​DN 32 Atanatiya Sutta ( The Atanata Protective Verses)

Thus have i heard. 

Once the Lord was staying at Rajagaha on Vultures' Peak. The Four Great Kings with a great array of yakkhas, of gandhabbas, of kumbhandas and of nagas set up a guard to watch over the four quarters as night was drawing to a close. They went to see the Lord Buddha , lighting up the entire Vultures' Peak with their radiance, saluted him and sat down to one side. Some of the yakkhas saluted him and sat down to one side, some exchanged courtesies with him before sitting down, same saluted him with joined palms, some announced their name and lineage and some sat down in silence.

Sitting on one side, King Vessavana said to the Lord: 'Lord, there are some prominent yakkhas who have no faith in the Blessed Lord and others who have faith; likewise there are yakkhas of middle and lower rank who have no faith in the Blessed Lord and others who have faith. But the majority of yakkhas have no faith in the Blessed Lord. Why is this? The Blessed Lord teaches a code of refraining from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from lying speech and from strong intoxicants and sloth-producing drugs. But the majority of the yakkhas do not refrain from these things and to follow precepts is distasteful and unpleasant to them. There are disciples of the Blessed Lord who dwell in remote forest glades, where there is little noise or shouting, far from the madding crowd, hidden from people, suitable for retreat. And there are prominent yakkhas living there who have no faith in the word of the Blessed Lord. In order to give these folks confidence, may the Blessed Lord learn the Atanata protective verses, by means of which monks and nuns, male and female lay-followers may dwell guarded, protected, unharmed and at their ease? And the Lord consented by silence. 

Then King Vessavana noting the Lord's consent at once recited these Atanata protective verses: 

​1. Homage to Vipassi possessed of the eye (of wisdom) and splendor. Homage to Sikhi compassionate towards all beings.

2. Homage to Vessabhu free from all defilements and possessed of ascetic energy. Homage to Kakusanda, the conqueror of (the five-fold) host of Mara.

3. Homage to Konagamana who has shed all defilements and had lived the holy life. Homage to Kassapa (the Buddha) who is fully freed from all defilements.

4. Homage to Angirasa, the son of the Sakyas, who is full of radiance, and who proclaimed the Dhamma that dispels all suffering.

5. Those in the world, who have extinguished (the flames of passion), and have perceived through insight (meditation), things as they really are, they never slander anyone; they are mighty men who are free from fear.

6. Gotama (the Buddha) dear to gods and men, endowed with knowledge and virtue, mighty and fearless, all do homage to him.

7-8. When the resplendent sun, offspring of Aditi with its full orb, arises, then the night ceases, and it is called the day. The direction from which the sun rises (is the East). There exists the ocean deep and vast.

9. This , a spreading sheet of water , they know as the ocean. Where it is to the East of Mount Meru they say that quarter is East. 

10. Custodian of this quarter is a great king named Dhatarattha who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the Gandhabbas.

11. Attended by Ghandhabbas he enjoys their song and dance. He has many mighty sons, all of one name, so have I heard.

12-13. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they. They too, beholding the Buddha — Kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless — salute him from afar: "Homage to thee, who art unique among mankind; glory to thee, the noblest among men."
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14-15. As by thy omniscience, thou hast looked on (mankind with a knowing eye), even the non-humans pay reverence to thee. This we have often heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They too say: 'We reverence Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

16-18. The direction from where the petas, backbiters, murderers, the fierce brigands, and the deceitful are removed, is the direction (to the right of Mount Meru) called the quarter of the South. The custodian of this quarter is a great king named Virulhaka who has a retinue of attendants and is the sovereign lord of Kumbhandas. Attended by the Kumbhandas he enjoys their song and dance.

19. Many are his (Virulha's) sons, all of one name, so have I heard. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their names, and mighty are they.

20. They too, beholding the Buddha — Kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless — salute him from afar: 'Homage to thee, who art unique among mankind; glory to thee, the highest among men.'

21-22.  As by thy omniscience, thou hast looked on (mankind with a knowing eye), even the non-humans pay reverence to thee. This we have often heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They too say: 'We reverence, Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

23-24. When the resplendent sun — offspring of Aditi — with its full orb, sets, then the day ceases, and it is called night. The direction where the sun sets (is the West). There exists the ocean deep and vast.
25. This — a spreading sheet of water — they know as the ocean. Where there is West (to the West of Mount Meru) they say that quarter is West.

26. Custodians of this quarter is a great king named Virupakkha who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the Nagas.

27. Attended by Nagas he enjoys their song and dance. Many are his (Virupakkha's) sons, all of one name, so have I heard.

28-29. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their name, and mighty are they. They too, beholding the Buddha — Kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless — salute him from afar: 'Homage to thee, who art unique among mankind; glory to thee, the noblest among men.'

30-31. As by thy omniscience, thou hast looked on (mankind with a knowing eye), even the non-humans pay reverence to thee. This we have often heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They too say: 'We reverence, Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

32. Where lies delightful Uttarakuru (the Northern continent), where towers beautiful Mount Meru, there are born men who are selfless and unattached.

33. They neither sow the seed nor use the plow. Spontaneously grown corn is there for them to enjoy.

34. The rice, purged of the red powder and of husk, clean and sweet-scented, is boiled in golden vessels; it is this that they partake of.

35. They make of cows a single-seated mount (like mounting on horseback) and ride about from place to place.

36-37. They make use of women and men, girls and boys as vehicles, and travel from place to place in them.

38. Mounting on vehicles (on elephants and horses) they (the Yakkhas of King Vessavana) travel in every direction.

39. This king who has a retinue of attendants, is possessed of elephants and horses on which he rides. He also has celestial chariots, palaces, and palanquins. He has cities well built in the celestial regions. Their names are Atanata, Kusinata, Parakusinata, Natapuriya, Parakusitanata. To the North, the city of Kapilavata, to the South anogha and cities named Navanavati, Ambara-ambaravati and the kingdom of Alakamanda. Happy one (addressing the Buddha), this Kuvera (another name for Vessavana) has a kingdom named Visna, therefore, the great king Kuvera is called Vessavana. There are Yakkhas (of this king) who hold investigations and make them known. They are Tatola, Tattala, Tatotala, Ojasi, Tejasi, Tatojasi, Suro, Raja (Sura-raja) Arittho, Nemi (Arittha-nemi). There (in Visana kingdom) lies the lake Dharani whence rain-clouds (drawing water) pour them forth. And there is also the hall named Bhagalavati where the Yakkhas assemble.

40. There round about the hall, there are trees bearing perpetual fruit. On these trees, there are multitudes of birds. One can hear the cry of peacocks and herons, and the melodious song of kokilas (the Indian cuckoo).

41. There the Jiva-birds cries" 'Live on! Live on!' (jivamjivaka)  and he sings 'lift up your hearts!'.  The jungle fowls, the crabs and the Pokkharasataka birds roam the woods.

42. There the cry of the parrot, the myna-birds and the dandamanavaka birds is heard. And Kuvera's lotus-lake ever lies in her beauty in all seasons.

43-44. That direction (to the North of Mount Meru) is called by people the quarter of the North. The custodian of this quarter is a great king named Kuvera who has a retinue of attendants, and is sovereign lord of the Yakkhas. Attended by the Yakkhas he enjoys their songs and dance.

45. Kuvera has many mighty sons, all of one name. Eighty and ten and one are they, Inda their name. 

46. They too, beholding the Buddha, kinsman of the sun, mighty and fearless, salute him from afar: 'Homage to thee, who art unique among mankind! Glory to thee, the noblest among men.'
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47-48. As by thy pure omniscience thou hast looked on mankind; even the non-humans pay reverence to thee, this we have heard. We, therefore, request the Yakkhas to pay homage to Gotama, the Conqueror (the Buddha). They, too, say, 'We reverence Gotama, the Conqueror, we reverence Gotama who is endowed with knowledge and virtue.'

King Vessavana: ​'These, sir, are the Atanata protective verses, by means of which monks and nuns, male and female lay-followers may dwell guarded, protected, unharmed and at ease. If any monk or nun, male or female lay-follower learns these verses well and learn them by heart. Then if any non-human being, male or female yakkha or yakkha-offspring, or a chief attendant or servant of the yakkhas, any male or female gandhabba, kumbhanda, naga, should approach that person with hostile intent while he or she is walking or starting to walk, standing or rising to stand, seated or sitting down, lying down or starting to lie down, that non-human being would not gain any honor or respect in village or town. Such a being would not gain a footing or a lodging in my royal city of Alakamanda, he would not be admitted to the yakkhas' assembly, nor would he be acceptable for taking or giving in marriage. And all the non-human beings, full of rage, would overwhelm him with abuse.

King Vessavana: 'There are, sir, some non-human beings who are fierce, wild and terrible. They heed neither the Great Kings, nor their officers, nor their attendants. They are said to be in revolt against the Great Kings. Just as the bandit-chiefs whom the King of Magadha has overcome do not heed him, or his officers, or their attendants. Now if any yakkha or yakkha-offspring, gandhabba . . .should approach any monk, nun, male or female lay-follower with hostile intent, that person should alarm, call out and shout to those yakkhas, the great yakkhas, their commanders and commanders-in-chief, saying: "This yakkha has seized me, has hurt me, harmed me, injured me, and will not let me go!" Which are the yakkhas, the great yakkhas, their commanders and commanders-in-chief? They are: 
Inda, Soma, Varuna, Bhiiradvaja, Pajapati, Candana, Kamaseffha, Kinnughandu and Nighandu, Panada, Opamanna, Devasfita, Matali, Cittasena the gandhabba, Nda, Raja, Janesabha, Satagira, Hemavata, Punnaka, Karatiya, Gula, Sivaka, Mucalinda too, Vessamitta, Yugandhara, Gopda, Suppagedha too, Hiri, Netti and Mandiya, Pancdacanda, qavaka, Pajunna, Sumana, Sumukha, Dadimukha, Mani too, Then Manicara, Digha, And, finally, Serissaka. 

These are the yakkhas, great yakkhas, their commanders and commanders-in-chief who should be called upon in case of such an attack. There are these Atanata protective verses by means of which monks and nuns, male and female lay-followers may dwell guarded, protected, unharmed and at ease.

After telling the Atanata protective verses, the great kings have to go. So the Four Great Kings stood up, saluted the Lord, passed by on his right side and vanished. And the yakkhas stood up and vanished. When the night was over, the Lord told the monks that the Four Great Kings came to see him and he repeated the Atanata protective verses to them He said to them :"Monks, you should learn these Atanata protective verses, master them and remember them. They are for your benefit, and through them monks and nuns, male and female lay- followers may dwell guarded, protected, unharmed and at ease.' 

Thus the Lord spoke. And the monks were delighted and rejoiced at his words.

In summary, this sutta talks about the occasion when The four great Kings recited Atanatiya paritta to the Buddha. The Atanata verses talk on the virtues of the seven Buddhas - Vipassi, Sikhi, Vessabhu, Kakusanda, Konagama, Kassapa, Gotama Buddha. The Buddha then advised his disciples to remember and master these verses and directed them to recite these verses whenever they have trouble with Yakkas in order to live at ease, guarded, protected and unharmed  and also to call on their Yakkha’s commanders for help. That was the reason why Monks recite Atanatiya Paritta to bring peace and harmony and be guarded by their chief commander from all harms against those Yakkas non-humans who are fierce, violent, given to retaliation. 

By WHH

References: 
1. www.accesstoinsight.org
2. https://suttacentral.net/
3. The long discourses of the Buddha (Bhikkhu Bodhi)