5.
The Discourse to Piṅgiyānī
195.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Now at that time about five hundred Licchavis were attending upon the Blessed One.
Some Licchavis were blue, of blue complexion, with blue clothes and blue ornaments; some Licchavis were yellow, of yellow complexion, with yellow clothes and yellow ornaments; some Licchavis were red, of red complexion, with red clothes and red ornaments; some Licchavis were white, of white complexion, with white clothes and white ornaments.
There the Blessed One outshone them in beauty and glory.
Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī, having risen from his seat, having arranged his upper robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, said this to the Blessed One - "It occurs to me, Blessed One, it occurs to me, Fortunate One." "Let it occur to you, Piṅgiyānī" - the Blessed One said. Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī praised the Blessed One face to face with a fitting verse -
Would be in the morning, fully bloomed, its fragrance not faded;
See the Resplendent One shining,
Like the blazing sun in the sky."
Then those Licchavis clothed the brahmin Piṅgiyānī with five hundred upper robes. Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī clothed the Blessed One with those five hundred upper robes.
Then the Blessed One said this to those Licchavis - "The manifestation of five treasures, Licchavis, is rare in the world. Which five? The manifestation of a Truth-finder, a Worthy One, a Perfectly Enlightened One is rare in the world. A person who expounds the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder is rare in the world. A person who understands the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder when taught is rare in the world. A person who understands the Teaching and discipline proclaimed by the Truth-finder when expounded and practises in accordance with the Teaching is rare in the world. A grateful and thankful person is rare in the world. The manifestation of these five treasures, Licchavis, is rare in the world." The fifth.