SN 8.7 The Invitation to Admonish

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery, together with a large Saṅgha of around five hundred monks, all of whom were perfected ones.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe pannarase pavāraṇāya bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto abbhokāse nisinno hoti.

Now, at that time it was the sabbath—the full moon on the fifteenth day—and the Buddha was sitting in the open surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks for the invitation to admonish.

Atha kho bhagavā tuṇhībhūtaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ anuviloketvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then the Buddha looked around the Saṅgha of monks, who were silent. He addressed them:

“handa dāni, bhikkhave, pavāremi vo.

“Come now, monks, I invite you all:

Na ca me kiñci garahatha kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sāriputto uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, Venerable Sāriputta rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said:

“na kho mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavato kiñci garahāma kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

“There is nothing, sir, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that we would criticize.

Bhagavā hi, bhante, anuppannassa maggassa uppādetā, asañjātassa maggassa sañjanetā, anakkhātassa maggassa akkhātā, maggaññū maggavidū maggakovido.

For the Blessed One gave rise to the unarisen path, gave birth to the unborn path, and explained the unexplained path. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the expert on the path.

Maggānugā ca, bhante, etarahi sāvakā viharanti pacchā samannāgatā;

And now the disciples live following the path; they acquire it later.

ahañca kho, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pavāremi.

And sir, I invite the Blessed One.

Na ca me bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

Is there anything I’ve done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

“Na khvāhaṁ te, sāriputta, kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that you’ve done by way of body or speech that I would criticize.

Paṇḍito tvaṁ, sāriputta, mahāpañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, puthupañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, hāsapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, javanapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, tikkhapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta, nibbedhikapañño tvaṁ, sāriputta.

Sāriputta, you are astute. You have great wisdom, widespread wisdom, laughing wisdom, swift wisdom, sharp wisdom, penetrating wisdom.

Seyyathāpi, sāriputta, rañño cakkavattissa jeṭṭhaputto pitarā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ sammadeva anuppavatteti;

A wheel-turning monarch’s oldest son rightly keeps wielding the power set in motion by his father.

evameva kho tvaṁ, sāriputta, mayā anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ sammadeva anuppavattesī”ti.

In the same way, Sāriputta rightly keeps rolling the supreme Wheel of Dhamma that was rolled forth by me.”

“No ce kira me, bhante, bhagavā kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

“Since it seems I have done nothing worthy of the Blessed One’s criticism,

Imesaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahati kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā”ti.

is there anything these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that you would criticize?”

“Imesampi khvāhaṁ, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ na kiñci garahāmi kāyikaṁ vā vācasikaṁ vā.

“There is nothing, Sāriputta, that these five hundred monks have done by way of body or speech that I would criticize.

Imesañhi, sāriputta, pañcannaṁ bhikkhusatānaṁ saṭṭhi bhikkhū tevijjā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū chaḷabhiññā, saṭṭhi bhikkhū ubhatobhāgavimuttā, atha itare paññāvimuttā”ti.

For of these five hundred monks, sixty have the three knowledges, sixty have the six direct knowledges, sixty are freed both ways, and the rest are freed by wisdom.”

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said,

“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.

“I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”

“Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca.

“Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha.

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

“Ajja pannarase visuddhiyā,

“Today, on the fifteenth day sabbath,

Bhikkhū pañcasatā samāgatā;

five hundred monks have gathered together to purify their precepts.

Saṁyojanabandhanacchidā,

These untroubled sages have cut off their fetters and bonds,

Anīghā khīṇapunabbhavā isī.

they will not be reborn again.

Cakkavattī yathā rājā,

Just as a wheel-turning monarch

amaccaparivārito;

surrounded by ministers

Samantā anupariyeti,

travels all around this

sāgarantaṁ mahiṁ imaṁ.

land girt by sea.

Evaṁ vijitasaṅgāmaṁ,

So disciples with the three knowledges,

satthavāhaṁ anuttaraṁ;

conquerors of death,

Sāvakā payirupāsanti,

revere the winner of the battle,

tevijjā maccuhāyino.

the unsurpassed caravan leader.

Sabbe bhagavato puttā,

All are sons of the Blessed One—

palāpettha na vijjati;

there is no rubbish here.

Taṇhāsallassa hantāraṁ,

I bow to the Kinsman of the Sun,

vande ādiccabandhunan”ti.

destroyer of the dart of craving.”