1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.1.2Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,1.3“bhikkhavo”ti.“Mendicants!”

1.4“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Venerable sir,” they replied.1.5Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

2.1“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññataro puriso imasmiṁyeva rājagahe manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko.“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a poor person, destitute and pitiful.2.2So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi.They took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.2.3So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajji devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.2.4So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā ca.There they outshone the other gods in beauty and glory.

2.5Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:But the gods of the thirty-three complained, grumbled, and objected,2.6‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing!2.7Ayañhi devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko;For when this godling was a human being in their past life they were poor, destitute, and pitiful.2.8so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.And when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.2.9So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’

3.1Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi:Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three,3.2‘mā kho tumhe, mārisā, etassa devaputtassa ujjhāyittha.‘Good fellows, don’t complain about this godling.3.3Eso kho, mārisā, devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi.When this godling was a human being in their past life they took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.3.4So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ.After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they’ve been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three.3.5So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’

3.6Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:Then Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse:

4.1‘Yassa saddhā tathāgate,‘Whoever has faith in the Realized One,4.2acalā suppatiṭṭhitā;unwavering and well grounded;4.3Sīlañca yassa kalyāṇaṁ,whose ethical conduct is good,4.4ariyakantaṁ pasaṁsitaṁ.praised and loved by the noble ones;

5.1Saṅghe pasādo yassatthi,who has confidence in the Saṅgha,5.2ujubhūtañca dassanaṁ;and correct view:5.3Adaliddoti taṁ āhu,they’re said to be prosperous,5.4amoghaṁ tassa jīvitaṁ.their life is not in vain.

6.1Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca,So let the wise devote themselves6.2pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ;to faith, ethical behaviour,6.3Anuyuñjetha medhāvī,confidence, and insight into the teaching,6.4saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan’”ti.remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.’”