SN 8.8 Over a Thousand

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aḍḍhatelasehi bhikkhusatehi.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā bhikkhū nibbānapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

And those mendicants were paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening.

Atha kho āyasmato vaṅgīsassa etadahosi:

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa thought,

“ayaṁ kho bhagavā bhikkhū nibbānapaṭisaṁyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya sandasseti samādapeti samuttejeti sampahaṁseti.

“The Buddha is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment.

Te ca bhikkhū aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbacetasā samannāharitvā ohitasotā dhammaṁ suṇanti.

And those mendicants are paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening.

Yannūnāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthaveyyan”ti.

Why don’t I extoll him in his presence with fitting verses?”

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:

“Parosahassaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ,

“Over a thousand mendicants

sugataṁ payirupāsati;

revere the Holy One

Desentaṁ virajaṁ dhammaṁ,

as he teaches the immaculate Dhamma,

nibbānaṁ akutobhayaṁ.

extinguishment, fearing nothing from any quarter.

Suṇanti dhammaṁ vimalaṁ,

They listen to the immaculate Dhamma

sammāsambuddhadesitaṁ;

taught by the fully awakened Buddha;

Sobhati vata sambuddho,

the Buddha is so brilliant,

bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhato.

at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha,

Nāganāmosi bhagavā,

Blessed One, your name is ‘Giant’,

isīnaṁ isisattamo;

seventh of the seers.

Mahāmeghova hutvāna,

You are like a great cloud

sāvake abhivassati.

that rains on your disciples.

Divāvihārā nikkhamma,

I’ve left my day’s meditation,

satthudassanakamyatā;

out of desire to see the teacher.

Sāvako te mahāvīra,

Great hero, your disciple Vaṅgīsa

pāde vandati vaṅgiso”ti.

bows at your feet.”

“Kiṁ nu te, vaṅgīsa, imā gāthāyo pubbe parivitakkitā, udāhu ṭhānasova taṁ paṭibhantī”ti?

“Vaṅgīsa, had you previously composed these verses, or did they spring to mind in the moment?”

“Na kho me, bhante, imā gāthāyo pubbe parivitakkitā, atha kho ṭhānasova maṁ paṭibhantī”ti.

“They sprang to mind in the moment, sir.”

“Tena hi taṁ, vaṅgīsa, bhiyyoso mattāya pubbe aparivitakkitā gāthāyo paṭibhantū”ti.

“Well then, Vaṅgīsa, speak some more spontaneously inspired verses.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavato paṭissutvā bhiyyoso mattāya bhagavantaṁ pubbe aparivitakkitāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

“Yes, sir,” replied Vaṅgīsa. Then he extolled the Buddha with some more spontaneously inspired verses, not previously composed:

“Ummaggapathaṁ mārassa abhibhuyya,

“Having overcome Māra’s wrong path,

Carasi pabhijja khilāni;

you wander with hard-heartedness dissolved.

Taṁ passatha bandhapamuñcakaraṁ,

See him, the liberator from bonds,

Asitaṁ bhāgaso pavibhajaṁ.

dissecting the unattached section by section.

Oghassa nittharaṇatthaṁ,

You have explained in many ways

Anekavihitaṁ maggaṁ akkhāsi;

the path to cross the flood.

Tasmiñce amate akkhāte,

The Seers of Truth stand unfaltering

Dhammaddasā ṭhitā asaṁhīrā.

in the freedom from death explained by you.

Pajjotakaro ativijjha,

As the bringer of light who has pierced the truth,

Sabbaṭṭhitīnaṁ atikkamamaddasa;

you’ve seen what lies beyond all planes.

Ñatvā ca sacchikatvā ca,

When you saw and realized this for yourself,

Aggaṁ so desayi dasaddhānaṁ.

you taught it first to the group of five.

Evaṁ sudesite dhamme,

When the Dhamma has been so well taught,

Ko pamādo vijānataṁ dhammaṁ;

how could those who know it be negligent?

Tasmā hi tassa bhagavato sāsane,

That’s why, being diligent, we should always train

Appamatto sadā namassamanusikkhe”ti.

respectfully in the Buddha’s teaching.”