The divinity Sanaṅkumāra recites verses before the Buddha declaring that one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is best among gods and humans, beyond mere birth as an aristocrat; the Teacher approves.

SN 6.11 With Sanaṅkumāra

Evaṁ me sutaṁ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati sappinītīre.

Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ sappinītīraṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

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

Idamavoca brahmā sanaṅkumāro. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati sappinītīre.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the bank of the Serpentine river.

Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ sappinītīraṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.

Then, late at night, the glorious divinity Sanaṅkumāra, lighting up the entire Serpentine riverbank, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“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”ti.

is best among gods and humans.”

Idamavoca brahmā sanaṅkumāro.

That’s what the divinity Sanaṅkumāra said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the teacher approved.

Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Qualities:

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026