1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Then, when the night had advanced, the young deva Kassapa, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One.[n.141] Devaputta means literally "son of the devas," but since devas are depicted as arising in their celestial abodes by way of spontaneous birth, I translate the compound simply as "young deva."
Spk: They are reborn in the laps (anka) of devas. The males are called sons of the devas (devaputta); the females, daughters of the devas (devadhitaro). When they are not known by name it is said, "a certain devata" (as in the preceding saṁyutta); but those who are known by name are referred to as "a son of the devas named So-and-So" (as here). Spk-pṭ: This last statement is made only as a generalization, for the identity of several devatas is known. Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and said to the Blessed One:

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho kassapo devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kassapo devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"The Blessed One has revealed the bhikkhu but not the instruction to the bhikkhu."[n.142] Spk: When the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma in the Tāvatiṁsa heaven during the seventh rains retreat after his enlightenment, this young deva heard him give a description of the bhikkhu (as at Vibh 245–46), but did not hear his instruction to the bhikkhu, his exhortation to the bhikkhu, "Think in this way, not in that way; attend in this way, not in that way; abandon this, enter and dwell in that" (as at DN I 214,18–21). He speaks with reference to this.

"bhikkhuṁ bhagavā pakāsesi, no ca bhikkhuno anusāsan"ti.

"Well then, Kassapa, clear up this point yourself."[n.143] Taññev’ ettha paṭibhatu. Lit. "Let it occur to you yourself in regard to this." Throughout this work I have rendered this peculiar Pali idiom, and its variants, in ways that best accord with natural English diction.

"Tena hi, kassapa, taññevettha paṭibhātū"ti.

2v.255 "He should train in well-spoken counsel,
And in the exercise of an ascetic,
In a solitary seat, alone,
And in the calming of the mind."[n.144] Well-spoken counsel (subhasitassa). Spk interprets this to mean that one should train oneself in just the fourfold good conduct of speech (see below SN8.5; also MN I 288,1–22), (and in talk) concerning the Four Noble Truths, the ten suitable topics of discussion (see MN III 113,25–31), and the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment. It seems to me more likely the purport is that one should train in accordance with good counsel.
Spk offers two interpretations of samaṇupasana in pāda b: (i) that which is to be attended to by an ascetic, namely, one of the thirty-eight meditation subjects (see n. 133); and (ii) attending upon an ascetic, i.e., serving learned bhikkhus in order to increase one's wisdom. The first seems more plausible. The calming of the mind (cittūpasama) is the training by way of the eight meditative attainments (aṭṭhasamāpatti).

2"Subhāsitassa sikkhetha,
samaṇūpāsanassa ca;
Ekāsanassa ca raho,
cittavūpasamassa cā"ti.

3This is what the young deva Kassapa said. The Teacher approved. Then the young deva Kassapa, thinking, "The Teacher has approved of me," paid homage to the Blessed One and, keeping him on the right, he disappeared right there.

3Idamavoca kassapo devaputto; samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho kassapo devaputto "samanuñño me satthā"ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.