Nandanasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 2.14

Linked Discourses 2.14

2. Anāthapiṇḍikavagga

2. With Anāthapiṇḍika

Nandanasutta

With Nandana

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho nandano devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Standing to one side, the godling Nandana addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Pucchāmi taṁ gotama bhūripañña,

“I ask you, Gotama, whose wisdom is vast,

Anāvaṭaṁ bhagavato ñāṇadassanaṁ;

the Blessed One
of unhindered knowledge and vision.

Kathaṁvidhaṁ sīlavantaṁ vadanti,

What sort do they call ethical?

Kathaṁvidhaṁ paññavantaṁ vadanti;

What sort do they call wise?

Kathaṁvidho dukkhamaticca iriyati,

What sort lives on after transcending suffering?

Kathaṁvidhaṁ devatā pūjayantī”ti.

What sort is worshiped by the deities?”

“Yo sīlavā paññavā bhāvitatto,

“Someone who is ethical, wise, evolved,

Samāhito jhānarato satīmā;

becomes serene, loving absorption, mindful,

Sabbassa sokā vigatā pahīnā,

who’s gotten rid of and given up all sorrows,

Khīṇāsavo antimadehadhārī.

with defilements ended, they bear their final body.

Tathāvidhaṁ sīlavantaṁ vadanti,

That sort they call ethical.

Tathāvidhaṁ paññavantaṁ vadanti;

That sort they call wise.

Tathāvidho dukkhamaticca iriyati,

That sort lives on after transcending suffering.

Tathāvidhaṁ devatā pūjayantī”ti.

That sort is worshiped by the deities.”