SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 6 Connected Discourses With Brahmā Gods – Brahmasaṁyutta > SN 6.2 Respect

Linked Discourses 6.2 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.2

1. The Appeal – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 6.2 Respect – Gāravasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.

Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind,

Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

“It’s unpleasant to live without respect and reverence. What ascetic or brahmin should I honor and respect and rely on?”

“dukkhaṁ kho agāravo viharati appatisso, kaṁ nu khvāhaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyan”ti?

Then it occurred to him:

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi:

“I’d honor and respect and rely on another ascetic or brahmin so as to complete the entire spectrum of ethics, if it were incomplete.

“aparipuṇṇassa kho sīlakkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

But I don’t see any other ascetic or brahmin in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who is more accomplished than myself in ethics, who I should honor and respect and rely on.

Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya attanā sīlasampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

I’d honor and respect and rely on another ascetic or brahmin so as to complete the entire spectrum of samādhi, if it were incomplete.

Aparipuṇṇassa kho samādhikkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

But I don’t see any other ascetic or brahmin … who is more accomplished than myself in samādhi …

Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke …pe… attanā samādhisampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

I’d honor and respect and rely on another ascetic or brahmin so as to complete the entire spectrum of wisdom, if it were incomplete.

Aparipuṇṇassa paññākkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

But I don’t see any other ascetic or brahmin … who is more accomplished than myself in wisdom …

Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake …pe… attanā paññāsampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

I’d honor and respect and rely on another ascetic or brahmin so as to complete the entire spectrum of freedom, if it were incomplete.

Aparipuṇṇassa kho vimuttikkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

But I don’t see any other ascetic or brahmin … who is more accomplished than myself in freedom …

Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake …pe… attanā vimuttisampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

I’d honor and respect and rely on another ascetic or brahmin so as to complete the entire spectrum of the knowledge and vision of freedom, if it were incomplete.

Aparipuṇṇassa kho vimuttiñāṇadassanakkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

But I don’t see any other ascetic or brahmin in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who is more accomplished than myself in the knowledge and vision of freedom, who I should honor and respect and rely on.

Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya attanā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

Why don’t I honor and respect and rely on the same Dhamma to which I was awakened?”

Yannūnāhaṁ yvāyaṁ dhammo mayā abhisambuddho tameva dhammaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyan”ti.

Then Brahmā Sahampati knew what the Buddha was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in front of the Buddha.

Atha kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito bhagavato purato pāturahosi.

He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said:

Atha kho brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One!

“evametaṁ, bhagavā, evametaṁ, sugata.

All the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who lived in the past honored and respected and relied on this same teaching.

Yepi te, bhante, ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tepi bhagavanto dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihariṁsu;

All the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas who will live in the future will honor and respect and rely on this same teaching.

yepi te, bhante, bhavissanti anāgatamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā tepi bhagavanto dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharissanti.

May the Blessed One, who is the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha at present, also honor and respect and rely on this same teaching.”

Bhagavāpi, bhante, etarahi arahaṁ sammāsambuddho dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharatū”ti.

This is what Brahmā Sahampati said. Then he went on to say:

Idamavoca brahmā sahampati, idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:

“All Buddhas in the past,

“Ye ca atītā sambuddhā,

the Buddhas of the future,

ye ca buddhā anāgatā;

and the Buddha at present—

Yo cetarahi sambuddho,

destroyer of the sorrows of many—

bahūnaṁ sokanāsano.

respecting the true teaching

Sabbe saddhammagaruno,

they did live, they do live,

vihaṁsu viharanti ca;

and they also will live.

Tathāpi viharissanti,

This is the nature of the Buddhas.

esā buddhāna dhammatā.

Therefore someone who cares for their own welfare,

Tasmā hi attakāmena,

and wants to become the very best they can be,

mahattamabhikaṅkhatā;

should respect the true teaching,

Saddhammo garukātabbo,

remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.”

saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan”ti.