sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.31

Sabbhisutta

Virtuous With the Good

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
Thus have I heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove, Anathapiṇḍika’s Park.

Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.
Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the Satullapa Group, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Then, when the night had advanced, a number of devatās belonging to the Satullapa host, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Standing to one side, one deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
Then one devatā, standing to one side, recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo”ti.
things get better, not worse.”
One becomes better, never worse. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
Then five other devatās in turn recited their verses in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

paññā labbhati nāññato”ti.
wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.”
Wisdom is gained, but not from another. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

sokamajjhe na socatī”ti.
you grieve not among the grieving.”
One does not sorrow in the midst of sorrow. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

ñātimajjhe virocatī”ti.
you shine among your relatives.”
One shines amidst one’s relations. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

sattā gacchanti suggatin”ti.
sentient beings go to a good place.”
Beings fare on to a good destination. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:
Then another deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha,
“Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.
sentient beings live happily.”
Beings abide comfortably. ”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then another deity said to the Buddha,
Then another devatā said to the Blessed One:

“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?
“Sir, who has spoken well?”
“Which one, Blessed One, has spoken well?”

“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—
“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:
“You have all spoken well in a way. But listen to me too:

Sabbhireva samāsetha,
Associate only with the virtuous!
“One should associate only with the good;

sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;
Try to get close to the virtuous!
With the good one should foster intimacy.

Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,
Understanding the true teaching of the good,
Having learnt the true Dhamma of the good,

sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.
you’re released from all suffering.”
One is released from all suffering. ”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.
This is what the Blessed One said.

Attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsūti.
Then those deities, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before vanishing right there.
Elated, those devatās paid homage to the Blessed One and, keeping him on the right, they disappeared right there.