Khuddaka Nikaya - Sutta Nipata - Sela Sutta

7. SELASUTTA.
Keniya, the Gatila, invites Buddha with his assembly to take his meals with
him on the morrow. Sela, the Bramana, arrived at that place with his three
hundred young men; seeing the preparations he asks what is going on, and is
answered that Buddha is expected the next day. On hearing the word 'Buddha,'
Sela asks where Buddha lives, goes to him, converses with him, and is
converted; so are his followers.
So it was heard by me:
At one time Bhagavat wandering about in Anguttarapa, with a large assembly of
Bhikkhus, with 1250 Bhikkhus, went to apana, a town in Anguttarapa.
And Keniya, the ascetic, with matted hair (gatila) heard the following: 'The
Samana, the venerable Gotama, the Sakya son, gone out from the family of the
Sakyas, wandering about in Anguttarapa with a large assembly of Bhikkhus, with
1250 Bhikkhus, has reached apana, and the following good praising words met the
venerable Gotama: "And so he is Bhagavat, the venerable, the perfectly
enlightened, endowed with science and works (viggakarana), the happy, knowing
the world, the incomparable, the charioteer of men that are to be subdued, the
master, the enlightened of gods and men, the glorious; he teaches this world and
the world of gods, of Maras, of Brahmans, and beings comprising Samanas and
Bramanas, gods and men, having himself known and seen them face to face; he
teaches the Dhamma (which is) good in the beginning, in the middle, and in the
end, is full of meaning and rich in words, quite complete; he teaches a
religious life, and good is the sight of such saints."'
Then Keniya, the Gatila, went (to the place) where
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Bhagavat was, and having gone there he talked pleasantly with him, and after
having had some pleasant and remarkable conversation (with him) he sat down
apart; and while Keniya, the Gatila, was sitting down apart, Bhagavat, by
religious talk, taught, advised, roused, and delighted him. Then Keniya, the
Gatila, having been taught, advised, roused, and delighted by Bhagavat through
religious talk, said this to Bhagavat:
'Let the venerable Gotama accept my food tomorrow, together with the assembly
of Bhikkhus.'
This having been said, Bhagavat answered Keniya, the Gatila: 'Large, O
Keniya, is the assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand two hundred and fifty
Bhikkhus, and thou art intimate with the Bramanas.'
A second time Keniya, the Gatila, said this to Bhagavat: 'Although, O
venerable Gotama, the assembly of Bhikkhus is large, one thousand two hundred
and fifty Bhikkhus, and I am intimate with the Bramanas, let the venerable
Gotama accept my food to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus.'
A second time Bhagavat said this to Keniya, the Gatila: 'Large, O Keniya, is
the assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus, and thou
art intimate with the Bramanas.'
A third time Keniya, the Gatila, said this to Bhagavat: 'Although, O
venerable Gotama, the assembly of Bhikkhus is large, one thousand two hundred
and fifty Bhikkhus, and I am intimate with the Brahmanas, yet let the venerable
Gotama accept my food to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus.'
Bhagavat assented by being silent.
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Then Keniya, the Gatila, having learnt the assent of Bhagavat, after rising
from his seat went to his hermitage, and having gone there he addressed his
friends and servants, his relatives and kinsmen (as follows): 'Let my venerable
friends and servants, relatives and kinsmen hear me;--the Samana Gotama has been
invited by me to (take his) food (with me) to-morrow, together with the assembly
of Bhikkhus; wherefore you must render me bodily service.'
'Surely, O venerable one,' so saying the friends and servants, relatives and
kinsmen of Keniya, the Gatila, complying with his request, some of them dug
fireplaces, some chopped firewood, some washed the vessels, some placed
waterpots, some prepared seats. Keniya, the Gatila, on the other hand, himself
provided a circular pavilion.
At that time the Bramana Sela lived at apana, perfect in the three Vedas,
vocabulary, Ketubha, etymology, Itihasa as the fifth (Veda), versed in metre, a
grammarian, one not deficient in popular controversy and the signs of a great
man, he taught three hundred young men the hymns[1]. At that time Keniya, the
Gatila, was intimate with the Brahmana Sela. Then the Bramana Sela surrounded by
three hundred young men, walking on foot, arrived at the place where the
hermitage of Keniya, the Gatila, was. And the Bramana Sela saw the Gatilas in
Keniya's hermitage, some of them digging fireplaces, some chopping firewood,
some washing the vessels, some placing waterpots, some
[1. Tena kho pana samayena. Selo brahmano apane pativasati tinnam vedanam paragû
sanighanduketubhanam sakkharappabhedanam itihasapañkamanam padako veyyakarano
lokayatamahapurisalakkhanesu anavayo tîni manavakasatani mante vaketi.]
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preparing seats, and Keniya, the Gatila, on the other hand, himself providing a
circular pavilion; seeing Keniya, the Gatila, he said this: 'Is the venerable
Keniya to celebrate the marriage of a son or the marriage of a daughter, or is
there a great sacrifice at hand, or has Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, who has
a large body of troops, been invited for to-morrow, together with his army?'
'I am not to celebrate the marriage of a son or the marriage of a daughter,
nor has Bimbisara, the king of Magadha, who has a large body of troops, been
invited for to-morrow, together with his army, yet a great sacrifice of mine is
at hand. The Samana Gotama, the Sakya son, gone out from the Sakya family,
wandering about in Anguttarapa with a large assembly of Bhikkhus, one thousand
two hundred and fifty Bhikkhus, has reached apana, and the following good
praising words met the venerable Gotama: "And so he is Bhagavat, the venerable,
the perfectly enlightened, endowed with science and works (viggakarana), the
happy, knowing the world, the incomparable, the charioteer of men that are to be
subdued, the master, the enlightened of gods and men, the glorious, he has been
invited by me for to-morrow, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus."'
'Didst thou say that he is a Buddha, O venerable Keniya?'
'Yes, I say, O venerable Sela, that he is a Buddha.'
'Didst thou say that he is a Buddha, O venerable Keniya? ,
'Yes, I say, O venerable Sela, that he is a Buddha.'
Then this occurred to the Brahmana Sela: 'This sound "Buddha" is (indeed)
rare, but in our hymns
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are to be found the thirty-two signs of a great man, and for a great man endowed
with these there are two conditions, and no more: if he lives in a house he is a
king, a universal (king), a just religious king, a lord of the four-cornered
(earth), a conqueror, one who has obtained the security of his people (and) is
possessed of the seven gems. These are his seven gems, namely, the wheel gem,
the elephant gem, the horse gem, the pearl gem, the woman gem, the householder
gem, and the chief gem as the seventh. He has more than a thousand sons, heroes,
possessing great bodily strength and crushing foreign armies; he having
conquered this ocean-girt earth without a rod and without a weapon, but by
justice, lives (in a house). But if, on the other hand, he goes out from (his)
house to the houseless state, he becomes a saint, a perfectly enlightened, one
who has removed the veil in the world. And where, O venerable Keniya, dwells now
that venerable Gotama, the saint and the perfectly enlightened?'
This having been said, Keniya, the Gatila, stretching out his right arm,
spoke as follows to the Bramana Sela: 'There, where yon blue forest line is, O
venerable Sela.'
Then the Bramana Sela together with (his) three hundred young men went to the
place where Bhagavat was. Then the Bramana Sela addressed those young men: 'Come
ye, venerable ones, with but little noise, walking step by step, for Bhagavats
are difficult of access, walking alone like lions, and when I speak to the
venerable Samana Gotama, do ye not utter interrupting words, but wait ye
venerable ones, for the end of my speech.'
Then the Bramana Sela went to the place where
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Bhagavat was, and having gone there he talked pleasantly with Bhagavat, and
after having had some pleasant and remarkable conversation with him he sat down
apart, and while sitting down apart Sela, the Brahmana, looked for the
thirty-two signs of a great man on the body of Bhagavat. And the Bramana Sela
saw the thirty-two signs of a great man on the body of Bhagavat with the
exception of two; in respect to two of the signs of a great man he had doubts,
he hesitated, he was not satisfied, he was not assured as to the member being
enclosed in a membrane and as to his having a large tongue.
Then this occurred to Bhagavat: 'This Bramana Sela sees in me the thirty-two
signs of a great man with the exception of two, in respect to two of the signs
of a great man he has doubts, he hesitates, he is not satisfied, he is not
assured as to the member being enclosed in a membrane, and as to my having a
large tongue.' Then Bhagavat created such a miraculous creature that the Bramana
Sela might see Bhagavat's member enclosed in a membrane. Then Bhagavat having
put out his tongue touched and stroked both his ears, touched and stroked both
nostrils, and the whole circumference of his forehead he covered with his
tongue.
Then this occurred to the Brahmana Sela: 'The Samana Gotama is endowed with
the thirty-two signs of a great man, with them all, not with (only) some of
them, and yet I do not know whether he is a Buddha or not; I have heard old and
aged Brahmanas, teachers and their previous teachers, say that those who are
saints and perfectly enlightened manifest themselves when their praise is
uttered. I think I shall praise the Samana Gotama face to
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face in suitable stanzas.' Then the Bramana Sela praised Bhagavat face to face
in suitable stanzas:
1. 'Thou hast a perfect body, thou art resplendent, well-born, of beautiful
aspect, thou hast a golden colour, O Bhagavat, thou hast very white teeth, thou
art strong. (548)
2. 'All the signs that are for a well-born man, they are on thy body, the
signs of a great man. (549)
3. 'Thou hast a bright eye, a handsome countenance, thou art great, straight,
majestic, thou shinest like a sun in the midst of the assembly of the Samanas.
(550)
4. 'Thou art a Bhikkhu of a lovely appearance, thou hast a skin like gold;
what is the use of being a Samana to thee who art possessed of the highest
beauty? (551)
5. 'Thou deservest to be a king, a king of universal kings, a ruler of the
four-cornered (earth), a conqueror, a lord of the jambu grove (i.e. India).
(552)
6. 'Khattiyas and wealthy kings are devoted to thee; rule, O Gotama, as a
king of kings, a leader of men.' (553)
7. 'I am a king, O Sela,'--so said Bhagavat,--'an incomparable, religious
king (dhammaragan), with justice (dhammena) I turn the wheel, a wheel that is
irresistible[1].' (554)
8. 'Thou acknowledgest thyself (to be) perfectly enlightened
(sambuddha),'--so said Sela, the Brahmana,--'an incomparable, religious king;
"with justice I turn the wheel," so thou sayest, O Gotama. (555)
[1. Compare Gospel of S. John xviii. 37.]
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9. 'Who is thy general, (who is thy) disciple, (who is) the successor of the
master, who is to turn after thee the wheel of religion turned (by thee)? '
(556)
10. 'The wheel turned by me, O Sela,'--so said Bhagavat,--'the incomparable
wheel of religion, Sariputta is to turn after (me), he taking after Tathagata.
(557)
11. 'What is to be known is known (by me), what is to be cultivated is
cultivated (by me), what is to be left is left by me, therefore I am a Buddha, O
Bramana. (558)
12. 'Subdue thy doubt about me, have faith (in me), O Bramana, difficult (to
obtain) is the sight of Buddhas repeatedly. (559)
13. 'Of those whose manifestation is difficult for you (to obtain) in the
world repeatedly, I am, O Bramana, a perfectly enlightened, an incomparable
physician, (560)
14. 'Most eminent, matchless, a crusher of Mara's army; having subjected all
enemies I rejoice secure on every side.' (561)
15. Sela: 'O venerable ones, pay attention to this: as the clearly-seeing
(Buddha) says, (so it is): he is a physician, a great hero, and roars like a
lion in the forest. (562)
16. 'Who, having seen him, the most eminent, the matchless, the crusher of
Mara's army, is not appeased, even if he be, of black origin (kanhabhigatika).
(563)
17. 'He who likes me, let him follow after (me), he who does not like me, let
him go away; I shall at once take the orders in the presence of him of excellent
understanding (i.e. Buddha).' (564)
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18. The followers of Sela: 'If this doctrine of the perfectly enlightened
pleases thee, we also shall take the orders in the presence of him of excellent
understanding.' (565)
19. These three hundred Bramanas asked with clasped hands (to be admitted
into the order): 'We want to cultivate a religious life, O Bhagavat, in thy
presence.' (566)
20. 'A religious life is well taught (by me), O Sela,'--so said
Bhagavat,--'an instantaneous, an immediate (life), in which it is not in vain to
become an ascetic to one who learns in earnest[1].' (567)
Then the Bramana Sela together with his assembly took the robe and the orders
in the presence of Bhagavat.
Then Keniya, the Gatila, by the expiration of that night, having provided in
his hermitage nice hard food and soft food, let Bhagavat know the time (of the
meal): 'It is time, O venerable Gotama, the meal is prepared.' Then Bhagavat in
the morning, having put on his raiment and taken his bowl and robes, went to the
Gatila Keniya's hermitage, and having gone there he sat down on the prepared
seat, together with the assembly of Bhikkhus. Then Keniya, the Gatila, satisfied
and served with his own hands the assembly of Bhikkhus, with Buddha at their
head, with nice hard food and soft food. Then Keniya, the Gatila, having gone up
to Bhagavat who had finished eating and had taken his hand out of the bowl, took
a low seat and sat down apart, and
[1. Svakkhatam brahmakariyam
Sanditthikam akalikam
Yattha amogha pabbagga
Appamattassa sikkhato.]
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while Keniya, the Gatila, was sitting down apart, Bhagavat delighted him with
these stanzas:
21. 'The principal thing in sacrifice is the sacred fire, the principal thing
amongst the hymns is the Savitti[1], the king is the principal amongst men, and
the sea the principal amongst waters (nadînam[2]). (568)
22. 'Amongst the stars the moon is the principal thing, the sun is the
principal thing amongst the burning[3] (objects), amongst those that wish for
good works and make offerings the assembly (samgha) indeed is the principal.'
(569)
Then Bhagavat, having delighted Keniya, the Gatila, with these stanzas, rose
from (his) seat and went away.
Then the venerable Sela together with his assembly leading a solitary,
retired, strenuous, ardent, energetic life, lived after having in a short time
in this existence by his own understanding ascertained and possessed himself of
that highest perfection of a religious life for the sake of which men of good
family rightly wander away from their houses to a houseless state; 'birth (had
been) destroyed, a religious life (had been) led, what was to be done (had been)
done, there was nothing else (to be done) for this existence,' so he perceived,
and the venerable Sela together with his assembly became one of the saints.
Then the venerable Sela together with his assembly went to Bhagavat, and
having gone (to him) he put his upper robe on one shoulder, and bending his
joined hands towards Bhagavat he addressed him in stanzas:
[1. Savittî khandaso mukham.
2. Comp. Nalakasutta v. 42.
3. adikko tapatam mukham.]
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23. 'Because we took refuge in thee on the eighth day previous to this, O
thou clearly-seeing, in seven nights, O Bhagavat, we have been trained in thy
doctrine. (570)
24. 'Thou art Buddha, thou art the Master, thou art the Muni that conquered
Mara, thou hast, after cutting off the affections, crossed over (the stream of
existence) and taken over these beings. (571)
25. 'The elements of existence (upadhi) have been overcome by thee, the
passions have been destroyed by thee, thou art a lion not seizing on anything,
thou hast left behind fear and danger. (572)
26. 'These three hundred Bhikkhus stand here with clasped hands; stretch out
thy feet, O hero, let the Nagas worship the Master's feet.' (573)
Selasutta is ended.

Majjhima Nikaya - Sela Sutta

92. Sela Sutta - English MAJJHIMA NIKAYA II
5. 2. Selasuttaü
(92) To the Brahmin Sela

I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was touring the country of Anguttaràpa
with a large community of bhikkhus, about one thousand two hundred and fifty and
entered a hamlet named âpana. The matted hair ascetic Keniya heard "The good
recluse Gotama, son of the Sàkyas touring the country of Anguttaràpa with a
large community of bhikkhus, about one thousand two hundred and fifty bhikkhus
have come to the hamlet âpana. Of him, fame has spread, he is blessed, all
knowing, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well gone, knows of the worlds, is
incomparable tamer of those to be tamed, Teacher of gods and men, enlightened
and blessed. He preaches to the world together with its gods Màras, Brahmàs, the
community of recluses and brahmins and gods and men, that Teaching by himself
known and realized. That Teaching is good at the beginning, in the middle and
the end. Is full of meaning even in the letter and it explains the complete and
pure holy life. It is good to see such worthy ones.û
Then the matted hair ascetic Keniya approached the Blessed One, exchanged
friendly greetings and sat on a side. The Blessed One addressed the matted hair
ascetic instructing, advising inciting and making his heart light. The matted
hair ascetic Keniya, instructed, advised, incited and made light hearted by the
Blessed One said thus:"May the Blessed One accept tomorrow's meal from me
together with the community of bhikkhus". When this was said the Blessed One
said: "O! Keniya, the community of bhikkhus is too large about one thousand two
hundred and fifty, are the brahmins pleased about this. For the second time
Keniya said: "O! Gotama, even if there are one thousand two hundred and
fiftybhikkhus, the brahmins are pleased. May the Blessed One accept tomorrow's
meal from me together with the community of bhikkhus. " For the second time the
Blessed One said:"O! keniya, there are about one thousand two hundred and fifty
bhikkhus, are the brahmins pleased about this?" For the third time Keniya said:
"O! Gotama, whatever the number of bhikkhus, even if, one thousand two hundred
and fifty bhikkhus, the brahmins are pleased, may the Blessed One accept
tomorrow's meal from me, together with the community of bhikkhus. " The Blessed
One accepted in silence.
Then Keniya the matted hair ascetic knew that the Blessed One had accepted, got
up from his seat, went to his hermitage, addressed his friends and blood
relations: "Good sirs, listen, I have invitedthe recluse Gotama for tomorrow's
meal together with the community of bhikkhus, whatever work there is to be done,
do them for me. " They accepted, Keniya the matted hair ascetic's request and
some of them dug furnaces, others axed wood. Some washed vessels, placed water
vessels and some arranged seats.
The matted hair ascetic Keniya himself arranged the circular hall
At that time the brahmin Sela lived in âpana perfect in the three Vedas, learned
in the rites and rituals as officiating priest, learned in the phonology and
etymology of words and the fivefold history in words and grammar, and learned in
tracing the marks of a Great Man. And he taught these to three hundred young men
orally.
At that time Keniya the matted hair ascetic was friendly with the brahmin Sela.
The brahmin Sela accompanied by the three hundred young men, walking and
wandering for exercise turned towards the hermitage of the matted hair ascetic.
He saw the matted hair ascetics at work in the hermitage of Keniya, some digging
furnaces, others axing wood to light fire, washing vessels, placing water
vessels others arranging seats and Keniya the matted hair ascetic himself
arranging the circular hall. He said to Keniya. "Keniya, will there be a woman
brought here, or one given away, or will there be a great sacrifice, or is
Seniya Bimbisàra the king of Magadha invited for tomorrow's meal together with
his army? " "Sela, to me there would not be, a woman brought nor given away,
Seniya Bimbisàra the king of Magadha is not invited for tomorrow's meal together
with the army. Yet there is a great sacrifice for me the recluse Gotama son of
the Sàkyas, who has gone forth from the Sàkya clan is touring Anguttaràpa with a
large community of bhikkhus has come to âpana. Of him such fame has spread, he
is blessed, worthy, all knowing, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well gone,
knows the worlds, the incomparable tamer of those to be tamed, teacher of gods
and men, enlightened and blessed. I have invited him for tomorrow's meal
together with the community of bhikkhus.û
ßDoes good Keniya say enlightened"û ßGood Sela, I say enlightened.û ßDoes good
Keniya say enlightened?" ßGood Sela, I say enlightened.û Then it occurred to the
brahmin Sela. ßEven the sound `Enlightened' is rare in the world. The sacred
sayings handed down state thirty two marks of a Great Man, endowed with which
there are only two courses of action for the Great Man, not another. If he leads
a household life he becomes a universal monarch, a righteous king who would rule
the four quarters endowed with the seven jewels. They are the jewels of the,
wheel, elephant, horse, gem, woman, householder and advisor. He has more than a
thousand sons, clever heroic figures who would defeat foreign armies. They would
rule the country surrounded by the ocean righteously without weapons and
punishments. If he leaves the household and goes forth, becomes worthy, all
knowing rolls the veil away from the world.
ßGood Keniya, where does the Enlightened One, worthy and all knowing live now?û
Keniya the matted hair ascetic stretched out his right hand and said ßThere! in
the deep green forest.û
Then the brahmin Sela with the three hundred young men approached the Blessed
One, while going he addressed the young men. "Good sirs, come with little noise
raising one foot after the other. Blessed Ones are far from noise and live alone
like lions. While I am talking with the recluse Gotama, do not arouse
conversations among yourselves and enter when our conversation ends.û
Then the brahmin Sela approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings
sat on a side, and examined the thirty two marks of a Great Man. He saw most of
the marks of a Great Man, except two. Doubting whether the pudendum was encased
and whether the tongue was large enough to cover the face, he was dissatisfied.
Then it occurred to the Blessed One. The brahmin Sela sees most of the marks of
a Great Man except two, he has doubts, as to whether the pudendum is encased and
the tongue is large enough to cover
the face. Then the Blessed One performed a psychic exercise so that the brahmin
Sela could see the Blessed One's pudendum encased and the large tongue. The
Blessed One pulled out his tongue and with it, touched both ear lobes, nostrils
and the whole forehead, and covered up the whole face with it.
Then it occurred to the brahmin Ssla, indeed the recluse Gotama is endowed with
all the thirty two marks of a Great Man, yet we do not know whether he is
enlightened. I have heard it said by learned aged brahmins, that Great Men when
praised disclose what they are, whether they are worthy and enlightened What if
I eulogize the recluse Gotama with meaningful verses and so he eulogized the
Blessed One saying
these verses.
548. "O! Blessed One, you are handsome, is pleasant,
Is well born, lovely to look at, has a golden hue, and strong white teeth.
549. To those born well, there are marks
All the marks of a Great Man are evident on your body.
550. You have pleasant eyes a beautiful mouth, a straight and majestic body
In the midst of the community you shine like the sun.
551. The bhikkhu with good looks is like a statue of gold
What is the use of your recluseship when so handsome?
552. You should be a universal monarch, the leading charioteer
Winning over the four quarters, should be the monarch of Jambudvãpa.
553. Should have warrior subordinate kings attached to you,
O! Gotama, king of kings, win over the humans and rule".
554. The Blessed One said:
ßSela, I am the righteous king, incomparable,
Righteously I turn the wheel, not ever to be stopped.û
555. The brahmin Sela said:
ß Acknowledges, complete Knowledge, and incomparable righteous rulership
Says will turn the wheel of the Teaching righteously.
556. Who are the good one's generals, the disciples following the Teacher,
For the wheel of the Teaching to roll on, who would roll it afterwards.û
557. The Blessed One said:
ßSela, this incomparable wheel of righteousness rolled by me,
Will be rolled afterwards by Sàriputta, born after the Thus Gone One.
558. Brahmin, I realized what should be realized, developed what should be
developed.
Dispelled what should be dispelled, therefore I'm enlightened.û
559. The brahmin Sela said:
ßO! Brahmin, put an end to my doubts, and release me.
The presence of an enlightened one is very rare.û
560. "That which is rare in the world has appeared.
The all enlightened one, the incomparable surgeon.
561. Become Mahà Brahmà have destroyed the army of Death,
Winning over, all enemies, abides happily without fear.û
562. "Good sirs listen to what the wise one says,
The surgeon, the great hero, roars in the forest like a lion
563. Become Mahà Brahmà have destroyed the army of Death
Seeing him who would not be pleased except those with low birth
564. Those that wish to follow me, do so, the others could go
Now I go forth in the noble wise one's dispensation.û
565. "If you, sir, like the dispensation of the all enlightened one,
We too will go forth in the noble wise one's dispensation."
566. "O! Blessed One, these three hundred brahmins with clasped hands,
Beg for the going forth in your dispensation.û
567. The Blessed One said:
ßSela, the holy life is well proclaimed, is here and now and not a matter of
time,
Here the not deluded go forth and train diligently"
The brahmin Sela together with his following obtained the going forth, as
homeless and the higher ordination in the dispensation of the Blessed One.
Keniya, the matted hair ascetic at the end of that night prepared plenty of
nourishing eatables and drinks in his hermitage and informed the Blessed One:
ßIt is time venerable sir, the food is ready.û
The Blessed One put on robes in the morning, taking bowl and robes approached
the matted hair ascetic's hermitage and sat on the prepared seats together with
the community of bhikkhus. Then Keniya, the matted hair ascetic with his own
hands served and satisfied the community of bhikkhus headed by the Enlightened
One with the nourishing eatables and drinks. When the Blessed One had finished
partaking the meal, and had put the bowl away, Keniya took a low seat, sat on a
side and the Blessed One addressed the thanks giving with these verses.
568. "Of sacrifices the fire sacrifice is the chief,
OfV edic hymns Sàvitti is the foremost.
The king is chief for humans,
The ocean is chief for all rivers.
569. To the constellation the moon is chief, to give warmth the Sun is chief,
To those desiring merit the Community of bhikkhus is the chief.û
The Blessed One did the thanksgiving with these verses, got up from his seat and
went away.
Then venerable Sela and his following, alone, withdrawn from the crowd and
secluded abode diligently for dispelling. Before long, for whatever purpose sons
of clansmen rightfully go forth from a household, that highest end of the holy
life, he here and now knew, realized and abode. He knew, birth is destroyed, the
holy life is lived to the end, what should be done, is done, there is nothing
more to wish. Venerable Sela and his following became arahants. Then venerable
Sela approached the Blessed One together with his following. Arranging the robe
on one shoulder, clasping hands towards the Blessed One addressed the Blessed
One in verses.
570. "Wise One, this is the eighth day, after we took your refuge.
Within seven nights we are tamed in your dispensation.
571. You are enlightened, Teacher, the sage who has overcome Death,
You crossed, destroying the dormant tendencies and crosses over this populace.
572. Endearments overcome have destroyed desires,
Is like a lion without seizures, fears big and small overcome.
573. Here stand the three hundred bhikkhus with clasped hands
Hero, we worship your feet, Great Men worship the Teacher.