| 37. Thus have I heard:
At one time the Bhagava, was
residing in the Mahavana Wood near Kapilavatthu, in the country of the Sakyans,
together with many bhikkhus numbering five hundred, all of whom were arahats.
Then most of the devas and brahmas1 belonging to ten universes
(lokadhatus), each comprising a thousand world-systems (cakkavalas), assembled
in the Mahavana Wood to pay homage to the Bhagava and the community of
bhikkhus. It then occurred to four brahmas of the Pure Brahma
Worlds2: "The Bhagava is residing in the Mahavana Wood near
Kapilavatthu, in the country of the Sakyans, together with many bhikkhus
numbering five hundred all of whom were arahats. Most of the devas and brahmas
belonging to ten universes (lokadhatus), each comprising a thousand
world-systems (cakkavalas), have assembled in the Mahavana Wood to pay homage
to the Bhagava and the community of bhikkhus. It would be well if we were to go
there and if each of us were to recite a verse before the Bhagava."
Then, the four brahmas
vanished from amongst the Pure Brahmas and made their appearance before the
Bhagava in the instant it might take a strong man to stretch out his flexed arm
or bend his stretched arm. Then having paid homage to the Bhagava they stood at
a suitable place from where one of them recited this verse before the Bhagava.
"It is a great
gathering in this large wood at which the host of devas and brahmas have come
and assembled.
We too have come to join
this dhamma assembly, pay homage to the Samgha, who are unconquerable
(by defilements)." Then another brahma recited this verse before the
Bhagava:
"Here at this assembly,
the bhikkhus have composed their mind and made it upright. Like a charioteer
holding the reins, do the wise (bhikkhus) keep their faculties under
control."
Then another brahma recited
this verse before the Bhagava:
"Having been
well-instructed by the All-Seeing Bhagava, those youthful bhikkhus are devoid
of Craving, pure and taint-free. They go their way freely, having removed the
piercing spikes and cross-bars (of attachment, hatred and bewilderment), and
have pulled out the gate-post (of attachment, hatred and bewilderment)."
Then another bhrahma recited
this verse before the Bhagava:
"Those that take refuge
in the Buddha will not fall to the miserable states. (Rather,) on leaving
behind their mortal frames they're going to fill the deva realms."
End of the Samaya Sutta,
the seventh in this vagga.
1. most of the devas and
brahmas: The term devata in Pali text includes both devas and brahmas.
With the exception of the
brahmas of the realm of Non-conscious ness, brahmas of the Non-material realms
and those brahmas who were abiding in their attainments of concentration, all
devas and brahmas were present there. Thus it was a rare occasion, an all-out
assembly of celestial beings.
2. The Pure Brahma worlds:
the five planes of the Pure Brahmas, so called because they are the abode of
the pure ones who are either anagamis or arahats.
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