Saṁyutta Nikāya 8.7

The Related Suttas Collection 8.7

1. Vaṅgīsavagga

1. With Vaṅgīsa

Pavāraṇāsutta

The Invitation to Admonish

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase pavāraṇāya bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother, together with a large Saṅgha of around five hundred monks, all of whom were perfected ones. Now, at that time it was the Uposatha day—the full moon on the fifteenth day—and the Buddha was sitting in the open surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks for the invitation to admonish.

Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “handa dāni, bhikkhave, pavāremi vo. Na ca me kiñci garahatha kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were silent. He addressed them: “Come now, monks, I invite you all: Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “na kho mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavato kiñci garahāma kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā. Bhagavā hi, bhante, anuppannassa maggassa uppādetā, asañjātassa maggassa sañjanetā, anakkhātassa maggassa akkhātā, maggaññū maggavidū maggakovido. Maggānugā ca, bhante, etarahi sāvakā viharanti pacchā samannāgatā; ahañca kho, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pavāremi. Na ca me bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

When he had spoken, Venerable Sāriputta got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said: “There is nothing, sir, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that we would criticize. For the Blessed One gave rise to the unarisen path, gave birth to the unborn path, and explained the unexplained path. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the expert on the path. And now the disciples live following the path; they acquire it later. And sir, I invite the Blessed One. Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

“Na khvāhaṁ te, sāriputta, kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā. Paṇḍito tvaṁ, sāriputta, mahāpañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, puthupañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, hāsapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, javanapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, tikkhapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, nibbedhikapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta. Seyyathāpi, sāriputta, rañño cakkavattissa jeṭṭhaputto pitarā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ sammadeva anuppavatteti; evameva kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, mayā anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ sammadeva anuppavattesī”ti.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that I would criticize. Sāriputta, you are astute. You have great wisdom, widespread wisdom, laughing wisdom, swift wisdom, sharp wisdom, penetrating wisdom. A wheel-turning monarch’s oldest son rightly keeps wielding the power set in motion by his father. In the same way, Sāriputta rightly keeps rolling the supreme Wheel of Dhamma that was rolled forth by me.”

“No ce kira me, bhante, bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā. Imesaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

“Since it seems I have done nothing worthy of the Blessed One’s criticism, is there anything these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

“Imesampi khvāhaṁ, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā. Imesañhi, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ saṭṭhi bhikkhū tevijjā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū chaḷabhiññā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū ubhatobhāgavimuttā, atha itare paññāvimuttā”ti.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that I would criticize. For of these five hundred monks, sixty have the three knowledges, sixty have the six direct knowledges, sixty are freed both ways, and the rest are freed by wisdom.”

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said, “I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”

“Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca.

“Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha.

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

“Ajja pannarase visuddhiyā, Bhikkhū pañcasatā samāgatā; Saṁyojanabandhanacchidā, Anīghā khīṇapunabbhavā isī.

“Today, on the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, five hundred monks have gathered together to purify their precepts. These untroubled sages have cut off their fetters and bonds, they will not be reborn again.

Cakkavattī yathā rājā, amaccaparivārito; Samantā anupariyeti, sāgarantaṁ mahiṁ imaṁ.

Just as a wheel-turning monarch surrounded by ministers travels all around this land that’s girt by sea.

Evaṁ vijitasaṅgāmaṁ, satthavāhaṁ anuttaraṁ; Sāvakā payirupāsanti, tevijjā maccuhāyino.

So disciples with the three knowledges, conquerors of death, revere the winner of the battle, the unsurpassed caravan leader.

Sabbe bhagavato puttā, palāpettha na vijjati; Taṇhāsallassa hantāraṁ, vande ādiccabandhunan”ti.

All are sons of the Blessed One—there is no rubbish here. I bow to the kinsman of the Sun, destroyer of the dart of craving.”