SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 8 Connected Discourses With Vaṅgīsa – Vaṅgīsasaṁyutta > SN 8.8 Over a Thousand

Linked Discourses 8.8 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 8.8

1. With Vaṅgīsa – 1. Vaṅgīsavagga

SN 8.8 Over a Thousand – Parosahassasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 bhikkhū.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aḍḍhatelasehi bhikkhusatehi.

Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā bhikkhū nibbānapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

And those bhikkhū were paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa thought,

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi:

“The Buddha is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the bhikkhū with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment.

“ayaṁ kho bhagavā bhikkhū nibbānapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

And those bhikkhū are paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

Why don’t I extoll him in his presence with fitting verses?”

Yannūnāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthaveyyan”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:

“Over a thousand bhikkhū

“Parosahassaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ,

revere the Holy One

sugataṁ payirupāsati;

as he teaches the immaculate Dhamma,

Desentaṁ virajaṁ dhammaṁ,

extinguishment, fearing nothing from any quarter.

nibbānaṁ akutobhayaṁ.

They listen to the immaculate Dhamma

Suṇanti dhammaṁ vimalaṁ,

taught by the fully awakened Buddha;

sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;

the Buddha is so brilliant,

Sobhati vata sambuddho,

at the fore of the bhikkhu Saṅgha,

bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhato.

Blessed One, your name is ‘Giant’,

Nāganāmosi bhagavā,

seventh of the sages.

isīnaṁ isisattamo;

You are like a great cloud

Mahāmeghova hutvāna,

that rains on your disciples.

sāvake abhivassati.

I’ve left my day’s meditation,

Divāvihārā nikkhamma,

out of desire to see the teacher.

satthudassanakamyatā;

Great hero, your disciple Vaṅgīsa

Sāvako te mahāvīra,

bows at your feet.”

pāde vandati vaṅgiso”ti.

“Vaṅgīsa, had you previously composed these verses, or did they spring to mind in the moment?”

“Kiṁ nu te, vaṅgīsa, imā gāthāyo pubbe parivitakkitā, udāhu ṭhānasova taṁ paṭibhantī”ti?

“They sprang to mind in the moment, sir.”

“Na kho me, bhante, imā gāthāyo pubbe parivitakkitā, atha kho ṭhānasova maṁ paṭibhantī”ti.

“Well then, Vaṅgīsa, speak some more spontaneously inspired verses.”

“Tena hi taṁ, vaṅgīsa, bhiyyoso mattāya pubbe aparivitakkitā gāthāyo paṭibhantū”ti.

“Yes, sir,” replied Vaṅgīsa. Then he extolled the Buddha with some more spontaneously inspired verses, not previously composed:

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavato paṭissutvā bhiyyoso mattāya bhagavantaṁ pubbe aparivitakkitāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

“Having overcome Māra’s devious path,

“Ummaggapathaṁ mārassa abhibhuyya,

you wander with hard-heartedness dissolved.

Carasi pabhijja khilāni;

See him, the liberator from bonds, unattached,

Taṁ passatha bandhapamuñcakaraṁ,

analyzing the teaching.

Asitaṁ bhāgaso pavibhajaṁ.

You have explained in many ways

Oghassa nittharaṇatthaṁ,

the path to cross the flood.

Anekavihitaṁ maggaṁ akkhāsi;

The Seers of Truth stand unfaltering

Tasmiñce amate akkhāte,

in the deathless you’ve explained.

Dhammaddasā ṭhitā asaṁhīrā.

As the bringer of light who has pierced the truth,

Pajjotakaro ativijjha,

you’ve seen what lies beyond all realms.

Sabbaṭṭhitīnaṁ atikkamamaddasa;

When you saw and realized this for yourself,

Ñatvā ca sacchikatvā ca,

you taught it first to the group of five.

Aggaṁ so desayi dasaddhānaṁ.

When the Dhamma has been so well taught,

Evaṁ sudesite dhamme,

how could those who know it be negligent?

Ko pamādo vijānataṁ dhammaṁ;

That’s why, being diligent, we should always train

Tasmā hi tassa bhagavato sāsane,

respectfully in the Buddha’s teaching.”

Appamatto sadā namassamanusikkhe”ti.