Anuruddhasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: “ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena āyasmato anuruddhassa pāde sirasā vandāhi: ‘pañcakaṅgo, bhante, thapati āyasmato anuruddhassa pāde sirasā vandatī’ti; evañca vadehi: ‘adhivāsetu kira, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa svātanāya attacatuttho bhattaṁ; yena ca kira, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho pagevataraṁ āgaccheyya; pañcakaṅgo, bhante, thapati bahukicco bahukaraṇīyo rājakaraṇīyenā’”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so puriso pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa paṭissutvā yenāyasmā anuruddho tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so puriso āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavoca: “pañcakaṅgo, bhante, thapati āyasmato anuruddhassa pāde sirasā vandati, evañca vadeti: ‘adhivāsetu kira, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa svātanāya attacatuttho bhattaṁ; yena ca kira, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho pagevataraṁ āgaccheyya; pañcakaṅgo, bhante, thapati bahukicco bahukaraṇīyo rājakaraṇīyenā’”ti. Adhivāsesi kho āyasmā anuruddho tuṇhībhāvena.

And then the chamberlain Pañcakaṅga addressed a man, “Please, my man, go to Venerable Anuruddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him, ‘Sir, the chamberlain Pañcakaṅga bows with his head to your feet.’ And then ask him whether he would please accept tomorrow’s meal from Pañcakaṅga together with the mendicant Saṅgha. And ask whether he might please come earlier than usual, for Pañcakaṅga has many duties, and much work to do for the king.” “Yes, sir,” that man replied. He did as Pañcakaṅga asked, and Venerable Anuruddha consented with silence.

Atha kho āyasmā anuruddho tassā rattiyā accayena pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena pañcakaṅgassa thapatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho pañcakaṅgo thapati āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavoca:

Then when the night had passed, Anuruddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Pañcakaṅga’s home, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then Pañcakaṅga served and satisfied Anuruddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When Anuruddha had eaten and washed his hands and bowl, Pañcakaṅga took a low seat, sat to one side, and said to him:

“Idha maṁ, bhante, therā bhikkhū upasaṅkamitvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘appamāṇaṁ, gahapati, cetovimuttiṁ bhāvehī’ti. Ekacce therā evamāhaṁsu: ‘mahaggataṁ, gahapati, cetovimuttiṁ bhāvehī’ti. Yā cāyaṁ, bhante, appamāṇā cetovimutti yā ca mahaggatā cetovimutti— ime dhammā nānatthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca, udāhu ekatthā byañjanameva nānan”ti?

“Sir, some senior mendicants have come to me and said, ‘Householder, develop the limitless release of the heart.’ Others have said, ‘Householder, develop the expansive release of the heart.’ Now, the limitless release of the heart and the expansive release of the heart: do these things differ in both meaning and phrasing? Or do they mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing?”

“Tena hi, gahapati, taṁyevettha paṭibhātu, apaṇṇakante ito bhavissatī”ti. “Mayhaṁ kho, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘yā cāyaṁ appamāṇā cetovimutti yā ca mahaggatā cetovimutti ime dhammā ekatthā byañjanameva nānan’”ti.

“Well then, householder, let me know what you think about this. Afterwards, it’s a sure bet that you’ll get it.” “Sir, this is what I think. The limitless release of the heart and the expansive release of the heart mean the same thing, and differ only in the phrasing.”

“Yā cāyaṁ, gahapati, appamāṇā cetovimutti yā ca mahaggatā cetovimutti ime dhammā nānatthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca. Tadamināpetaṁ, gahapati, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ime dhammā nānatthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca.

“The limitless release of the heart and the expansive release of the heart differ in both meaning and phrasing. This is a way to understand how these things differ in both meaning and phrasing.

Katamā ca, gahapati, appamāṇā cetovimutti? Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ; iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. Karuṇāsahagatena cetasā … muditāsahagatena cetasā … upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṁ disaṁ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṁ tathā tatiyaṁ tathā catutthaṁ; iti uddhamadho tiriyaṁ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṁ lokaṁ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, appamāṇā cetovimutti.

And what is the limitless release of the heart? It’s when a mendicant meditates spreading a heart full of love to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of love to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. They meditate spreading a heart full of compassion … They meditate spreading a heart full of rejoicing … They meditate spreading a heart full of equanimity to one direction, and to the second, and to the third, and to the fourth. In the same way above, below, across, everywhere, all around, they spread a heart full of equanimity to the whole world—abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. This is called the limitless release of the heart.

Katamā ca, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti? Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā rukkhamūlāni mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ gāmakkhettaṁ mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā gāmakkhettāni mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ mahārajjaṁ mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā mahārajjāni mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Idha pana, gahapati, bhikkhu yāvatā samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ mahaggatanti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Ayampi vuccati, gahapati, mahaggatā cetovimutti. Iminā kho etaṁ, gahapati, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā ime dhammā nānatthā ceva nānābyañjanā ca.

And what is the expansive release of the heart? It’s when a mendicant meditates focused on pervading the extent of a single tree root as expansive. This is called the expansive release of the heart. Also, a mendicant meditates focused on pervading the extent of two or three tree roots … a single village district … two or three village districts … a single kingdom … two or three kingdoms … this land surrounded by ocean. This too is called the expansive release of the heart. This is a way to understand how these things differ in both meaning and phrasing.

Catasso kho imā gahapati, bhavūpapattiyo. Katamā catasso? Idha, gahapati, ekacco ‘parittābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā parittābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco ‘appamāṇābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā appamāṇābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco ‘saṅkiliṭṭhābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā saṅkiliṭṭhābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Idha pana, gahapati, ekacco ‘parisuddhābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā parisuddhābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Imā kho, gahapati, catasso bhavūpapattiyo.

Householder, there are these four kinds of rebirth in a future life. What four? Take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘limited luminosity’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of limited luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘limitless luminosity’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of limitless luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘corrupted radiance’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of corrupted luminosity. Next, take someone who meditates focused on pervading ‘pure radiance’. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of pure luminosity. These are the four kinds of rebirth in a future life.

Hoti kho so, gahapati, samayo, yā tā devatā ekajjhaṁ sannipatanti, tāsaṁ ekajjhaṁ sannipatitānaṁ vaṇṇanānattañhi kho paññāyati no ca ābhānānattaṁ. Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso sambahulāni telappadīpāni ekaṁ gharaṁ paveseyya. Tesaṁ ekaṁ gharaṁ pavesitānaṁ accinānattañhi kho paññāyetha, no ca ābhānānattaṁ; evameva kho, gahapati, hoti kho so samayo, yā tā devatā ekajjhaṁ sannipatanti tāsaṁ ekajjhaṁ sannipatitānaṁ vaṇṇanānattañhi kho paññāyati, no ca ābhānānattaṁ.

There comes a time, householder, when the deities gather together as one. When they do so, a difference in their color is evident, but not in their luminosity. It’s like when a person brings several oil lamps into one house. You can detect a difference in their flames, but not in their radiance. In the same way, when the deities gather together as one, a difference in their color is evident, but not in their luminosity.

Hoti kho so, gahapati, samayo, yā tā devatā tato vipakkamanti, tāsaṁ tato vipakkamantīnaṁ vaṇṇanānattañceva paññāyati ābhānānattañca. Seyyathāpi, gahapati, puriso tāni sambahulāni telappadīpāni tamhā gharā nīhareyya. Tesaṁ tato nīhatānaṁ accinānattañceva paññāyetha ābhānānattañca; evameva kho, gahapati, hoti kho so samayo, yā tā devatā tato vipakkamanti, tāsaṁ tato vipakkamantīnaṁ vaṇṇanānattañceva paññāyati ābhānānattañca.

There comes a time when those deities go their separate ways. When they do so, a difference both in their color and also in their luminosity is evident. It’s like when a person takes those several oil lamps out of that house. You can detect a difference both in their flames and also in their radiance. In the same way, when the deities go their separate ways, a difference both in their color and also in their luminosity is evident.

Na kho, gahapati, tāsaṁ devatānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘idaṁ amhākaṁ niccanti vā dhuvanti vā sassatanti vā’, api ca yattha yattheva tā devatā abhinivisanti tattha tattheva tā devatā abhiramanti. Seyyathāpi, gahapati, makkhikānaṁ kājena vā piṭakena vā harīyamānānaṁ na evaṁ hoti: ‘idaṁ amhākaṁ niccanti vā dhuvanti vā sassatanti vā’, api ca yattha yattheva tā makkhikā abhinivisanti tattha tattheva tā makkhikā abhiramanti; evameva kho, gahapati, tāsaṁ devatānaṁ na evaṁ hoti: ‘idaṁ amhākaṁ niccanti vā dhuvanti vā sassatanti vā’, api ca yattha yattheva tā devatā abhinivisanti tattha tattheva tā devatā abhiramantī”ti.

It’s not that those deities think, ‘What we have is permanent, lasting, and eternal.’ Rather, wherever those deities cling, that’s where they take pleasure. It’s like when flies are being carried along on a carrying-pole or basket. It’s not that they think, ‘What we have is permanent, lasting, and eternal.’ Rather, wherever those flies cling, that’s where they take pleasure. In the same way, it’s not that those deities think, ‘What we have is permanent, lasting, and eternal.’ Rather, wherever those deities cling, that’s where they take pleasure.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sabhiyo kaccāno āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante anuruddha. Atthi ca me ettha uttariṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ. Yā tā, bhante, devatā ābhā sabbā tā parittābhā udāhu santettha ekaccā devatā appamāṇābhā”ti? “Tadaṅgena kho, āvuso kaccāna, santettha ekaccā devatā parittābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā appamāṇābhā”ti.

When he had spoken, Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said to Venerable Anuruddha: “Good, Honorable Anuruddha! I have a further question about this. Do all the radiant deities have limited luminosity, or do some there have limitless luminosity?” “In that respect, Reverend Kaccāna, some deities there have limited luminosity, while some have limitless luminosity.”

“Ko nu kho, bhante anuruddha, hetu ko paccayo yena tāsaṁ devatānaṁ ekaṁ devanikāyaṁ upapannānaṁ santettha ekaccā devatā parittābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā appamāṇābhā”ti? “Tena hāvuso kaccāna, taṁyevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ rukkhamūlaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā rukkhamūlāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā rukkhamūlāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā rukkhamūlāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ gāmakkhettaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ gāmakkhettaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ gāmakkhettaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā gāmakkhettāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā gāmakkhettāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā gāmakkhettāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ mahārajjaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ mahārajjaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā ekaṁ mahārajjaṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā mahārajjāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā mahārajjāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, āvuso kaccāna, yvāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā dve vā tīṇi vā mahārajjāni ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, yo cāyaṁ bhikkhu yāvatā samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ katamā cittabhāvanā mahaggatatarā”ti? “Yvāyaṁ, bhante, bhikkhu yāvatā samuddapariyantaṁ pathaviṁ ‘mahaggatan’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati— ayaṁ imāsaṁ ubhinnaṁ cittabhāvanānaṁ mahaggatatarā”ti? “Ayaṁ kho, āvuso kaccāna, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena tāsaṁ devatānaṁ ekaṁ devanikāyaṁ upapannānaṁ santettha ekaccā devatā parittābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā appamāṇābhā”ti.

“What is the cause, Honorable Anuruddha, what is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have limited luminosity, while some have limitless luminosity?” “Well then, Reverend Kaccāna, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, Reverend Kaccāna? Which of these two kinds of mental development is more expansive: when a mendicant meditates focused on pervading as expansive the extent of a single tree root, or two or three tree roots?” “When a mendicant meditates on two or three tree roots.” “What do you think, Reverend Kaccāna? Which of these two kinds of mental development is more expansive: when a mendicant meditates focused on pervading as expansive the extent of two or three tree roots, or a single village district … two or three village districts … a single kingdom … two or three kingdoms … this land surrounded by ocean?” “When a mendicant meditates on this land surrounded by ocean.” “This is the cause, Reverend Kaccāna, this is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have limited luminosity, while some have limitless luminosity.”

“Sādhu, bhante anuruddha. Atthi ca me ettha uttariṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ. Yāvatā, bhante, devatā ābhā sabbā tā saṅkiliṭṭhābhā udāhu santettha ekaccā devatā parisuddhābhā”ti? “Tadaṅgena kho, āvuso kaccāna, santettha ekaccā devatā saṅkiliṭṭhābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā parisuddhābhā”ti.

“Good, Honorable Anuruddha! I have a further question about this. Do all the radiant deities have corrupted radiance, or do some there have pure radiance?” “In that respect, Reverend Kaccāna, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance.”

“Ko nu kho, bhante, anuruddha, hetu ko paccayo, yena tāsaṁ devatānaṁ ekaṁ devanikāyaṁ upapannānaṁ santettha ekaccā devatā saṅkiliṭṭhābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā parisuddhābhā”ti? “Tena hāvuso kaccāna, upamaṁ te karissāmi. Upamāyapidhekacce viññū purisā bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānanti. Seyyathāpi, āvuso kaccāna, telappadīpassa jhāyato telampi aparisuddhaṁ vaṭṭipi aparisuddhā. So telassapi aparisuddhattā vaṭṭiyāpi aparisuddhattā andhandhaṁ viya jhāyati; evameva kho, āvuso kaccāna, idhekacco bhikkhu ‘saṅkiliṭṭhābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati, tassa kāyaduṭṭhullampi na suppaṭippassaddhaṁ hoti, thinamiddhampi na susamūhataṁ hoti, uddhaccakukkuccampi na suppaṭivinītaṁ hoti. So kāyaduṭṭhullassapi na suppaṭippassaddhattā thinamiddhassapi na susamūhatattā uddhaccakukkuccassapi na suppaṭivinītattā andhandhaṁ viya jhāyati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā saṅkiliṭṭhābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Seyyathāpi, āvuso kaccāna, telappadīpassa jhāyato telampi parisuddhaṁ vaṭṭipi parisuddhā. So telassapi parisuddhattā vaṭṭiyāpi parisuddhattā na andhandhaṁ viya jhāyati; evameva kho, āvuso kaccāna, idhekacco bhikkhu ‘parisuddhābhā’ti pharitvā adhimuccitvā viharati. Tassa kāyaduṭṭhullampi suppaṭippassaddhaṁ hoti, thinamiddhampi susamūhataṁ hoti, uddhaccakukkuccampi suppaṭivinītaṁ hoti. So kāyaduṭṭhullassapi suppaṭippassaddhattā thinamiddhassapi susamūhatattā uddhaccakukkuccassapi suppaṭivinītattā na andhandhaṁ viya jhāyati. So kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā parisuddhābhānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjati. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso kaccāna, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena tāsaṁ devatānaṁ ekaṁ devanikāyaṁ upapannānaṁ santettha ekaccā devatā saṅkiliṭṭhābhā, santi panettha ekaccā devatā parisuddhābhā”ti.

“What is the cause, Honorable Anuruddha, what is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance?” “Well then, Reverend Kaccāna, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose an oil lamp was burning with impure oil and impure wick. Because of the impurity of the oil and the wick it burns dimly, as it were. In the same way, take some mendicant who meditates focused on pervading ‘corrupted radiance’. Their physical discomfort is not completely settled, their dullness and drowsiness is not completely eradicated, and their restlessness and remorse are not completely eliminated. Because of this they practice absorption dimly, as it were. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of corrupted luminosity. Suppose an oil lamp was burning with pure oil and pure wick. Because of the purity of the oil and the wick it doesn’t burn dimly, as it were. In the same way, take some mendicant who meditates focused on pervading ‘pure radiance’. Their physical discomfort is completely settled, their dullness and drowsiness is completely eradicated, and their restlessness and remorse is completely eliminated. Because of this they don’t practice absorption dimly, as it were. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of pure luminosity. This is the cause, Reverend Kaccāna, this is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sabhiyo kaccāno āyasmantaṁ anuruddhaṁ etadavoca: “sādhu, bhante anuruddha. Na, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho evamāha: ‘evaṁ me sutan’ti vā ‘evaṁ arahati bhavitun’ti vā; atha ca pana, bhante, āyasmā anuruddho ‘evampi tā devatā, itipi tā devatā’tveva bhāsati. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘addhā āyasmatā anuruddhena tāhi devatāhi saddhiṁ sannivutthapubbañceva sallapitapubbañca sākacchā ca samāpajjitapubbā’”ti. “Addhā kho ayaṁ, āvuso kaccāna, āsajja upanīya vācā bhāsitā, api ca te ahaṁ byākarissāmi: ‘dīgharattaṁ kho me, āvuso kaccāna, tāhi devatāhi saddhiṁ sannivutthapubbañceva sallapitapubbañca sākacchā ca samāpajjitapubbā’”ti.

When he had spoken, Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said to Venerable Anuruddha, “Good, Honorable Anuruddha! Venerable Anuruddha, you don’t say, ‘So I have heard’ or ‘It ought to be like this.’ Rather, you say: ‘These deities are like this, those deities are like that.’ Sir, it occurs to me, ‘Clearly, Venerable Anuruddha has previously lived together with those deities, conversed, and engaged in discussion.’” “Your words are clearly invasive and intrusive, Reverend Kaccāna. Nevertheless, I will answer you. For a long time I have previously lived together with those deities, conversed, and engaged in discussion.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā sabhiyo kaccāno pañcakaṅgaṁ thapatiṁ etadavoca: “lābhā te, gahapati, suladdhaṁ te, gahapati, yaṁ tvañceva taṁ kaṅkhādhammaṁ pahāsi, mayañcimaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ alatthamhā savanāyā”ti. Anuruddhasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.

When he had spoken, Venerable Sabhiya Kaccāna said to Pañcakaṅga the chamberlain, “You’re fortunate, householder, so very fortunate, to have given up your state of uncertainty, and to have got the chance to listen to this exposition of the teaching.”