SN 2.20

Anāthapiṇḍikasutta

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

With Anāthapiṇḍika

Standing to one side, the godling Anāthapiṇḍika recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Idañhi taṁ jetavanaṁ, isisaṅghanisevitaṁ; Āvutthaṁ dhammarājena, pītisañjananaṁ mama.

“This is indeed that Jeta’s Grove, frequented by the Saṅgha of seers, where the King of Dhamma stayed: it brings me joy!

Kammaṁ vijjā ca dhammo ca, sīlaṁ jīvitamuttamaṁ; Etena maccā sujjhanti, na gottena dhanena vā.

Deeds, knowledge, and principle; ethical conduct, an excellent livelihood; by these are mortals purified, not by clan or wealth.

Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso, sampassaṁ atthamattano; Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, evaṁ tattha visujjhati.

That’s why an astute person, seeing what’s good for themselves, would examine the teaching rationally, that’s how they become purified in that.

Sāriputtova paññāya, sīlena upasamena ca; Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu, etāvaparamo siyā”ti.

Sāriputta is full of wisdom, ethics, and peace. Even a mendicant who has crossed over might at best equal him.”

Idamavoca anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto. Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

That is what the godling Anāthapiṇḍika said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “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. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “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.

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “so hi nūna, bhante, anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhavissati. Anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati āyasmante sāriputte abhippasanno ahosī”ti. “Sādhu sādhu, ānanda, yāvatakaṁ kho, ānanda, takkāya pattabbaṁ anuppattaṁ taṁ tayā. Anāthapiṇḍiko hi so, ānanda, devaputto”ti.

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