The Buddha praises Venerable Mahākappina before the mendicants as mighty and accomplished in every attainment, having realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life.

SN 21.11 With Mahākappina

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākappino yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākappinaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ bhikkhuṁ āgacchantaṁ odātakaṁ tanukaṁ tuṅganāsikan”ti?

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Eso kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo. Na ca samāpatti sulabharūpā tena bhikkhunā asamāpannapubbā. Yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,
ye gottapaṭisārino;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
so seṭṭho devamānuse.

Divā tapati ādicco,
rattimābhāti candimā;
Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,
jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;
Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,
buddho tapati tejasā”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākappino yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Then Venerable Mahākappina went to see the Buddha.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ mahākappinaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance,

Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi:

and addressed the mendicants:

“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ bhikkhuṁ āgacchantaṁ odātakaṁ tanukaṁ tuṅganāsikan”ti?

“Mendicants, do you see that monk coming—white, thin, with a pointy nose?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Eso kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahiddhiko mahānubhāvo.

“That mendicant is very mighty and powerful.

Na ca samāpatti sulabharūpā tena bhikkhunā asamāpannapubbā.

It’s not easy to find an attainment that he has not already attained.

Yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

And he has realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He lives having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,

“The aristocrat is best among people

ye gottapaṭisārino;

who take clan as the standard.

Vijjācaraṇasampanno,

But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct

so seṭṭho devamānuse.

is best among gods and humans.

Divā tapati ādicco,

The sun blazes by day,

rattimābhāti candimā;

the moon radiates at night,

Sannaddho khattiyo tapati,

the aristocrat shines in armor,

jhāyī tapati brāhmaṇo;

and the brahmin shines in absorption.

Atha sabbamahorattiṁ,

But all day and all night,

buddho tapati tejasā”ti.

the Buddha blazes with glory.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Insight

Insight

Insight is deep, intuitive realization that transforms understanding and guides practice.

Also known as: having insight, with understanding, right knowledge
Pāli: ñāṇa, sammāñāṇa
View all discourses →
Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026