Sabbhisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.31

Linked Discourses 1.31

4. Satullapakāyikavagga

4. The Host of a Hundred Felicities

Sabbhisutta

Virtuous

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

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

Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo”ti.

things get better, not worse.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

paññā labbhati nāññato”ti.

wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

sokamajjhe na socatī”ti.

you grieve not among the grieving.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

ñātimajjhe virocatī”ti.

you dazzle among your relatives.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

sattā gacchanti suggatin”ti.

sentient beings go to a good place.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,

“Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.

sentient beings live happily.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then another deity said to the Buddha,

“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?

“Sir, who has spoken well?”

“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—

“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

Sabbhireva samāsetha,

Associate only with the virtuous!

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;

Try to get close to the virtuous!

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,

Understanding the true teaching of the good,

sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

you’re released from all suffering.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsūti.

Delighted, those deities bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before vanishing right there.