Paṭhamapajjunnadhītusutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ mahāvanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Then, late at night, the glorious Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter, lighting up the entire Great Wood, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:

“Vesāliyaṁ vane viharantaṁ, Aggaṁ sattassa sambuddhaṁ; Kokanadāhamasmi abhivande, Kokanadā pajjunnassa dhītā.

“Staying in the woods of Vesālī is the Buddha, best of creation. Kokanadā am I who worships him, Kokanadā, Pajjuna’s daughter.

Sutameva pure āsi, Dhammo cakkhumatānubuddho; Sāhaṁ dāni sakkhi jānāmi, Munino desayato sugatassa.

Previously I had only heard the teaching realized by the Clear-eyed One. But now I know it as a witness while the sage, the Holy One teaches.

Ye keci ariyaṁ dhammaṁ, Vigarahantā caranti dummedhā; Upenti roruvaṁ ghoraṁ, Cirarattaṁ dukkhaṁ anubhavanti.

There are simpletons who go about denouncing the teaching of the noble ones. They fall into the terrible Hell of Screams where they suffer long.

Ye ca kho ariye dhamme, Khantiyā upasamena upetā; Pahāya mānusaṁ dehaṁ, Devakāyaṁ paripūressantī”ti.

There are those who have found <j>acceptance and peace in the teaching of the noble ones. After giving up this human body, they swell the heavenly host.”