The Buddha praises Venerable Sujāta before the mendicants, declaring that he shines in both beauty and spiritual attainment, with heart upright, unfettered, and quenched by not grasping.

SN 21.5 With Sujāta

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

Atha kho āyasmā sujāto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sujātaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi: “ubhayenevāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto sobhati yañca abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā …pe… satthā:

“Sobhati vatāyaṁ bhikkhu,
ujubhūtena cetasā;
Vippayutto visaṁyutto,
anupādāya nibbuto;
Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,
jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho āyasmā sujāto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

Then Venerable Sujāta went to see the Buddha.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sujātaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.

The Buddha saw him coming off in the distance,

Disvāna bhikkhū āmantesi:

and addressed the mendicants:

“ubhayenevāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto sobhati

“This gentleman shines in both ways.

yañca abhirūpo dassanīyo pāsādiko paramāya vaṇṇapokkharatāya samannāgato, yassa catthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

He’s attractive, good-looking, lovely, of surpassing beauty. 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 …pe…

That is what the Buddha said.

satthā:

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

“Sobhati vatāyaṁ bhikkhu,

“This mendicant truly shines.

ujubhūtena cetasā;

His heart is upright,

Vippayutto visaṁyutto,

he’s unfettered, detached,

anupādāya nibbuto;

quenched by not grasping.

Dhāreti antimaṁ dehaṁ,

He bears his final body,

jetvā māraṁ savāhinin”ti.

having vanquished Māra with his legions.”

Pañcamaṁ.

Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
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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
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026