1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, in the Great Wood near Kapilavatthu, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones.¹1.3dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.And most of the deities from ten solar systems had gathered to see the Buddha and the Saṅgha of mendicants.

1.4Atha kho catunnaṁ suddhāvāsakāyikānaṁ devatānaṁ etadahosi:Then four deities of the pure abodes, aware of what was happening, thought:²1.5“ayaṁ kho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ mahāvane mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi sabbeheva arahantehi;1.6dasahi ca lokadhātūhi devatā yebhuyyena sannipatitā honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya bhikkhusaṅghañca.1.7Yannūna mayampi yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato santike paccekaṁ gāthaṁ bhāseyyāmā”ti.“Why don’t we go to the Buddha and each recite a verse in his presence?”

2.1Atha kho tā devatā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—suddhāvāsesu devesu antarahitā bhagavato purato pāturahesuṁ.Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, they vanished from the Pure Abodes and reappeared in front of the Buddha.2.2Atha kho tā devatā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.They bowed to the Buddha and stood to one side.2.3Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

3.1“Mahāsamayo pavanasmiṁ,“There’s a great congregation in the woods,3.2Devakāyā samāgatā;where heavenly hosts have assembled.3.3Āgatamha imaṁ dhammasamayaṁ,We’ve come to this righteous congregation3.4Dakkhitāye aparājitasaṅghan”ti.to see the invincible Saṅgha!”

4.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

5.1“Tatra bhikkhavo samādahaṁsu,“The mendicants there are immersed in samādhi,5.2Cittamattano ujukaṁ akaṁsu;they’ve straightened their own minds.5.3Sārathīva nettāni gahetvā,Like a charioteer holding the reins,5.4Indriyāni rakkhanti paṇḍitā”ti.the astute ones protect their senses.”

6.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

7.1“Chetvā khīlaṁ chetvā palighaṁ,“They snapped the post and snapped the cross-bar,³7.2Indakhīlaṁ ūhacca manejā;unstirred, they tore out Indra’s pillar.⁴7.3Te caranti suddhā vimalā,They live pure and immaculate,7.4Cakkhumatā sudantā susunāgā”ti.the young giants tamed by the Clear-eyed One.”⁵

8.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

9.1“Ye keci buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatāse,“Anyone who has gone to the Buddha for refuge9.2Na te gamissanti apāyabhūmiṁ;won’t go to a plane of loss.9.3Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ,After giving up this human body,9.4Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī”ti.they swell the heavenly host.”