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SN 6.11PTS (1st ed) SN 1.1531 min read

With Sanaṅkumāra

Sanaṅkumārasutta

Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra appears to the Buddha and asserts that the aristocrat or khattiya is the best caste, but the Buddha is the best of people.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 6.11Linked Discourses 6.11
  • 0.22. DutiyavaggaChapter Two

0.3SanaṅkumārasuttaWith Sanaṅkumāra

1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati sappinītīre.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the bank of the Serpentine River.1

1.3Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ sappinītīraṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.Then, late at night, the glorious divinity Sanaṅkumāra, lighting up the entire Serpentine riverbank, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side,21.4Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:and spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,“The aristocrat is best among people2.2ye gottapaṭisārino;who take clan as the standard.2.3Vijjācaraṇasampanno,But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct2.4so seṭṭho devamānuse”ti.is best among gods and humans.”

3.1Idamavoca brahmā sanaṅkumāro.That is what the divinity Sanaṅkumāra said,3.2Samanuñño satthā ahosi.and the Teacher concurred.3.3Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.Then the divinity Sanaṅkumāra, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

Translator’s notes

  1. The Serpentine (sappinī) is probably the modern Panchane (from pañcānana, “five-mouthed”). There was a wanderer’s hermitage on its banks (AN 3.64, AN 4.30, AN 4.185).

    ↩ sn6.11:1.2

  2. Sanaṅkumāra (“Everyoung”) became a Hindu deity closely associated with the worship of Krishna. He first appears in the seventh chapter of the Chāndogya Upaniṣad. He speaks this verse also at DN 3:1.28.2, DN 27:32.2, MN 53:25.3, AN 11.10:6.1, and it was endorsed by the Buddha. He features in two extended discussions among the gods, his appearance heralded by a great light in the north (DN 18:15.1, DN 19:15.1). He also appears in DN 20:20.3.

    ↩ sn6.11:1.3