Anāthapiṇḍikasutta — Reader

With Anāthapiṇḍika

Anāthapiṇḍikasutta

Standing to one side, the godling Anāthapiṇḍika recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence: “This is indeed that Jeta’s Grove, frequented by the Saṅgha of seers, where the King of Dhamma stayed:

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: “Idañhi taṁ jetavanaṁ, isisaṅghanisevitaṁ; Āvutthaṁ dhammarājena,

it brings me joy! Deeds, knowledge, and principle; ethical conduct, an excellent livelihood; by these are mortals purified,

pītisañjananaṁ mama. Kammaṁ vijjā ca dhammo ca, sīlaṁ jīvitamuttamaṁ; Etena maccā sujjhanti,

not by clan or wealth. That’s why an astute person, seeing what’s good for themselves, would examine the teaching rationally,

na gottena dhanena vā. Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso, sampassaṁ atthamattano; Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ,

that’s how they become purified in that. Sāriputta is full of wisdom, ethics, and peace. Even a mendicant who has crossed over

evaṁ tattha visujjhati. Sāriputtova paññāya, sīlena upasamena ca; Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu,

might at best equal him.” That is what the godling Anāthapiṇḍika said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there. Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

etāvaparamo siyā”ti. Idamavoca anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto. Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Mendicants, tonight, a certain glorious godling, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in my presence.” The Buddha then repeated the verses in full.

“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññataro devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhikkhave, so devaputto mama santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi: ‘Idañhi taṁ jetavanaṁ,

isisaṅghanisevitaṁ; Āvutthaṁ dhammarājena, pītisañjananaṁ mama. Kammaṁ vijjā ca dhammo ca,

sīlaṁ jīvitamuttamaṁ; Etena maccā sujjhanti, na gottena dhanena vā. Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso,

sampassaṁ atthamattano; Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, evaṁ tattha visujjhati. Sāriputtova paññāya,

sīlena upasamena ca; Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu, etāvaparamo siyā’ti. Idamavoca, bhikkhave, so devaputto.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, that godling must surely have been Anāthapiṇḍika. For the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was devoted to Venerable Sāriputta.”

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti. Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “so hi nūna, bhante, anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhavissati. Anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati āyasmante sāriputte abhippasanno ahosī”ti.

“Good, good, Ānanda. You’ve reached the logical conclusion, as far as logic goes. For that was indeed the godling Anāthapiṇḍika.”

“Sādhu sādhu, ānanda, yāvatakaṁ kho, ānanda, takkāya pattabbaṁ anuppattaṁ taṁ tayā. Anāthapiṇḍiko hi so, ānanda, devaputto”ti. Anāthapiṇḍikavaggo dutiyo. Tassuddānaṁ

Candimaso ca veṇḍu ca, Dīghalaṭṭhi ca nandano; Candano vāsudatto ca, Subrahmā kakudhena ca;

Uttaro navamo vutto, Dasamo anāthapiṇḍikoti.