Aññatarabrahmasuttaṃ [SN 6.5, PTS 1.145–1.146]

5.

The Discourse on a Certain Brahmā

176. At Sāvatthī. Now at that time such an evil wrong view had arisen in a certain Brahmā: "There is not that ascetic or brahmin who could come here." Then the Blessed One, having known with his mind the reflection in the mind of that Brahmā - just as a strong man might etc. appeared in that Brahma world. Then the Blessed One sat cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element.

Then this occurred to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?" The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna saw with the divine eye, which is pure and surpasses the human, the Blessed One seated cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element. Having seen him - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared in that Brahma world. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, in dependence on the eastern direction, sat cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element, lower than the Blessed One.

Then this occurred to the Venerable Mahākassapa: "Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?" The Venerable Mahākassapa saw the Blessed One with the divine eye, etc. having seen him - just as a strong man might etc. even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared in that Brahma world. Then the Venerable Mahākassapa, in dependence on the southern direction, sat cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element, lower than the Blessed One.

Then this occurred to the Venerable Mahākappina: "Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?" The Venerable Mahākappina saw the Blessed One with the divine eye, etc. having attained the heat element. Having seen him - just as a strong man might etc. even so - having vanished from Jeta's Grove, appeared in that Brahma world. Then the Venerable Mahākappina, in dependence on the western direction, sat cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element, lower than the Blessed One.

Then this occurred to the Venerable Anuruddha: "Where now is the Blessed One dwelling at present?" The Venerable Anuruddha saw, etc. having attained the heat element. Having seen him - just as a strong man might etc. appeared in that Brahma world. Then the Venerable Anuruddha, leaning towards the northern direction, sat cross-legged in the sky above that Brahmā, having attained the heat element, lower than the Blessed One.

Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed that Brahmā in verse:

Then the Blessed One, having stirred that Brahmā - just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, even so - having vanished from that Brahma world, he appeared in Jeta's Grove. Then that Brahmā addressed a certain member of Brahmā's assembly: "Come, sir, go to where the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna is; having approached, say this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: 'Are there indeed, dear Moggallāna, other disciples of that Blessed One so powerful, so mighty, just as the venerable Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina, and Anuruddha?'" "Yes, sir," that member of Brahmā's assembly, having assented to that Brahmā, approached the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna; having approached, he said this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Are there indeed, dear Moggallāna, other disciples of that Blessed One so powerful, so mighty, just as the venerable Moggallāna, Kassapa, Kappina, and Anuruddha?" Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed that member of Brahmā's assembly in verse:

Then that member of Brahmā's assembly, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna had said, approached that Brahmā; having approached, he said this to that Brahmā: "The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sir, spoke thus:

This that member of Brahmā's assembly said. And delighted, that Brahmā rejoiced in what that member of Brahmā's assembly had said.