The Cry of the GodsDevasaddasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, these three cries are uttered among the gods on occasion.“Tayome, bhikkhave, devesu devasaddā niccharanti samayā samayaṁ upādāya. What three?Katame tayo? When a noble disciple shaves off their hair and beard, dresses in ocher robes, and goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, the gods cry out:Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjāya ceteti, tasmiṁ samaye devesu devasaddo niccharati: ‘This noble disciple intends to join battle with Māra!’‘eso ariyasāvako mārena saddhiṁ saṅgāmāya cetetī’ti. This is the first occasion a cry is uttered among the gods.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo devesu devasaddo niccharati samayā samayaṁ upādāya.

Furthermore, when a noble disciple meditates pursuing the development of the seven qualities on the side of awakening, the gods cry out:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye ariyasāvako sattannaṁ bodhipakkhiyānaṁ dhammānaṁ bhāvanānuyogamanuyutto viharati, tasmiṁ samaye devesu devasaddo niccharati: ‘This noble disciple is joining battle with Māra!’‘eso ariyasāvako mārena saddhiṁ saṅgāmetī’ti. This is the second occasion a cry is uttered among the gods.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo devesu devasaddo niccharati samayā samayaṁ upādāya.

Furthermore, when a noble disciple realizes the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom. And they live having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements, the gods cry out:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye ariyasāvako āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, tasmiṁ samaye devesu devasaddo niccharati: ‘This noble disciple has won victory in battle, establishing himself as foremost in battle!’‘eso ariyasāvako vijitasaṅgāmo tameva saṅgāmasīsaṁ abhivijiya ajjhāvasatī’ti. This is the third occasion a cry is uttered among the gods.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo devesu devasaddo niccharati samayā samayaṁ upādāya. These are the three cries that are uttered among the gods on occasion.”Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo devesu devasaddā niccharanti samayā samayaṁ upādāyā”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Seeing the winner of the battle—“Disvā vijitasaṅgāmaṁ, a disciple of the Buddha,sammāsambuddhasāvakaṁ; great of heart, intrepid—Devatāpi namassanti, even the deities revere them:mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

‘Homage to you, O thoroughbred!Namo te purisājañña, You won a battle hard to win!yo tvaṁ dujjayamajjhabhū; Having defeated the army of death,Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ, your liberation is unhindered.’vimokkhena anāvaraṁ.

And so the deities revere the one,Iti hetaṁ namassanti, who has achieved their heart’s desire.devatā pattamānasaṁ; For they see nothing in them by means of whichTañhi tassa na passanti, they might fall under the sway of Death.”yena maccuvasaṁ vaje”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.