9.
The Discourse on Susīma
110.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
To the Venerable Ānanda seated to one side, the Blessed One said this:
"Does Sāriputta please you too, Ānanda?"
"Who indeed, venerable sir, who is not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of deranged mind, would not be pleased with the Venerable Sāriputta? The Venerable Sāriputta is wise, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of great wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of broad wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of joyful wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of swift wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of sharp wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of penetrative wisdom, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of few wishes, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is content, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is secluded, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is aloof from society, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is putting forth strenuous energy, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is a speaker, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is willing to do what others bid, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is an accuser, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is a censurer of evil, venerable sir. Who indeed, venerable sir, who is not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of deranged mind, would not be pleased with the Venerable Sāriputta?"
"So it is, Ānanda, so it is, Ānanda! Who indeed, Ānanda, who is not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of deranged mind, would not be pleased with Sāriputta? Sāriputta is wise, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of great wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of broad wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of joyful wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of swift wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of sharp wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of penetrative wisdom, Ānanda. Sāriputta is of few wishes, Ānanda. Sāriputta is content, Ānanda. Sāriputta is secluded, Ānanda. Sāriputta is aloof from society, Ānanda. Sāriputta is putting forth strenuous energy, Ānanda. Sāriputta is a speaker, Ānanda. Sāriputta is willing to do what others bid, Ānanda. Sāriputta is an accuser, Ānanda. Sāriputta is a censurer of evil, Ānanda. Who indeed, Ānanda, who is not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of deranged mind, would not be pleased with Sāriputta?"
Then the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, surrounded by a great assembly of young gods, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, the young god Susīma said this to the Blessed One -
"So it is, Blessed One, so it is, Fortunate One. For who indeed, venerable sir, being not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of perverted mind, would not find delight in the Venerable Sāriputta? The Venerable Sāriputta is wise, venerable sir. The Venerable Sāriputta is of great wisdom, venerable sir, of broad wisdom, venerable sir, of joyful wisdom, venerable sir, of swift wisdom, venerable sir, of sharp wisdom, venerable sir, of penetrative wisdom, venerable sir, of few wishes, venerable sir, content, venerable sir, secluded, venerable sir, aloof from society, venerable sir, putting forth strenuous energy, venerable sir, a speaker, venerable sir, willing to accept advice, venerable sir, an accuser, venerable sir, one who censures evil, venerable sir. For who indeed, venerable sir, being not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of perverted mind, would not find delight in the Venerable Sāriputta?
"For I too, venerable sir, to whatever assembly of young gods I approached, I frequently heard this sound - 'The Venerable Sāriputta is wise; the venerable one is of great wisdom, the venerable one is of broad wisdom, the venerable one is of joyful wisdom, the venerable one is of swift wisdom, the venerable one is of sharp wisdom, the venerable one is of penetrative wisdom, the venerable one is of few wishes, the venerable one is content, the venerable one is secluded, the venerable one is aloof from society, the venerable one is putting forth strenuous energy, the venerable one is a speaker, the venerable one is willing to accept advice, the venerable one is an accuser, the Venerable Sāriputta is one who censures evil.' Who indeed, venerable sir, who is not foolish, not hateful, not deluded, not of deranged mind, would not be pleased with the Venerable Sāriputta?"
Then the assembly of young gods of the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, displayed various radiant colours.
"Just as a lapis lazuli gem, beautiful, of pure origin, octagonal, well polished, placed on a pale-yellow blanket, shines and burns and is brilliant; just so the assembly of young gods of the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, displayed various radiant colours.
"Just as a gold coin of Jambu river gold, skilfully refined in the furnace by a skilled goldsmith's son, placed on a pale-yellow blanket, shines and burns and is brilliant; just so the assembly of young gods of the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, displayed various radiant colours.
"Just as in the autumn season, when the sky is clear and free from clouds, towards the break of dawn, the morning star shines and burns and is brilliant; just so the assembly of young gods of the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, displayed various radiant colours.
"Just as in the autumn season, when the sky is clear and free from clouds, the sun ascending into the sky, having dispelled all the darkness in space, shines and burns and is brilliant; just so the assembly of young gods of the young god Susīma, while the praise of the Venerable Sāriputta was being spoken, delighted, greatly pleased, filled with joy and happiness, displayed various radiant colours.
Then the young god Susīma, concerning the Venerable Sāriputta, spoke this verse in the presence of the Blessed One -
Of few wishes, gentle, tamed, a sage whose praise has been brought by the Teacher."
Then the Blessed One, concerning the Venerable Sāriputta, replied to the young god Susīma in verse -
Of few wishes, gentle, tamed, well tamed, he awaits the time."