SN21:7 Visakha
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Now on that occasion the Venerable Visākha Pañcaliputta was instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk, spoken with speech that was polished, clear, articulate, expressing well the meaning, comprehensive, unattached. [n.391] His verses are at Th 209–10. The same description is given of Sāriputta's talk at SN8.6. This entire sutta is at AN II 51.
2Then, in the evening, the Blessed One emerged from seclusion and approached the assembly hall. He sat down in the appointed seat and addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus, who has been instructing, exhorting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus in the assembly hall with a Dhamma talk, spoken with speech that is polished, clear, articulate, expressing well the meaning, comprehensive, unattached?"
"It was this Venerable Visākha Pañcaliputta, venerable sir."
3Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Visākha Pañcaliputta thus: "Good, good, Visākha! It is good that you thus instruct the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk."
4This is what the Blessed One said … who further said this:
5"When the wise man is in the midst of fools
They do not know him if he does not speak,
[n.392] We should read with Be (and Ee at AN II 51,29): nābhāṣamānā jñāyante. The readings no bhāsamanaṁ (Ee) and na bhāsamanaṁ (Se) give a meaning opposite to the one required. The BHS parallel of the verse at Uv 29:43–44 supports Be: nābhāṣamānā jñāyante.
But they know him when he speaks,
Pointing out the deathless state.
6"He should speak and explain the Dhamma,
He should raise high the seers’ banner.
Well-spoken words are the seers’ banner:
For the Dhamma is the banner of seers." sn.ii.281
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ vihārati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti, poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāya.
2Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena upaṭṭhānasālā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "ko nu kho, bhikkhave, upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā"ti?
"Āyasmā, bhante, visākho pañcālaputto upaṭṭhānasālāyaṁ bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti, poriyā vācāya vissaṭṭhāya anelagalāya atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā"ti.
3Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ visākhaṁ pañcālaputtaṁ āmantesi: "sādhu sādhu, visākha, sādhu kho tvaṁ, visākha, bhikkhū dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi … pe … atthassa viññāpaniyā pariyāpannāya anissitāyā"ti.
4Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
5"Nābhāsamānaṁ jānanti,
missaṁ bālehi paṇḍitaṁ;
Bhāsamānañca jānanti,
desentaṁ amataṁ padaṁ.
6Bhāsaye jotaye dhammaṁ,
paggaṇhe isinaṁ dhajaṁ;
Subhāsitadhajā isayo,
dhammo hi isinaṁ dhajo"ti.
Sattamaṁ.