Sutta Pitaka
Samyutta Nikāya
Division I –– Sagātha
Book 8 –– Vaṅgīsa Thera Saṃyutta
(Chapter 1 –– Vaṅgīsa Vaggo)
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
(1) Nikkhantam –– Renouncing
1. I heard thus. At one time venerable Vaṅgīsa lived in Alavi in the Aggalavi monument with his teacher Nigrodha Kappa.
2. At the time venerable Vaṅgīsa was a novice, one who had gone forth recently. He was living under the orders of the chief resident monk.
3. Then many women who were anxious to wander about in the monastery, decorating themselves approached the monastery.
4. Seeing those women, venerable Vaṅgīsa was discontented, lust arising in his mind.
5. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: ‘This is not gain for me. This should not happen to me, this discontent with lust arising in my mind. How could I dispel the discontent of others and arouse contentment in their hearts. What if I dispel my discontent and arouse contentment in my heart?”
6. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa dispelled his discontent and aroused contentment in his heart and uttered these stanzas that moment.
(2) Arati –– Discontent
1. I heard thus. At one time venerable Vaṅgīsa lived in Alavi in the Aggalavi monument with his teacher Nigrodha Kappa.
2. At the time venerable Vaṅgīsa was a novice, one who had gone forth recently. He was living under the orders of the chief resident monk.
3. During that time venerable Nigrodha Kappa returned to the monastery after the alms round and after the meal. Even in the evening he leaves the monastery or the next day.
4. At such times, venerable Vaṅgīsa was discontented, with lust arising in his mind.
5. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: “This is not gain for me. This should not happen to me, this discontent, with lust arising in my mind. How could I dispel the discontent of others and arouse contentment in their hearts. What if I dispel my discontentment and arouse contentment in my heart?”
6. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa dispelled his discontentment and aroused contentment in his heart and uttered these stanzas that moment.
(3) Pesala Atimaññana –– Belittling the Well-behaved Bhikkhus
1. I heard thus. At one time venerable Vaṅgīsa lived in Alavi in the Aggalavi monument with his teacher Nigrodha Kappa.
2. At the time venerable Vaṅgīsa proud of his understanding belittled well-behaved bhikkhus.
3. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: ‘This is not gain for me. This should not happen to me. I am proud of my understanding and belittle well-behaved bhikkhus.”
4. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa counseled himself arousing remorse for his pride and that moment said these stanzas.
(4) Ānanda –– Venerable Ānanda
1. At one time venerable Ānanda was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.
2. Then venerable Ānanda putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered Sāvatthi for alms with venerable Vaṅgīsa as the second recluse.
3. At that time, venerable Vaṅgīsa was discontented, with lust arising in his mind.
4. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa said this stanza to venerable Ānanda:
(Ānanda:)
(5) Subhasita –– Faultless Words
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.
2. From there, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus.
3. And those bhikkhus said: “Yes, venerable sir.”
4. The Blessed One said: “Bhikkhus, words, endowed with four factors become good, not wrongly uttered, faultless and not blamed by the wise. What four?
5. “Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu says only good words, talks only the Teaching nothing outside. Utters pleasant words not the unpleasant and tells the truth not a lie. Bhikkhus, endowed with these four factors words, become good, not wrongly uttered, faultless and not blamed by the wise.”
6. The Well Gone One; the Teacher further said thus:
7. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said: “Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
8. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
9, Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One:
(6) Sāriputta –– Venerable Sāriputta
1. At one time venerable Sāriputta was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.
2. At that time venerable Sāriputta was advising, inciting, gladdening, and making light the hearts of the bhikkhus with words that were polite, well enunciated, only those that explained the Teaching; and the bhikkhus too were listening with complete attention to absorb the essential.
3. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: “Venerable Sāriputta is advising, inciting, gladdening and making light, the hearts of the bhikkhus with words, that are polite, well enunciated and words that only explained the Teaching and the bhikkhus too are listening with complete attention to absorb the essential. What if I praise venerable Sāriputta in his presence with a meaningful stanza?”
4. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards venerable Sāriputta said: “Friend Sāriputta, it occurs to me.”
5. Venerable Sāriputta said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
6. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said this meaningful stanzas in the presence of venerable Sāriputta:
(7) Pavāraṇa –– The Ceremony Ending The Rains
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the Pubba monastery, with about five hundred bhikkhus, all worthy ones, in the palace of Migara’s mother in Sāvatthi.
2. On that full moon day, the Blessed One was seated in open space surrounded by the Community of bhikkhus for the ceremony to end the rains.
3. The Blessed One looking at the silent Community of bhikkhus addressed them:
4. “Bhikkhus, this is the end of the rains. Have you any blames for my bodily or verbal activities.”
5. Then venerable Sāriputta got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said:”Venerable sir, there is no blame for the Blessed One for any bodily or verbal activities. The Blessed One is the founder of the path, that had not arisen, that was not known and was not declared. The Blessed One knows the path and is clever in the path, the disciples at present live following the Blessed One. Venerable sir, I too inform the Blessed One to end the rains. Has the Blessed One any blames for my bodily and verbal activities?”
6. “Sāriputta, I do not blame you for any bodily or verbal activities. Your wisdom, is deep, has a wide spread out, is with mirth, comes at the right moment, is sharp and is with penetration. The eldest son of the Universal Monarch rolls the wheel rolled by the father righteously. In the same manner, you righteously continue rolling the wheel of the Teaching set rolling by me.”
7. “Venerable sir, the Blessed One does not blame me for any bodily or verbal activities. Venerable sir, the Blessed One does not blame these five hundred bhikkhus too for any bodily or verbal activities.”
8. “Sāriputta, these five hundred bhikkhus too have no blame for any bodily or verbal activity. Sixty of them are endowed with the threefold knowledge. Sixty of them with deep six fold knowledge. Sixty are released both ways. The others are released wisely seeing.
9. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said:
10. “Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
11. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
12. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One:
(8) Parosahassaṃ –– More Than a Thousand
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.
2. At that time the Blessed One was advising, inciting, gladdening and making light, the hearts of the bhikkhus with a talk connected with extinction and the bhikkhus too were listening with complete attention to absorb the essential.
3. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: “The Blessed One is advising, inciting, gladdening and making light, the hearts of the bhikkhus with a talk connected with extinction and the bhikkhus too are listening with complete attention to absorb the essential. What if I praise the Blessed One in his presence with meaningful stanzas.”
4. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said:
“Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
5. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
6. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One:
7. “Vaṅgīsa, are these stanzas pre thought, or do they come to you at the moment?”
8. “Venerable sir, these stanzas are not pre thought, they come to me at the moment.
9. “Then Vaṅgīsa, for more enjoyment say some stanzas that come to you this moment.”
10. Venerable Vaṅgīsa accepting the offer of the Blessed One for more enjoyment said these stanzas that came to him that moment.
(9) Koṇḍañño –– Venerable Añña Koṇdañña
1. At one time the Blessed One lived in the squirrels’ sanctuary in the bamboo grove in Rajagaha.
2. Then venerable Aññasikondañña after a very long time, approached the Blessed One, put his head at the feet of the Blessed One, kissed and stroked the feet and said Am Kondañña, Blessed One, I am Kondañña Well Gone One.
3. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: “Venerable Aññasi Kondañña after a very long time, approached the Blessed One, put his head at the feet of the Blessed One, kissed and stroked the feet and says I am Kondañña, Blessed One, I am Kondañña Well Gone One. What if I praise venerable Aññasikondañña in the presence of the Blessed One with suitable stanzas?”
4. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said: “Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
5. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
6. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One, alluding to venerable Aññasi Kondañña:
(10) Moggallāna –– Venerable Mahāmoggallāna
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in Rajagaha on the Black Rock on the side of Isigili, with about five hundred bhikkhus all worthy ones. At the time venerable MahāMoggallāna was searching the minds of these bhikkhus to see whether they were released and without desires.
2. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa, “The Blessed One is living in Rajagaha on the Black Rock on the side of Isigili, with about five hundred bhikkhus all worthy ones. Venerable MahāMoggallāna is searching the minds of these bhikkhus to see whether they are released and are without desires What if I praise venerable MahāMoggallāna in the presence of the Blessed One with suitable stanzas.?”
3. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said: “Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
4. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
5. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One, alluding to venerable MahāMoggallāna:
(11) Gaggara –– On the Bank of the Gaggara Pond
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in Champa on the bank of the Gaggara pond with about five hundred bhikkhus, seven hundred male lay disciples, about seven hundred female lay disciples and with innumerable thousands of deities. There the Blessed One supercedes all of them in beauty and fame.
2. Then it occurred to venerable Vaṅgīsa: “The Blessed One is living in Champa on the bank of the Gaggara pond with about five hundred bhikkhus, seven hundred male lay disciples, about seven hundred female lay disciples and with innumerable thousands of deities. There the Blessed One supercedes all of them in beauty and fame. What if I praise the Blessed One in his presence with a meaningful stanza.”
3. Then venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe and clasping hands towards the Blessed One said: “Venerable sir, Blessed One, it occurs to me.”
4. The Blessed One said “Vaṅgīsa, say it.”
5. Venerable Vaṅgīsa said these meaningful stanzas in the presence of the Blessed One:
(12) Vaṅgīsa –– Venerable Vaṅgīsa
1. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta’s grove in Sāvatthi.
2. At that time venerable Vaṅgīsa had attained worthiness and was enjoying that bliss and said these stanzas: