SN 2.4 With Maghada

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgadho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Standing to one side, the godling Maghada addressed the Buddha in verse:

“Kati lokasmiṁ pajjotā,

“How many lamps are there

yehi loko pakāsati;

that light up the world?

Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,

We’ve come to ask the Buddha;

kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

how are we to understand this?”

“Cattāro loke pajjotā,

“There are four lamps in the world,

pañcamettha na vijjati;

a fifth is not found.

Divā tapati ādicco,

The sun blazes by day,

rattimābhāti candimā.

the moon radiates at night,

Atha aggi divārattiṁ,

while a fire illuminates both

tattha tattha pakāsati;

by day and by night.

Sambuddho tapataṁ seṭṭho,

But a Buddha is the best of blazes:

esā ābhā anuttarā”ti.

this is the supreme radiance.”