Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.
Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then, when the night had advanced, many deities of extraordinary appearance, belonging to the host of one hundred laudatory heavenly beings, having illuminated the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near and paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
seyyo hoti na pāpiyo”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the |good Dhamma::good teaching, true doctrine [saddhamma]| of the sages,
one becomes better, never worse.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
paññā labbhati nāññato”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
|wisdom::distinctive knowledge, discernment [paññā]| is gained, but not from another.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
sokamajjhe na socatī”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
one does not |sorrow::grieve [socati]| in the midst of sorrow.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
ñātimajjhe virocatī”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
one shines amidst one’s |relatives::relations, family [ñāti]|.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
sattā gacchanti suggatin”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
beings fare on to a |good destination::fortunate condition [sugati]|.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
beings abide in |comfort::pleasure, happiness, delight [sāta]|.”
Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
Then another deity said to the Blessed One: “Which one of us, Blessed One, has spoken well?”
“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—
“You have all spoken well in your own way, but listen also to me—
Sabbhireva samāsetha,
sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.
“One should associate only with the wise,
with the wise, one should foster close associations;
Having understood the good Dhamma of the sages,
one is freed from all |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]|.”
Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsūti.
The Blessed One said this. Delighted, those deities paid homage to the Blessed One, and keeping him on their right, disappeared right there.