Sabbhisutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sambahulā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, several glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, things get better, not worse.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, paññā labbhati nāññato”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sokamajjhe na socatī”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you grieve not among the grieving.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, ñātimajjhe virocatī”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you dazzle among your relatives.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sattā gacchanti suggatin”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, sentient beings go to a good place.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Then another deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.

“Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, sentient beings live happily.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kassa nu kho, bhagavā, subhāsitan”ti?

Then another deity said to the Buddha, “Sir, who has spoken well?”

“Sabbāsaṁ vo subhāsitaṁ pariyāyena, api ca mamapi suṇātha—

“You’ve all spoken well in your own way. However, listen to me also:

Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.

Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you’re released from all suffering.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā tā devatāyo bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsūti.

That is what the Buddha said. Delighted, those deities bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right, before vanishing right there.