1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

1.3Atha 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 host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.¹1.4Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!2.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!2.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,2.4seyyo hoti na pāpiyo”ti.things get better, not worse.”

3.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

4.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!4.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!4.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,4.4paññā labbhati nāññato”ti.wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.”

5.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

6.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!6.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!6.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,6.4sokamajjhe na socatī”ti.you grieve not among the grieving.”

7.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

8.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!8.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!8.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,8.4ñātimajjhe virocatī”ti.you dazzle among your relatives.”

9.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

10.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!10.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!10.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,10.4sattā gacchanti suggatin”ti.sentient beings go to a good place.”

11.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

12.1“Sabbhireva samāsetha,“Associate only with the virtuous!12.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!12.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,12.4sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.sentient beings live happily.”

13.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then another deity said to the Buddha,13.2“kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?“Sir, who has spoken well?”

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

15.1Sabbhireva samāsetha,Associate only with the virtuous!15.2sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ;Try to get close to the virtuous!15.3Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya,Understanding the true teaching of the good,15.4sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.you’re released from all suffering.”

16.1Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.16.2Attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsūti.Delighted, those deities bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before vanishing right there.