Dhammacetiyasutta — Reader

Shrines to the Teaching

Dhammacetiyasutta

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near the Sakyan town named Medaḷumpa. Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala had arrived at Townsville on some business. Then he addressed Dīgha Kārāyana,

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati medāḷupaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo nagarakaṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo dīghaṁ kārāyanaṁ āmantesi:

“My good Kārāyana, harness the finest chariots. We will go to a park and see the scenery.” “Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Dīgha Kārāyana. He harnessed the chariots and informed the king, “Your Majesty, the finest chariots are harnessed.

“yojehi, samma kārāyana, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni, uyyānabhūmiṁ gacchāma subhūmiṁ dassanāyā”ti. “Evaṁ, devā”ti kho dīgho kārāyano rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭivedesi: “yuttāni kho te, deva, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni.

Please go at your convenience.” Then King Pasenadi mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out in full royal pomp from Townsville, heading for the park grounds. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the park on foot.

Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi nagarakamhā niyyāsi mahaccā rājānubhāvena. Yena ārāmo tena pāyāsi. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi, yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi.

As he was going for a walk in the park he saw roots of trees that were impressive and inspiring, quiet and still, far from the madding crowd, remote from human settlements, and fit for retreat. The sight reminded him right away of the Buddha: “These roots of trees, so impressive and inspiring, are like those where we used to pay homage to the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”

Addasā kho rājā pasenadi kosalo ārāme jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno rukkhamūlāni pāsādikāni pasādanīyāni appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni. Disvāna bhagavantaṁyeva ārabbha sati udapādi: “imāni kho tāni rukkhamūlāni pāsādikāni pasādanīyāni appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni, yattha sudaṁ mayaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāsāma arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.

He addressed Dīgha Kārāyana, “These roots of trees, so impressive and inspiring, are like those where we used to pay homage to the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo dīghaṁ kārāyanaṁ āmantesi: “imāni kho, samma kārāyana, tāni rukkhamūlāni pāsādikāni pasādanīyāni appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni, yattha sudaṁ mayaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāsāma arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ.

My good Kārāyana, where is that Buddha at present?” “Great king, there is a Sakyan town named Medaḷumpa. That’s where the Buddha is now staying.” “But how far away is that town?”

Kahaṁ nu kho, samma kārāyana, etarahi so bhagavā viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho”ti? “Atthi, mahārāja, medāḷupaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. Tattha so bhagavā etarahi viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho”ti. “Kīvadūre pana, samma kārāyana, nagarakamhā medāḷupaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo hotī”ti?

“Not far, Great King, it’s three leagues. We can get there while it’s still light.” “Well then, harness the chariots, and we shall go to see the Buddha.”

“Na dūre, mahārāja; tīṇi yojanāni; sakkā divasāvasesena gantun”ti. “Tena hi, samma kārāyana, yojehi bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni, gamissāma mayaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Dīgha Kārāyana. He harnessed the chariots and informed the king, “Your Majesty, the finest chariots are harnessed. Please go at your convenience.” Then King Pasenadi mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out from Townsville to Medaḷumpa.

“Evaṁ, devā”ti kho dīgho kārāyano rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭivedesi: “yuttāni kho te, deva, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni. Yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi nagarakamhā yena medāḷupaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo tena pāyāsi.

He reached the town while it was still light and headed for the monastery grounds. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot. At that time several mendicants were walking mindfully in the open air.

Teneva divasāvasesena medāḷupaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamaṁ sampāpuṇi. Yena ārāmo tena pāyāsi. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi, yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū abbhokāse caṅkamanti.

King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to them and said, “Sirs, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha? For I want to see him.” “Great king, that’s his dwelling, with the door closed. Approach it quietly, without hurrying; go onto the porch, clear your throat, and knock on the door-panel. The Buddha will open the door.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “kahaṁ nu kho, bhante, etarahi so bhagavā viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho? Dassanakāmā hi mayaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti. “Eso, mahārāja, vihāro saṁvutadvāro. Tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno āḷindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭehi. Vivarissati bhagavā te dvāran”ti.

The king right away presented his sword and turban to Dīgha Kārāyana, who thought, “Now the king seeks privacy. I should wait here.” Then the king approached the Buddha’s dwelling, cleared his throat and knocked on the door-panel, and the Buddha opened the door.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo tattheva khaggañca uṇhīsañca dīghassa kārāyanassa pādāsi. Atha kho dīghassa kārāyanassa etadahosi: “rahāyati kho dāni rājā, idheva dāni mayā ṭhātabban”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena so vihāro saṁvutadvāro tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno āḷindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭesi. Vivari bhagavā dvāraṁ.

King Pasenadi entered the dwelling, and bowed with his head to the Buddha’s feet, caressing them and covering them with kisses, and pronounced his name: “Sir, I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala! I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala!” “But, Great King, for what reason do you demonstrate such utmost deference for this body, conveying your manifest love?”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo vihāraṁ pavisitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavato pādāni mukhena ca paricumbati, pāṇīhi ca parisambāhati, nāmañca sāveti: “rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo; rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo”ti. “Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno imasmiṁ sarīre evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karosi, mittūpahāraṁ upadaṁsesī”ti?

“Sir, I infer about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ It happens, sir, that I see some ascetics and brahmins leading the spiritual life only for a limited period: ten, twenty, thirty, or forty years.

“Atthi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Idhāhaṁ, bhante, passāmi eke samaṇabrāhmaṇe pariyantakataṁ brahmacariyaṁ carante dasapi vassāni, vīsampi vassāni, tiṁsampi vassāni, cattārīsampi vassāni.

Some time later—nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed—they amuse themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. But here I see the mendicants leading the spiritual life entirely full and pure as long as they live, to their last breath. I don’t see any other spiritual life elsewhere so full and pure.

Te aparena samayena sunhātā suvilittā kappitakesamassū pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricārenti. Idha panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū passāmi yāvajīvaṁ āpāṇakoṭikaṁ paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carante. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, ito bahiddhā aññaṁ evaṁ paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ samanupassāmi.

That’s why I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ Furthermore, kings fight with kings, aristocrats fight with aristocrats, brahmins fight with brahmins, householders fight with householders. A mother fights with her child, child with mother, father with child, and child with father. Brother fights with brother, brother with sister, sister with brother, and friend fights with friend.

Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Puna caparaṁ, bhante, rājānopi rājūhi vivadanti, khattiyāpi khattiyehi vivadanti, brāhmaṇāpi brāhmaṇehi vivadanti, gahapatayopi gahapatīhi vivadanti, mātāpi puttena vivadati, puttopi mātarā vivadati, pitāpi puttena vivadati, puttopi pitarā vivadati, bhātāpi bhaginiyā vivadati, bhaginīpi bhātarā vivadati, sahāyopi sahāyena vivadati.

But here I see the mendicants living in harmony, appreciating each other, without dispute, blending like milk and water, and regarding each other with kindly eyes. I don’t see any other assembly elsewhere so harmonious. So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’

Idha panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū passāmi samagge sammodamāne avivadamāne khīrodakībhūte aññamaññaṁ piyacakkhūhi sampassante viharante. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, ito bahiddhā aññaṁ evaṁ samaggaṁ parisaṁ samanupassāmi. Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti.

Furthermore, I have walked and wandered from monastery to monastery and from park to park. There I’ve seen some ascetics and brahmins who are thin, haggard, pale, and veiny—hardly a captivating sight for people, you’d think. It occurred to me: ‘Clearly these venerables lead the spiritual life dissatisfied, or they’re hiding some bad deed they’ve done.

Puna caparāhaṁ, bhante, ārāmena ārāmaṁ, uyyānena uyyānaṁ anucaṅkamāmi anuvicarāmi. Sohaṁ tattha passāmi eke samaṇabrāhmaṇe kise lūkhe dubbaṇṇe uppaṇḍuppaṇḍukajāte dhamanisanthatagatte, na viya maññe cakkhuṁ bandhante janassa dassanāya. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘addhā ime āyasmanto anabhiratā vā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, atthi vā tesaṁ kiñci pāpaṁ kammaṁ kataṁ paṭicchannaṁ;

That’s why they’re thin, haggard, pale, and veiny—hardly a captivating sight for people, you’d think.’ I went up to them and said: ‘Venerables, why are you so thin, haggard, pale, and veiny—hardly a captivating sight for people, you’d think?’

tathā hi ime āyasmanto kisā lūkhā dubbaṇṇā uppaṇḍuppaṇḍukajātā dhamanisanthatagattā, na viya maññe cakkhuṁ bandhanti janassa dassanāyā’ti. Tyāhaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ vadāmi: ‘kiṁ nu kho tumhe āyasmanto kisā lūkhā dubbaṇṇā uppaṇḍuppaṇḍukajātā dhamanisanthatagattā, na viya maññe cakkhuṁ bandhatha janassa dassanāyā’ti?

They say: ‘We have jaundice, Great King.’ But here I see mendicants always smiling and joyful, obviously happy, with cheerful faces, living relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer. It occurred to me:

Te evamāhaṁsu: ‘bandhukarogo no, mahārājā’ti. Idha panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū passāmi haṭṭhapahaṭṭhe udaggudagge abhiratarūpe pīṇindriye appossukke pannalome paradattavutte migabhūtena cetasā viharante. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:

‘Clearly these venerables have realized a higher distinction in the Buddha’s instructions than they had before. That’s why these venerables are always smiling and joyful, obviously happy, with cheerful faces, living relaxed, unruffled, surviving on charity, their hearts free as a wild deer.’ So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’

‘addhā ime āyasmanto tassa bhagavato sāsane uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ jānanti; tathā hi ime āyasmanto haṭṭhapahaṭṭhā udaggudaggā abhiratarūpā pīṇindriyā appossukkā pannalomā paradattavuttā migabhūtena cetasā viharantī’ti. Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti.

Furthermore, as an anointed aristocratic king I am able to execute, fine, or banish those who are guilty. Yet when I’m sitting in court they interrupt me. And I can’t get them

Puna caparāhaṁ, bhante, rājā khattiyo muddhāvasitto; pahomi ghātetāyaṁ vā ghātetuṁ, jāpetāyaṁ vā jāpetuṁ, pabbājetāyaṁ vā pabbājetuṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, aḍḍakaraṇe nisinnassa antarantarā kathaṁ opātenti. Sohaṁ na labhāmi:

to stop interrupting me and wait until I’ve finished speaking. But here I see the mendicants while the Buddha is teaching an assembly of many hundreds, and there is no sound of his disciples coughing or clearing their throats.

‘mā me bhonto aḍḍakaraṇe nisinnassa antarantarā kathaṁ opātetha, kathāpariyosānaṁ me bhonto āgamentū’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, antarantarā kathaṁ opātenti. Idha panāhaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū passāmi; yasmiṁ samaye bhagavā anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti, neva tasmiṁ samaye bhagavato sāvakānaṁ khipitasaddo vā hoti ukkāsitasaddo vā.

Once it so happened that the Buddha was teaching an assembly of many hundreds. Then one of his disciples cleared their throat. And one of their spiritual companions nudged them with their knee, to indicate: ‘Hush, venerable, don’t make a sound! Our teacher, the Blessed One, is teaching!’

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhante, bhagavā anekasatāya parisāya dhammaṁ deseti. Tatraññataro bhagavato sāvako ukkāsi. Tamenaṁ aññataro sabrahmacārī jaṇṇukena ghaṭṭesi: ‘appasaddo āyasmā hotu, māyasmā saddamakāsi; satthā no bhagavā dhammaṁ desetī’ti.

It occurred to me: ‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing, how an assembly can be so well trained without rod or sword!’ I don’t see any other assembly elsewhere so well trained.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Adaṇḍena vata kira, bho, asatthena evaṁ suvinītā parisā bhavissatī’ti. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhante, ito bahiddhā aññaṁ evaṁ suvinītaṁ parisaṁ samanupassāmi.

So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ Furthermore, I’ve seen some astute aristocrats who are subtle, accomplished in the doctrines of others, hair-splitters. You’d think they live to demolish convictions with their intellect.

Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Puna caparāhaṁ, bhante, passāmi idhekacce khattiyapaṇḍite nipuṇe kataparappavāde vālavedhirūpe. Te bhindantā maññe caranti paññāgatena diṭṭhigatāni.

They hear: ‘So, gentlemen, that ascetic Gotama will come down to such-and-such village or town.’ They formulate a question, thinking: ‘We’ll approach the ascetic Gotama and ask him this question.

Te suṇanti: ‘samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo amukaṁ nāma gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā osarissatī’ti. Te pañhaṁ abhisaṅkharonti: ‘imaṁ mayaṁ pañhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchissāma.

If he answers like this, we’ll refute him like that; and if he answers like that, we’ll refute him like this.’ When they hear that he has come down

Evañce no puṭṭho evaṁ byākarissati, evamassa mayaṁ vādaṁ āropessāma; evañcepi no puṭṭho evaṁ byākarissati, evampissa mayaṁ vādaṁ āropessāmā’ti. Te suṇanti: ‘samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo amukaṁ nāma gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā osaṭo’ti.

they approach him. The Buddha educates, encourages, fires up, and inspires them with a Dhamma talk. They don’t even get around to asking their question to the Buddha, so how could they refute his answer? Invariably, they become his disciples.

Te yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamanti. Te bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. Te bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā na ceva bhagavantaṁ pañhaṁ pucchanti, kuto vādaṁ āropessanti? Aññadatthu bhagavato sāvakā sampajjanti.

So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ Furthermore, I see some astute brahmins … some astute householders …

Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Puna caparāhaṁ, bhante, passāmi idhekacce brāhmaṇapaṇḍite …pe… gahapatipaṇḍite …pe…

some astute ascetics who are subtle, accomplished in the doctrines of others, hair-splitters. …

samaṇapaṇḍite nipuṇe kataparappavāde vālavedhirūpe. Te bhindantā maññe caranti paññāgatena diṭṭhigatāni. Te suṇanti: ‘samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo amukaṁ nāma gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā osarissatī’ti. Te pañhaṁ abhisaṅkharonti:

‘imaṁ mayaṁ pañhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ upasaṅkamitvā pucchissāma. Evañce no puṭṭho evaṁ byākarissati, evamassa mayaṁ vādaṁ āropessāma; evañcepi no puṭṭho evaṁ byākarissati, evampissa mayaṁ vādaṁ āropessāmā’ti. Te suṇanti:

They don’t even get around to asking their question to the Buddha, so how could they refute his answer?

‘samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo amukaṁ nāma gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā osaṭo’ti. Te yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamanti. Te bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti. Te bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā na ceva bhagavantaṁ pañhaṁ pucchanti, kuto vādaṁ āropessanti?

Invariably, they ask the Buddha for the chance to go forth. And he gives them the going-forth. Soon after going forth, living withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, they realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They live having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Aññadatthu bhagavantaṁyeva okāsaṁ yācanti agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjāya. Te bhagavā pabbājeti. Te tathāpabbajitā samānā ekā vūpakaṭṭhā appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharantā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.

They say: ‘We were almost lost! We almost perished! For we used to claim that we were ascetics, brahmins, and perfected ones, but we were none of these things. But now we really are ascetics, brahmins, and perfected ones!’

Te evamāhaṁsu: ‘manaṁ vata, bho, anassāma; manaṁ vata, bho, panassāma’. Mayañhi pubbe assamaṇāva samānā samaṇāmhāti paṭijānimhā, abrāhmaṇāva samānā brāhmaṇāmhāti paṭijānimhā, anarahantova samānā arahantāmhāti paṭijānimhā. ‘Idāni khomha samaṇā, idāni khomha brāhmaṇā, idāni khomha arahanto’ti.

So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ Furthermore, these chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa share my meals and my carriages. I give them a livelihood and bring them renown. And yet they don’t show me the same level of deference that they show to the Buddha.

Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Puna caparāhaṁ, bhante, ime isidattapurāṇā thapatayo mamabhattā mamayānā, ahaṁ nesaṁ jīvikāya dātā, yasassa āhattā; atha ca pana no tathā mayi nipaccakāraṁ karonti yathā bhagavati.

Once it so happened that while I was leading a military campaign and testing Isidatta and Purāṇa I took up residence in a cramped house. They spent much of the night discussing the teaching, then they lay down with their heads toward where the Buddha was and their feet toward me.

Bhūtapubbāhaṁ, bhante, senaṁ abbhuyyāto samāno ime ca isidattapurāṇā thapatayo vīmaṁsamāno aññatarasmiṁ sambādhe āvasathe vāsaṁ upagacchiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, ime isidattapurāṇā thapatayo bahudeva rattiṁ dhammiyā kathāya vītināmetvā, yato ahosi bhagavā tato sīsaṁ katvā maṁ pādato karitvā nipajjiṁsu.

It occurred to me: ‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! These chamberlains Isidatta and Purāṇa share my meals and my carriages. I give them a livelihood and bring them renown. And yet they don’t show me the same level of deference that they show to the Buddha.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Ime isidattapurāṇā thapatayo mamabhattā mamayānā, ahaṁ nesaṁ jīvikāya dātā, yasassa āhattā; atha ca pana no tathā mayi nipaccakāraṁ karonti yathā bhagavati.

Clearly these venerables have realized a higher distinction in the Buddha’s instructions than they had before.’ So I infer this about the Buddha from the teaching: ‘The Blessed One is a fully awakened Buddha. The teaching is well explained. The Saṅgha is practicing well.’ Furthermore, the Buddha is an aristocrat, and so am I.

Addhā ime āyasmanto tassa bhagavato sāsane uḷāraṁ pubbenāparaṁ visesaṁ jānantī’ti. Ayampi kho me, bhante, bhagavati dhammanvayo hoti: ‘sammāsambuddho bhagavā, svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho’ti. Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavāpi khattiyo, ahampi khattiyo;

The Buddha is Kosalan, and so am I. The Buddha is eighty years old, and so am I. Since this is so, it’s proper for me to act with such utmost deference for the Buddha and convey my manifest love.

bhagavāpi kosalo, ahampi kosalo; bhagavāpi āsītiko, ahampi āsītiko. Yampi, bhante, bhagavāpi khattiyo ahampi khattiyo, bhagavāpi kosalo ahampi kosalo, bhagavāpi āsītiko ahampi āsītiko; imināvārahāmevāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavati paramanipaccakāraṁ kātuṁ, mittūpahāraṁ upadaṁsetuṁ.

Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.” “Please, Great King, go at your convenience.” Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bhante, gacchāma; bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā”ti. “Yassadāni tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālaṁ maññasī”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Soon after the king had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, before he got up and left, King Pasenadi spoke shrines to the teaching. Learn these shrines to the teaching! Memorize these shrines to the teaching!

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkantassa rañño pasenadissa kosalassa bhikkhū āmantesi: “eso, bhikkhave, rājā pasenadi kosalo dhammacetiyāni bhāsitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkanto. Uggaṇhatha, bhikkhave, dhammacetiyāni; pariyāpuṇātha, bhikkhave, dhammacetiyāni;

Remember these shrines to the teaching! These shrines to the teaching are beneficial and relate to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

dhāretha, bhikkhave, dhammacetiyāni. Atthasaṁhitāni, bhikkhave, dhammacetiyāni ādibrahmacariyakānī”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

Dhammacetiyasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.