With AnāthapiṇḍikaAnāthapiṇḍikasutta

Standing to one side, the godling Anāthapiṇḍika recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“This is indeed that Jeta’s Grove,“Idañhi taṁ jetavanaṁ, frequented by the Saṅgha of seers,isisaṅghanisevitaṁ; where the King of Dhamma stayed:Āvutthaṁ dhammarājena, it brings me joy!pītisañjananaṁ mama.

Deeds, knowledge, and principle;Kammaṁ vijjā ca dhammo ca, ethical conduct, an excellent livelihood;sīlaṁ jīvitamuttamaṁ; by these are mortals purified,Etena maccā sujjhanti, not by clan or wealth.na gottena dhanena vā.

That’s why an astute person,Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso, seeing what’s good for themselves,sampassaṁ atthamattano; would examine the teaching rationally,Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, that’s how they become purified in that.evaṁ tattha visujjhati.

Sāriputta is full of wisdom,Sāriputtova paññāya, ethics, and peace.sīlena upasamena ca; Even a mendicant who has crossed overYopi pāraṅgato bhikkhu, might at best equal him.”etāvaparamo siyā”ti.

That is what the godling Anāthapiṇḍika said.Idamavoca anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto. Then he bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants, tonight, a certain glorious godling, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side,“imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññataro devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. and recited these verses in my presence.” The Buddha then repeated the verses in full.Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhikkhave, so devaputto mama santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, that godling must surely have been Anāthapiṇḍika.“so hi nūna, bhante, anāthapiṇḍiko devaputto bhavissati. For the householder Anāthapiṇḍika was devoted to Venerable Sāriputta.”Anāthapiṇḍiko gahapati āyasmante sāriputte abhippasanno ahosī”ti.

“Good, good, Ānanda. You’ve reached the logical conclusion, as far as logic goes.“Sādhu sādhu, ānanda, yāvatakaṁ kho, ānanda, takkāya pattabbaṁ anuppattaṁ taṁ tayā. For that was indeed the godling Anāthapiṇḍika.”Anāthapiṇḍiko hi so, ānanda, devaputto”ti.