The Buddha recounts an encounter involving Sakka, lord of gods, regarding delightful, illustrating how the Dhamma applies to leadership, conflict, and devotion among the gods.
Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Atha kho sakko devānamindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kiṁ nu kho, bhante, bhūmirāmaṇeyyakan”ti?
“Ārāmacetyā vanacetyā,
pokkharañño sunimmitā;
Manussarāmaṇeyyassa,
kalaṁ nāgghanti soḷasiṁ.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakan”ti.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Sāvatthiyaṁ jetavane.
Near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove.
Atha kho sakko devānamindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And then Sakka, lord of gods, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,
“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, bhūmirāmaṇeyyakan”ti?
“Sir, what is a delightful place?”
“Ārāmacetyā vanacetyā,
“Shrines in parks and forests,
pokkharañño sunimmitā;
well-made lotus ponds,
Manussarāmaṇeyyassa,
are not worth a sixteenth part
kalaṁ nāgghanti soḷasiṁ.
of a delightful human being.
Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Whether in village or wilderness,
Ninne vā yadi vā thale;
in a valley or the uplands,
Yattha arahanto viharanti,
wherever the perfected ones live
Taṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakan”ti.
is a delightful place.”
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Last updated on July 27, 2026