1.1PTS 3.202Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Kosambī in Ghosita’s monastery.1.2Atha kho āyasmā bhaddaji yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi.Then Venerable Bhaddaji went up to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.1.3Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ bhaddajiṁ āyasmā ānando etadavoca:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and Venerable Ānanda said to him:

1.4“kiṁ nu kho, āvuso bhaddaji, dassanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti?“Reverend Bhaddaji, what is the best sight, the best sound, the best happiness, the best perception, and the best state of existence?”

2.1“Atthāvuso, brahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī, yo taṁ brahmānaṁ passati, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ.“Reverend, there is this Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. When you see the Divinity, that’s the best sight.2.2Atthāvuso, ābhassarā nāma devā sukhena abhisannā parisannā.There are the gods called ‘of sublime luminosity’, who are drenched and steeped in pleasure.2.3Te kadāci karahaci udānaṁ udānenti:Every so often they feel inspired to exclaim:2.4‘aho sukhaṁ, aho sukhan’ti.‘Oh, what bliss! Oh, what bliss!’2.5Yo taṁ saddaṁ suṇāti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ.When you hear that, it’s the best sound.2.6Atthāvuso, subhakiṇhā nāma devā.There are the gods called ‘of universal beauty’.2.7Te santaṁyeva tusitā sukhaṁ paṭivedenti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ.Since they’re truly content, they experience pleasure. This is the best happiness.2.8Atthāvuso, ākiñcaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ.There are the gods reborn in the dimension of nothingness. This is the best perception.2.9Atthāvuso, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.There are the gods reborn in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is the best state of existence.”

2.10“Sameti kho idaṁ āyasmato bhaddajissa, yadidaṁ bahunā janenā”ti?“So, Venerable Bhaddaji, do you agree with what most people say about this?”

3.1“Āyasmā kho ānando bahussuto.“Well, Venerable Ānanda, you’re very learned.3.2Paṭibhātu āyasmantaṁyeva ānandan”ti.Why don’t you clarify this yourself?”

3.3“Tenahāvuso bhaddaji, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.“Well then, Reverend Bhaddaji, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

3.4“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā bhaddaji āyasmato ānandassa paccassosi.“Yes, reverend,” Bhaddaji replied.3.5Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:Ānanda said this:

4.1“Yathā passato kho, āvuso, anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ.“What you see when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sight.4.2Yathā suṇato anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ.What you hear when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sound.4.3Yathā sukhitassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ.The happiness you feel when the defilements are ended without delay is the best happiness.4.4Yathā saññissa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ.What you perceive when the defilements are ended without delay is the best perception.4.5Yathā bhūtassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.The state of existence in which the defilements are ended without delay is the best state of existence.”

4.6Dasamaṁ.

4.7Āghātavaggo dutiyo.

5.0Tassuddānaṁ

5.1Dve āghātavinayā,5.2sākacchā sājīvato pañhaṁ;5.3Pucchā nirodho codanā,5.4sīlaṁ nisanti bhaddajīti.