1Thus have I heard. [n.373] Spk assigns this sutta to the fifth week after the enlightenment. The sutta is also at AN4.21 with an additional paragraph. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Uruvela on the bank of the river Nerañjara at the foot of the Goatherd's Banyan Tree just after he had become fully enlightened. sn.i.139 Then, while the Blessed One was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in his mind thus: "One dwells in suffering if one is without reverence and deference. Now what ascetic or brahmin can I honour and respect and dwell in dependence on?"

2Then it occurred to the Blessed One: "It would be for the sake of fulfilling an unfulfilled aggregate of virtue that I would honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on another ascetic or brahmin. However, in this world with its devas, Māra, and Brahma, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its devas and humans, I do not see another ascetic or brahmin more perfect in virtue than myself, whom I could honour and respect and dwell in dependence on.

3"It would be for the sake of fulfilling an unfulfilled aggregate of concentration that I would honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on another ascetic or brahmin. However … I do not see another ascetic or brahmin more perfect in concentration than myself … .

4"It would be for the sake of fulfilling an unfulfilled aggregate of wisdom that I would honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on another ascetic or brahmin. However … I do not see another ascetic or brahmin more perfect in wisdom than myself … .

5"It would be for the sake of fulfilling an unfulfilled aggregate of liberation that I would honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on another ascetic or brahmin. However … I do not see another ascetic or brahmin more perfect in liberation than myself … .

6"It would be for the sake of fulfilling an unfulfilled aggregate of the knowledge and vision of liberation that I would honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on another ascetic or brahmin. However … I do not see another ascetic or brahmin more perfect in the knowledge and vision of liberation than myself, whom I could honour and respect, and on whom I could dwell in dependence. [n.374] Spk: The first four qualities—virtue, etc.—are both mundane and supramundane. The knowledge and vision of liberation is mundane only, for this is reviewing knowledge (paccavekkhaṇañāṇa).

"Let me then honour, respect, and dwell in dependence on this very Dhamma to which I have fully awakened."

7Then, having known with his own mind the reflection in the Blessed One's mind, just as quickly as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, Brahma Sahampati disappeared from the brahma world and reappeared before the Blessed One. He arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, raised his joined hands in reverential salutation towards the Blessed One, and said to him: sn.i.140 "So it is, Blessed One! So it is, Fortunate One! Venerable sir, those who were the Arahants, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the past—those Blessed Ones too honoured, respected, and dwelt in dependence just on the Dhamma itself. Those who will be the Arahants, the Perfectly Enlightened Ones in the future—those Blessed Ones too will honour, respect, and dwell in dependence just on the Dhamma itself. Let the Blessed One too, who is at present the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, honour, respect, and dwell in dependence just on the Dhamma itself."

This is what Brahma Sahampati said. Having said this, he further said this:

8v.562 "The Buddhas of the past,
The future Buddhas,
And he who is the Buddha now,
Removing the sorrow of many—

9v.563 "All have dwelt, will dwell, and dwell,
Deeply revering the true Dhamma:
For the Buddhas
This is a natural law.

10v.564 "Therefore one desiring his own good,
Aspiring for spiritual greatness,
Should deeply revere the true Dhamma,
Recollecting the Buddhas’ Teaching." [n.375] in pāda a, Se and Ee1 read atthakamena, also at AN II 21,23, as against Be and Ee2 attakamena, also at AN4.21. Spk glosses abhikaṅkhata in pāda c as patthayamanena. Saram in pāda d is probably a truncated instrumental, glossed by Spk as sarantena; Norman, however, suggests it could be a ṇamul absolutive.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ vihārati najjā nerañjarāya tīre ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho. Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: "dukkhaṁ kho agāravo vihārati appatisso, kaṁ nu khvāhaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyan"ti?

2Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: "aparipuṇṇassa kho sīlakkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ. Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya attanā sīlasampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

3Aparipuṇṇassa kho samādhikkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ. Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke … pe … attanā samādhisampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

4Aparipuṇṇassa paññākkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ. Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake … pe … attanā paññāsampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

5Aparipuṇṇassa kho vimuttikkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ. Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake … pe … attanā vimuttisampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

6Aparipuṇṇassa kho vimuttiñāṇadassanakkhandhassa pāripūriyā aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ. Na kho panāhaṁ passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya attanā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannataraṁ aññaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā, yamahaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyaṁ.

Yannūnāhaṁ yvāyaṁ dhammo mayā abhisambuddho tameva dhammaṁ sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihareyyan"ti.

7Atha kho brahmā sahampati bhagavato cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya – seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva – brahmaloke antarahito bhagavato purato pāturahosi. Atha kho brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "evametaṁ, bhagavā, evametaṁ, sugata. Yepi te, bhante, ahesuṁ atītamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā, tepi bhagavanto dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihariṁsu; yepi te, bhante, bhavissanti anāgatamaddhānaṁ arahanto sammāsambuddhā tepi bhagavanto dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya viharissanti. Bhagavāpi, bhante, etarahi arahaṁ sammāsambuddho dhammaññeva sakkatvā garuṁ katvā upanissāya vihāratū"ti.

Idamavoca brahmā sahampati, idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:

8"Ye ca atītā sambuddhā,
ye ca buddhā anāgatā;
Yo cetarahi sambuddho,
bahūnaṁ sokanāsano.

9Sabbe saddhammagaruno,
vihaṁsu vihāranti ca;
Tathāpi viharissanti,
esā buddhāna dhammatā.

10Tasmā hi attakāmena,
mahattamabhikaṅkhatā;
Saddhammo garukātabbo,
saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan"ti.