Sāriputta (a)

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[1] THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the venerable Sāriputta
and the venerable Ānanda
were staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Now the venerable Ānanda,
rising up from his solitude at eventide,
went to see the venerable Sāriputta,
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.

Seated at one side he said this:

"Tell me, friend Sāriputta,
through winning possession^[1] of what things
are people of this world^[2]
proclaimed by the Exalted One
as stream-winners,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
bound for enlightenment?"

"Friend, it is because of winning four things
that people of this world
are proclaimed by the Exalted One
as stream-wmners,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
bound for enlightenment.

What are the four things?

[302] Herein, friend, an Ariyan disciple is blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'

He is blessed
with unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He is blessed
with unwavering loyalty to the Order,
thus:

'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

He is blessed
with the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.

These, friend, are the four things.

Owing to being blessed with these,
people of this world
are proclaimed by the Exalted One
as stream-wmners,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
bound for enlightenment.

^[1] Samannāgamana-hetu.

^[2] Ayam pajā.

Saṃyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta 1. Veḷu-Dvāra Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning 1. Veḷudvāra

Sutta 4

Paṭhama Sāriputta Suttaṃ

Sāriputta (a)

Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta
1. Veḷu-Dvāra Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
1. Veḷudvāra