1At Sāvatthī. Now on that occasion a brahmin named Manatthaddha, Stiff with Conceit, was residing at Sāvatthī. [n.469] Th-a II 179–80 relates exactly the same story about the elder Jenta (Th 423–28), the son of the king of Kosala's chaplain. In his youth he was stiff with conceit (manatthaddha, used as a description, not a name), but was humbled by the Buddha with exactly the same exchange of verses as is related here. He became a stream-enterer on hearing the Buddha’s verses, went forth as a bhikkhu, and attained arahantship. He did not pay homage to his mother or father, nor to his teacher or eldest brother. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was teaching the Dhamma surrounded by a large assembly. Then it occurred to the brahmin Manatthaddha: "This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Dhamma surrounded by a large assembly. Let me approach him. If the ascetic Gotama addresses me, then I will address him in turn. But if he does not address me, neither will I address him."

Then the brahmin Manatthaddha approached the Blessed One and stood silently to one side, but the Blessed One did not address him. Then the brahmin Manatthaddha, thinking, "This ascetic Gotama doesn’t know anything," [n.470] Spk: He thought, "When a brahmin of high birth like myself has arrived, this ascetic does not show me any special courtesy; therefore he does not know anything." wanted to turn back, sn.i.178 but the Blessed One, having known with his own mind the reflection in the brahmin's mind, addressed the brahmin Manatthaddha in verse:

3Then the brahmin Manatthaddha, thinking, "The ascetic Gotama knows my mind," prostrated himself right there with his head at the Blessed One's feet. He kissed the Blessed One's feet, stroked them with his hands, and announced his name thus: "I am Manatthaddha, Master Gotama! I am Manatthaddha, Master Gotama!"

Then that assembly was struck with amazement and the people said: "It is wonderful indeed, sir! It is amazing indeed, sir! This brahmin Manatthaddha does not pay homage to his mother and father, nor to his teacher or eldest brother, yet he shows such supreme honour towards the ascetic Gotama." [n.472] Evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakaraṁ karoti. The expression occurs at MN II 120,6, referring to the same kind of action (shown by King Pasenadi towards the Buddha); see too SN48.58, which discusses the reason an arahant shows "supreme honour" towards the Buddha and his teaching.

Then the Blessed One said to the brahmin Manatthaddha: "Enough, brahmin! Get up and sit in your own seat, as your mind has confidence in me."

Then the brahmin Manatthaddha sat down in his own seat and addressed the Blessed One in verse:

The Blessed One:

7When this was said, the brahmin Manatthaddha said to the Blessed One: "Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life." sn.i.179

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena mānatthaddho nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati. So neva mātaraṁ abhivādeti, na pitaraṁ abhivādeti, na acariyaṁ abhivādeti, na jeṭṭhabhātaraṁ abhivādeti. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti. Atha kho mānatthaddhassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo mahatiyā parisāya parivuto dhammaṁ deseti. Yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ. Sace maṁ samaṇo gotamo ālapissati, ahampi taṁ ālapissāmi. No ce maṁ samaṇo gotamo ālapissati, ahampi nālapissāmī"ti. Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā tuṇhībhūto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Atha kho bhagavā taṁ nālapi. Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo: "nāyaṁ samaṇo gotamo kiñci jānātī"ti tatova puna nivattitukāmo ahosi. Atha kho bhagavā mānatthaddhassa brāhmaṇassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya mānatthaddhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

3Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo: "cittaṁ me samaṇo gotamo jānātī"ti tattheva bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavato pādāni mukhena ca paricumbati pāṇīhi ca parisambāhati, nāmañca sāveti: "mānatthaddhāhaṁ, bho gotama, mānatthaddhāhaṁ, bho gotamā"ti.

Atha kho sā parisā abbhutavittajātā ahosi: "acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. Ayañhi mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo neva mātaraṁ abhivādeti, na pitaraṁ abhivādeti, na acariyaṁ abhivādeti, na jeṭṭhabhātaraṁ abhivādeti; atha ca pana samaṇe gotame evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karotī"ti.

Atha kho bhagavā mānatthaddhaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca: "Alaṁ, brāhmaṇa, uṭṭhehi, sake āsane nisīda. Yato te mayi cittaṁ pasannan"ti.

Atha kho mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo sake āsane nisīditvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

7Evaṁ vutte, mānatthaddho brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.