AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.48 With Visākha, Pañcāli’s Son

Numbered Discourses 4.48 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.48

5. With Rohitassa – 5. Rohitassavagga

AN 4.48 With Visākha, Pañcāli’s Son – Visākhasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Now at that time Venerable Visākha, Pañcāli’s son, was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk. His words were polished, clear, articulate, expressing the meaning, comprehensive, and independent.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti, poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāya.

1.3

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the assembly hall. He sat down on the seat spread out,

Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena upaṭṭhānasālā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

1.4

and addressed the bhikkhū,

Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, who was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk?”

“Ko nu kho, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā”ti?

2.2

“Sir, it was Venerable Visākha, Pañcāli’s son.”

“Āyasmā, bhante, visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā”ti.

3.1

Then the Buddha said to Visākha,

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ visākhaṁ pañcālaputtaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Good, good, Visākha!

“sādhu sādhu, visākha.

3.3

It’s good that you educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire the bhikkhū in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk, with words that are polished, clear, articulate, expressing the meaning, comprehensive, and independent.

Sādhu kho tvaṁ, visākha, bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyāti.

4.1

Though an astute person is mixed up with fools,

Nābhāsamānaṁ jānanti,

4.2

they don’t know unless he speaks.

missaṁ bālehi paṇḍitaṁ;

4.3

But when he speaks they know,

Bhāsamānañca jānanti,

4.4

he’s teaching the deathless state.

desentaṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

5.1

He should speak and illustrate the teaching,

Bhāsaye jotaye dhammaṁ,

5.2

holding up the banner of the hermits.

paggaṇhe isinaṁ dhajaṁ;

5.3

Words well spoken are the hermits’ banner,

Subhāsitadhajā isayo,

5.4

for the teaching is the banner of the hermits.”

dhammo hi isinaṁ dhajo”ti.

5.5

Aṭṭhamaṁ.