Saṃyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
8. Vaṇgīsa-Thera-Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
8. The Vaṇgisa Suttas
Sutta 9
Koṇḍañña Suttam
Koṇḍañña
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by Sūriyagoḍa Sumangala Thera
Copyright The Pali Text Society. Public Domain.
[9.1]THUS HAVE I HEARD: —
The Exalted One was once staying near Rājagaha,
in the Bamboo Grove,
at the Squirrels' Feeding-ground.
And the venerable Aññāsi-Koṇḍañña,[1]
after a very long interval,
came to see the Exalted One,
and coming,
fell with face to earth
at the feet of the Exalted One,
and kissed and stroked them with his hands,
uttering his name:
"I am Koṇḍañña, Exalted One!
I am Koṇḍañña, Blessed One!"
Then the venerable Vaṇgīsa,
arising from his seat,
and draping his outer robe over one shoulder,
bent his clasped hands saluting toward the Exalted One, and said:
"It is revealed to me, Exalted One!
it is revealed to me, Blessed One!"
And the Exalted One said:
"Be it revealed to thee, Vaṇgīsa."
Then the venerable Vaṇgīsa extolled the Aññāsi-Koṇḍañña, before the Exalted One in appropriate verses: —
"Who next to our great Waked One was awoke,[2]
Brother Koṇḍañña, strong in energy,
The winner of a life of blissful ease,
Ever detached from every worldly tie.
All that the Master's follower can win,
If he the training in the Rule fulfil,
All this Koṇḍañña, step by step hath won.
By study strenuous [of mind and will].
Sublime in power and versed in triple lore,
Expert the thoughts of others to descry,
Koṇḍañña, of the Buddha rightful heir,
Low at the Master's feet behold him lie."
[1] On his legend see Pss. of the Brethren, p. 284; Vin. Texts, i, 98. Further, B. tells us, he had dwelt for 12 years in the Six-Tusker Wood by the Mandākinī lotus-pool a haunt of Paccheka-Buddhas, he being much disinclined for touring about.
[2] So the Comy.
