12 At that time Sanjaya, the wanderer was dwelling in Rajagaha with a large assembly of wanderers, with two hundred and fifty wanderers. At that time Sariputta and Moggallana were living the life of purity under Sanjaya, the wanderer. They had made an agreement: “He who attains the deathless first, he must inform the other of it.” Then in the morning, the venerable Assaji, having dressed, having taken bowl and robe, entered Rajagaha for alms food. With eyes down cast, he was endowed with deportment: Graceful when stepping forwards, when stepping backwards, when looking forwards, when looking backwards, when bending back, when stretching out.

13 Sariputta, the wanderer saw the venerable Assaji wandering in Rajagaha for alms food with eyes down cast, endowed with deportment: Graceful when stepping forwards, when stepping backwards, when looking forwards, when looking backwards, when bending back, when stretching out. Having seen, it occurred to him: “Surely, this bhikkhu is one of those who are arahants in the world, or have entered upon the path to arahantship. What if, having approached this bhikkhu, I might ask: On account of whom, O friend, have you gone forth? Who is your Teacher? Whose dhamma do you prefer?”

14 It then occurred to Sariputta, the wanderer: “It is the wrong time to ask this bhikkhu, he has entered among the houses, wandering for alms food. What if I were to pursue this bhikkhu closely behind to find out the path [I am] seeking for.” Then the venerable Assaji, having wandered in Rajagaha for alms food, having taken alms food, returned. Then, by which way [led to] the venerable Assaji, by that way Sariputta, the wanderer approached. Having approached the venerable Assaji, they exchanged friendly greetings. Having exchanged friendly greetings and cordial talk, he stood at one side. Having stood at one side, Sariputta, the wanderer said this to the venerable Assaji: “O friend, your faculties are very clear, your complexion is pure and bright. On account of whom, O friend, have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? Whose dhamma do you prefer?”

15 “There is, O friend, the Great Samana, son of the Sakyans, one gone forth from the Sakyan clan. I have gone forth on account of that Auspicious One. That Auspicious One is my Teacher, and I prefer the Dhamma of the Auspicious One.” “But, what is the doctrine of the venerable's Teacher? What does he declare?” “I, O friend, am new, not long gone forth, just arrived at this Dhammavinaya. That is, I am not able to teach the dhamma with details. Nevertheless, I will say for you the meaning in brief.” So then, Sariputta, the wanderer said this to the venerable Assaji: Let that be, O friend.

“You speak little or much,
say to me just [enough] to know the meaning,
the meaning, just the meaning for me,
what will many words do?”

Then the venerable Assaji spoke this dhamma discourse for Sariputta, the wanderer:

“Those dhammas which arise from a cause,
of those the Tathagata has told the cause,
and that which is their cessation,
thus is the doctrine of the Great Samana.”

16 Then Sariputta, the wanderer, having heard this dhamma discourse, the stainless, spotless dhamma eye arose: “Whatever is liable to arising, all that is liable to cessation.”

“Just this is the Dhamma, which when penetrated,
at that moment [reveals] the sorrowless path,
gone by unseen,
by which many aeons have come to be.”

17 Then by which way [led to] Moggallana, the wanderer, by that way Sariputta, the wanderer approached. Moggallana, the wanderer saw Sariputta, the wanderer approaching from afar. Having seen Sariputta, the wanderer, he said this: “O friend, your faculties are very clear, your complexion is pure and bright. Perhaps, O friend, you have attained the deathless for us?” “We, O friend, have attained the deathless.” “But how, O friend, how did you attain the deathless?” Here I, O friend, saw the bhikkhu Assaji in Rajagaha wandering for alms food, with eyes down cast, endowed with deportment: Graceful when stepping forwards, when stepping backwards, when looking forwards, when looking backwards, when bending back, when stretching out. Having seen, it occurred to me: “Surely, this bhikkhu is one of those who are arahants in the world, or have entered upon the path to arahantship. What if, having approached this bhikkhu, I might ask: On account of whom, O friend, have you gone forth? Who is your Teacher? Whose dhamma do you prefer?” It then occurred to me: “It is the wrong time to ask this bhikkhu, he has entered among the houses, wandering for alms food. What if I were to pursue this bhikkhu closely behind to find out the path [I am] seeking for.”

18 Then the bhikkhu Assaji, having wandered in Rajagaha for alms food, having taken alms food, returned. Then, by which way [led to] the bhikkhu Assaji, by that way I approached. Having approached the bhikkhu Assaji, we exchanged friendly greetings. Having exchanged friendly greetings and cordial talk, I stood at one side. Having stood at one side, I said this to the bhikkhu Assaji: “O friend, your faculties are very clear, your complexion is pure and bright. On account of whom, O friend, have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? Whose dhamma do you prefer?”

19 “There is, O friend, the Great Samana, son of the Sakyans, the one gone forth from the Sakyan clan. I have gone forth on account of that Auspicious One. That Auspicious One is my Teacher, and I prefer the Dhamma of the Auspicious One.” “But what is the doctrine of the venerable's Teacher? What does he declare?” “I, O friend, am new, one not long gone forth, just arrived at this Dhammavinaya. That is, I am not able to teach the dhamma with details. Nevertheless, I will say for you the meaning in brief.”

“You speak little or much,
say to me just [enough] to know the meaning,
the meaning, just the meaning for me,
what will many words do?”

20 Then, O friend, this is the dhamma discourse the bhikkhu Assaji spoke:

“Those dhammas which arise from a cause,
of those the Tathagata has told the cause,
and that which is their cessation,
thus is the doctrine of the Great Samana.”

21 Then Moggallana, the wanderer, having heard this dhamma discourse, the stainless, spotless dhamma eye arose: “Whatever is liable to arising, all that is liable to cessation.”

“Just this is the Dhamma, which when penetrated,
at that moment [reveals] the sorrowless path,
gone by unseen,
by which many aeons have come to be.”

22 So then, Moggallana, the wanderer said this to Sariputta, the wanderer: “We must go, O friend, to the presence of the Auspicious One. He is our Teacher, the Auspicious One.” “These two hundred and fifty wanderers, O friend, they dwell in dependence on us, looking up to us here. At least let us obtain permission from them. So they can do as they think [fit].”

23 So then, by which way [led to] those wanderers, by that way Sariputta and Moggallana approached. Having approached those wanderers, they said this: “We must go, O friends, to the presence of the Auspicious One. He is our Teacher, the Auspicious One.” “We dwell in dependence on the venerables, looking up to the venerables here. If the venerables will live the life of purity under the Great Samana, then we will all also live the life of purity under the Great Samana.”

24 So then, by which way [led to] Sanjaya, the wanderer, by that way Sariputta and Moggallana approached. Having approached Sanjaya, the wanderer, they said this: “We must go, O friend, to the presence of the Auspicious One. He is our Teacher, the Auspicious One.” “Enough, O friends, do not go. Just all three [of us], we will look after this group.”

25 Also for a second time, Sariputta and Moggallana said this to Sanjaya, the wanderer: “We must go, O friend, to the presence of the Auspicious One. He is our Teacher, the Auspicious One.” “Enough, O friends, do not go. Just all three [of us], we will look after this group.”

26 Also for a third time, Sariputta and Moggallana said this to Sanjaya, the wanderer: “We must go, O friend, to the presence of the Auspicious One. He is our Teacher, the Auspicious One.” “Enough, O friends, do not go. Just all three [of us], we will look after this group.”

27 Then Sariputta and Moggallana, having taking the two hundred and fifty wanderers, by which way [led to] the Bamboo Grove, by that way they approached. But hot blood issued from the mouth of Sanjaya, the wanderer, just there.

28 The Auspicious One saw Sariputta and Moggallana coming from afar. Having seen, he announced to the bhikkhus: “O bhikkhus, these two friends that are coming, Kolita and Upatissa, they will be my chief disciples, the foremost auspicious pair.”

Then the Teacher explained more:
After [they have] attained liberation at the Bamboo Grove,
the deep sphere of knowledge,
the unsurpassed destruction of appropriations,

“these two friends,
that are coming, Kolita and Upatissa,
they will be my chief disciples,
the foremost auspicious pair.”

29 So then, by which way [led to] the Auspicious One , by that way Sariputta and Moggallana approached. Having approached, having bowed down with their head at the Auspicious One's feet, they said this to the Auspicious One: “O Bhante, may we gain the going forth in the presence of the Auspicious One, may we gain the higher ordination.” The Auspicious One said: “Come, you bhikkhus.” “Well-proclaimed is the Dhamma. Live the life of purity for rightly making an end of suffering.” Just [this] was those venerable ones' higher ordination.

12 tena kho pana samayena sañjayo paribbājako jājagahe paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṃ aḍḍhateyyehi paribbājakasatehi. tena kho pana samayena sāriputtamoggallānā sañjaye paribbājake brahmacariyaṃ caranti. tehi katikā katā hoti: "yo paṭhamaṃ amataṃ adhigacchati, so itarassa ārocetu"ti. atha kho āyasmā assaji pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi. pāsādikena abhikkantena paṭikkantena ālokitena vilokitena sammiñjitena pasāritena okkhittacakkhu iriyāpathasampanno.

13 addasā kho sāriputto paribbājako āyasmantaṃ assajiṃ rājagahe piṇḍāya carantaṃ pāsādikena abhikkantena paṭikkantena ālokitena vilokitena sammiñjitena pasāritena okkhittacakkhuṃ iriyāpathasampannaṃ disvānassa etadahosi: "ye vata loke arahanto vā arahattamaggaṃ vā samāpannā, ayaṃ tesaṃ bhikkhu aññataro. yannūnāhaṃ imaṃ bhikkhuṃ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyaṃ, kaṃ'si tvaṃ āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? ko vā te satthā? kassa vā tvaṃ dhammaṃ rocesī?"ti. pts page 040

14 atha kho sāriputassa paribbājakassa etadahosi: "akālo kho imaṃ bhikkhuṃ pucchituṃ, antaragharaṃ paviṭṭho piṇḍāya carati. yannūnāhaṃ imaṃ bhikkhuṃ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandheyyaṃ. atthikehi upaññātaṃ magga"nti. atha kho āyasmā assaji rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā piṇḍapātaṃ ādāya paṭikkami. atha kho sāriputato paribbājako yenāyasmā assaji, tenupasaṅkami. upasaṅkamitvā ayāsmatā assajinā saddhiṃ sammodi. sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. ekamantaṃ ṭhito kho sāriputto paribbājako āyasmantaṃ assajiṃ etadavoca: "vippasannāni kho te āvuso, indriyāni. parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. kaṃ'si tvaṃ āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? ko vā te satvā? kassa vā tvaṃ dhammaṃ rocesī?"ti. bjt page 084

15 " atthāvuso mahāsamaṇo sakyaputo sakyakulā pabbajito. tāhaṃ bhagavantaṃ uddissa pabbajito. so ca me bhagavā satthā tassa cāhaṃ bhagavato dhammaṃ rocemī"ti. "kiṃvādī panāyasmato satthā kimakkhāyī?" "ahaṃ kho āvuso, navo acirapabbajito. adhunāgato imaṃ dhammavinayaṃ na tāhaṃ sakkomi vitthārena dhammaṃ desetuṃ. api ca te saṅkhittena atthaṃ vakkhāmī"ti. atha kho sāriputto paribbājako "āyasmantaṃ assajiṃ etadavoca: "hotu āvuso

"appaṃ vā bahuṃ vā bhāsassu,
atthaññeva me brūhi,
attheneva me attho,
kiṃ kāhasi vyañjanaṃ bahu"nti.

atha kho āyasmā assaji sāriputtassa paribbājakassa imaṃ dhammapariyāyaṃ abhāsi:

ye dhammā hetuppabhavā,
tesaṃ hetuṃ tathāgato āha,
tesañca yo nirodho,
evaṃvādī mahāsamaṇo"ti.

16 atha kho sāriputtassa paribbājakassa imaṃ dhammapariyāyaṃ sutvā virajaṃ vītamalaṃ dhammacakkhuṃ udapādi: "yaṃ kiñci samudayadhammaṃ, sabbaṃ taṃ nirodhadhamma"nti.

"eseva dhammo yadi tāvadeva,
paccabyathā padamasokaṃ,
adiṭṭhaṃ abbhatītaṃ,
bahukehi kappanhutehī"ti.

17 atha kho sāriputto paribbājako yena moggallāno paribbājako tenupasaṅkamitvā addasā kho moggallāno paribbājako sāriputtaṃ paribbājakaṃ dūratova āgacchantaṃ. disvāna sāriputtaṃ paribbājakaṃ etadavoca: "vippasannāni kho te āvuso, indriyāni. parisuddho chavivaṇeṇā. pariyodāto. kacci no tvaṃ - āvuso, amatamadhigato?"ti. "āmāvuso, amataṃ adhigato"ti. "yathā kathampana tvaṃ āvuso, amataṃ adhigato?"ti. "idhāhaṃ āvuso, addasaṃ assajiṃ bhikkhuṃ rājagahe piṇḍāya carantaṃ pāsādikena abhikkantena paṭikkantena ālokitena vilokitena sammiñjitena pasāritena okkhittacakkhuṃ iriyāpathasampannaṃ. disvāna me etadahosi: "ye vata loke arahanto vā arahantamaggaṃ vā samāpannā. ayaṃ tesaṃ bhikkhu aññataro. yannūnāhaṃ imaṃ bhikkhuṃ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyaṃ: kaṃ'si tvaṃ āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? ko vā te satthā? kassa vā tvaṃ dhammaṃ rocesi?"ti. tassa mayhaṃ āvuso etadahosi: "akālo kho imaṃ bhikkhuṃ pucchituṃ, antaragharaṃ paviṭṭho piṇḍāya carati. yannūnāhaṃ imaṃ bhikkhuṃ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandheyyaṃ. atthikehi upaññātaṃ magga"nti. pts page 041

18 atha kho āvuso assaji bhikkhu rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā piṇḍapātaṃ ādāya paṭikkami. atha khvāhaṃ āvuso, yena assaji bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami upasaṅkamitvā assajinā bhikkhunā saddhiṃ sammodiṃ sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsiṃ. ekamantaṃ ṭhito kho ahaṃ āvuso assajiṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocaṃ: "vippasannāni kho te āvuso, indriyāni. parisuddho chavivaṇeṇā. pariyodāto. kaṃ'si tvaṃ āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? ko vā te satthā? kassa vā tvaṃ dhammaṃ rocesī?"ti. bjt page 086

19 'atthāvuso mahāsamaṇo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito. tāhaṃ bhagavantaṃ uddissa pabbajito. so ca me bhagavā satthā. tassa cāhaṃ bhagavato dhammaṃ rocemī"ti. "kiṃvādī panāyasmato satthā? kimakkhāyī?"ti. "ahaṃ kho āvuso, navo acirapabbajito. adhunāgato imaṃ dhammavinayaṃ, na tāhaṃ sakkomi vitthārena dhammaṃ desetuṃ. api ca te saṅkhittena atthaṃ vakkhāmī"ti.

"appaṃ vā bahuṃ vā bhāsassu,
atthaññeva me brūhi,
attheneva me attho,
kiṃ kāhasi vyañjanaṃ bahu"nti.

20 atha kho āvuso, assaji bhikkhu - imaṃ dhammapariyāyaṃ abhāsi:

ye dhammā hetuppabhavā,
tesaṃ hetuṃ tathāgato āha,
tesañca yo nirodho,
evaṃvādī mahāsamaṇo"ti.

21 atha akhā moggallānassa paribbājakassa imaṃ dhammapariyāyaṃ sutvā virajaṃ vītamalaṃ dhammacakkhuṃ udapādi: "yaṃ kiñci samudayadhammaṃ sabbaṃ taṃ nirodhadhamma"nti. pts page 042

"eseva dhammo yadi tāvadeva,
paccabyathā padamasokaṃ,
adiṭṭhaṃ abbhatītaṃ,
bahukehi kappanhutehī"ti.

22 atha kho moggallāno paribbājako sāriputtaṃ paribbājakaṃ etadavoca: "gacchāma mayaṃ āvuso, bhagavato santike. so no bhagavā satthā"ti. imāni kho āvuso aḍḍhateyyāti paribbājakasatāni amhe nissāya amhe sampassantā idha viharanti. te'pi tāva apalokema - yathā te maññissanti, tathā karissantī"ti. bjt page 088

23 atha kho sāriputtamoggallānā yena te paribbājakā, tenupasaṅkamiṃsu. upasaṅkamitvā te paribbājake etadavocuṃ: "gacchāma mayaṃ āvuso, bhagavato santike. so no bhagavā satthā"ti "mayaṃ āyasmante nissāya āyasmante sasmapassantā idha viharāma. sace āyasmantā mahāsamaṇe brahmacariyaṃ carissanti, sabbeva mayaṃ mahāsamaṇe brahmacariyaṃ carissāmā"ti.

24 atha kho sāriputtamoggallānā yena sañjayo paribbājakā, tenupasaṅkamiṃsu. upasaṅkamitvā sañjayaṃ paribbājakaṃ etadavocuṃ: "gacchāma mayaṃ āvuso, bhagavato santike. so no bhagavā satthā"ti "alaṃ āvuso, mā gamittha, sabbeva tayo imaṃ gaṇaṃ pariharissāmā"ti.

25 dutiyampi kho sāriputtamoggallānā sañjayaṃ paribbājakaṃ, etadavocuṃ: "gacchāma mayaṃ āvuso, bhagavato santike. so no bhagavā satthā"ti "alaṃ āvuso, mā gamittha, sabbeva tayo imaṃ gaṇaṃ pariharissāmā"ti.

26 tatiyampi kho sāriputtamoggallānā sañjayaṃ paribbājakaṃ, etadavocuṃ: "gacchāma mayaṃ āvuso, bhagavato santike. so no bhagavā satthā"ti "alaṃ āvuso, mā gamittha, sabbeva tayo imaṃ gaṇaṃ pariharissāmā"ti.

27 atha kho sāriputtamoggallānā tāni aḍḍhateyyāni paribbājakasatāni ādāya yena veḷuvanaṃ tenupasaṅkamiṃsu. sañjayassa pana paribbājakassa nattheva uṇhaṃ lohitaṃ mukhato uggañachi.

28 addāsā kho bhagavā sāriputtamoggallāne dūratova āgacchante. disvāna bhikkhū āmantesī: "ete bhikkhave dve sahāyā āgacchanti kolito upatisso ca. etaṃ me sāvakayugaṃ bhavissati aggaṃ bhaddayuga"nti. pts page 043

"gambhīre ñāṇavisaye,
anuttare upadhisaṅkhaye,
vimutte appatte veḷuvanaṃ,
atha ne satthā byākāsi.

ete dve sahāyā,
āgacchanti - kolito upatisso ca,
etaṃ me sāvakayugaṃ,
bhavissati aggaṃ bhaddayuga"ntita

29 atha kho sāriputtamoggallānā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṃsu. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavantaṃ etadavocuṃ- "labheyyāma mayaṃ bhante, bhagavato santike pabbajjaṃ. labheyyāma upasampada"nti. "etha bhikkhavo"ti bhagavā avoca. "svakkhāto dhammo caratha brahmacariyaṃ sammā dukkhassa antakiriyāyā"ti. sova tesaṃ āyasmantānaṃ upasampadā ahosi. bjt page 090