoever there were, beggars, of those shamans and brahmans in the past,
that attained to mighty magic power and great superiority,[2]
all those did so having developed and made a big thing of the four power paths.
Whatsoever there will be, beggars, of those shamans and brahmans in the future,
that attain to mighty magic power and great superiority,
all those will do so having developed and made a big thing of the four power paths.
Whatsoever there are, beggars, of shamanand brahmin here now,
that have attained to might magic power and great superiority,
all those have done so having developed and made a big thing of the four power paths.
■
What four?
Here beggars, a beggar develops the power-path
that is wish-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is energy-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is heart-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making,
develops the power-path
that is investigation-serenity-connected-exertion-own-making.
■
Whatsoever there were, beggars, of those shamans and brahmans in the past,
that attained to mighty magic power and great superiority,
all those did so having developed and made a big thing of these four power paths.
Whatsoever there will be, beggars, of those shamans and brahmans in the future,
that attain to mighty magic power and great superiority,
all those will do so having developed and made a big thing of these four power paths.
Whatsoever there are, beggars, of shamanand brahmin here now,
that have attained to might magic power and great superiority,
all those have done so having developed and made a big thing of these four power paths."
[1] No nidana, no indication that it is Gotama that is speaking.
[2] Mahānubhāva. Great-further-being, living, development, becoming. PED: greatness, magnificence, majesty, splendour. Bhk. Bodhi: 'might'.
