SN1:48 Jeta's Grove
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
The devata Anāthapiṇḍika:
1v.156 "This indeed is that Jeta's Grove,
The resort of the Order of seers,
Dwelt in by the Dhamma King,
A place that gives me joy.
[n.104] These verses were spoken by Anāthapiṇḍika, chief patron of the Buddha, after he was reborn in the Tusita heaven. They recur below, with prose text, at SN2.20.
sn.i.34
2v.157 "Action, knowledge, righteousness,
Virtue, an excellent life:
By this are mortals purified,
Not by clan or wealth.
3v.158 "Therefore a person who is wise,
Out of regard for his own good,
Should carefully examine the Dhamma:
Thus he is purified in it.
4v.159 "Sāriputta truly is endowed with wisdom,
With virtue and with inner peace.
Even a bhikkhu who has gone beyond
At best can only equal him."
[n.105] Anāthapiṇḍika had been especially devoted to Sāriputta, who delivered a moving sermon to him while he was on his deathbed: see MN No. 143, which also includes the same account of the great patron's posthumous visit to Jeta's Grove.
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Spk: At best can only equal him (etavaparamo siya): There is no bhikkhu, not even one who has attained Nibbāna, who surpasses the Elder Sāriputta (na therena uttaritaro nama atthi).
1"Idañhi taṁ jetavanaṁ,
isisaṅghanisevitaṁ;
Āvutthaṁ dhammarājena,
pītisañjananaṁ mama.
2Kammaṁ vijjā ca dhammo ca,
sīlaṁ jīvitamuttamaṁ;
Etena maccā sujjhanti,
na gottena dhanena vā.
3Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso,
sampassaṁ atthamattano;
Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ,
evaṁ tattha visujjhati.
4Sāriputtova paññāya,
sīlena upasamena ca;
Yopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu,
etāvaparamo siyā"ti.
