{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn8.8/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn8.8","id":"suttacentral_sn8.8","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn8.8/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery, together with a large Sa\u1e45gha of 1,250 mendicants. Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment. And those mendicants were paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening. Then Venerable Va\u1e45g\u012bsa thought, \u201cThe Buddha is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment. And those mendicants are paying attention, applying the mind, concentrating wholeheartedly, and actively listening. Why don\u2019t I extoll him in his presence with fitting verses?\u201d Then Venerable Va\u1e45g\u012bsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said, \u201cI feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!\u201d \u201cThen speak as you feel inspired,\u201d said the Buddha. Then Va\u1e45g\u012bsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses: \u201cOver a thousand mendicants revere the Holy One as he teaches the immaculate Dhamma, extinguishment, fearing nothing from any quarter. They listen to the immaculate Dhamma taught by the fully awakened Buddha; the Buddha shines at the fore of the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. Blessed One, your name is \u2018Giant\u2019, seventh of the seers. You are like a great cloud that rains on your disciples. I left my day\u2019s meditation out of desire to see the Teacher. Great hero, your disciple Va\u1e45g\u012bsa bows at your feet.\u201d \u201cVa\u1e45g\u012bsa, had you previously composed these verses, or did they spring to mind in the moment?\u201d \u201cThey sprang to mind in the moment, sir.\u201d \u201cWell then, Va\u1e45g\u012bsa, speak some more spontaneously inspired verses.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied Va\u1e45g\u012bsa. Then he extolled the Buddha with some more spontaneously inspired verses, not previously composed: \u201cHaving overcome M\u0101ra\u2019s wrong path, you wander with hard-heartedness dissolved. See him, the liberator from bonds, dissecting the unattached section by section. You have explained in many ways the path to cross the flood. The Seers of Truth stand unfaltering in the freedom from death explained by you. As the bringer of light who has pierced the truth, you\u2019ve seen what lies beyond all planes. When you saw and realized this for yourself, you taught it first to the group of five. When the Dhamma has been so well taught, how could those who know it be negligent? That\u2019s why, being diligent, we should always train respectfully in the Buddha\u2019s teaching.\u201d","title":"Over a Thousand","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":405}