SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 8 Connected Discourses With Vaṅgīsa – Vaṅgīsasaṁyutta > SN 8.7 The Invitation to Admonish

Linked Discourses 8.7 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 8.7

1. With Vaṅgīsa – 1. Vaṅgīsavagga

SN 8.7 The Invitation to Admonish – Pavāraṇāsutta

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.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi.

Now, at that time it was the sabbath—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.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase pavāraṇāya bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti.

Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were silent. He addressed them:

Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Come now, monks, I invite you all:

“handa dāni, bhikkhave, pavāremi vo.

Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

Na ca me kiñci garahatha 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:

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“There is nothing, sir, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that we would criticize.

“na kho mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavato kiñci garahāma kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

For the Blessed One is the one who gave rise to the unarisen path, who gave birth to the unborn path, who explained the unexplained path. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the expert on the path.

Bhagavā hi, bhante, anuppannassa maggassa uppādetā, asañjātassa maggassa sañjanetā, anakkhātassa maggassa akkhātā, maggaññū maggavidū maggakovido.

And now the disciples live following the path; they acquire it later.

Maggānugā ca, bhante, etarahi sāvakā viharanti pacchā samannāgatā;

And sir, I invite the Blessed One.

ahañca kho, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pavāremi.

Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

Na ca me bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that I would criticize.

“Na khvāhaṁ te, sāriputta, kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

Sāriputta, you are astute. You have great wisdom, widespread wisdom, laughing wisdom, swift wisdom, sharp wisdom, penetrating wisdom.

Paṇḍito tvaṁ, sāriputta, mahāpañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, puthupañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, hāsapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, javanapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, tikkhapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, nibbedhikapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta.

A wheel-turning monarch’s oldest son rightly keeps wielding the power set in motion by his father.

Seyyathāpi, sāriputta, rañño cakkavattissa jeṭṭhaputto pitarā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ sammadeva anuppavatteti;

In the same way, Sāriputta rightly keeps rolling the supreme Wheel of Dhamma that was rolled forth by me.”

evameva kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, mayā anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ sammadeva anuppavattesī”ti.

“Since it seems I have done nothing worthy of the Blessed One’s criticism,

“No ce kira me, bhante, bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

is there anything these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

Imesaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that I would criticize.

“Imesampi khvāhaṁ, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

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.”

Imesañhi, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ saṭṭhi bhikkhū tevijjā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū chaḷabhiññā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū ubhatobhāgavimuttā, atha itare paññāvimuttā”ti.

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said,

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”

“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.

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

“Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca.

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

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

“Today, on the fifteenth day sabbath,

“Ajja pannarase visuddhiyā,

five hundred monks have gathered together to purify their precepts.

Bhikkhū pañcasatā samāgatā;

These untroubled sages have cut off their fetters and bonds,

Saṁyojanabandhanacchidā,

they will not be reborn again.

Anīghā khīṇapunabbhavā isī.

Just as a wheel-turning monarch

Cakkavattī yathā rājā,

surrounded by ministers

amaccaparivārito;

travels all around this

Samantā anupariyeti,

land that’s girt by sea.

sāgarantaṁ mahiṁ imaṁ.

So disciples with the three knowledges,

Evaṁ vijitasaṅgāmaṁ,

conquerors of death,

satthavāhaṁ anuttaraṁ;

revere the winner of the battle,

Sāvakā payirupāsanti,

the unsurpassed caravan leader.

tevijjā maccuhāyino.

All are sons of the Blessed One—

Sabbe bhagavato puttā,

there is no rubbish here.

palāpettha na vijjati;

I bow to the Kinsman of the Sun,

Taṇhāsallassa hantāraṁ,

destroyer of the dart of craving.”

vande ādiccabandhunan”ti.