Sanaṅkumārasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.11

Linked Discourses 6.11

2. Dutiyavagga

Chapter Two

Sanaṅkumārasutta

With Sanaṅkumāra

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati sappinītīre.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the bank of the Serpentine River.

Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ sappinītīraṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Then, late at night, the glorious divinity Sanaṅkumāra, lighting up the entire Serpentine riverbank, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,

“The aristocrat is best among people

ye gottapaṭisārino;

who take clan as the standard.

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct

so seṭṭho devamānuse”ti.

is best among gods and humans.”

Idamavoca brahmā sanaṅkumāro.

That is what the divinity Sanaṅkumāra said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the Teacher concurred.

Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.