2.
The Discourse to Sela
396. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Aṅguttarāpans together with a large Community of monks, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, and arrived at a market town of the Aṅguttarāpans named Āpaṇa. The matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya heard - "Indeed, my dear, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, wandering on a journey among the Aṅguttarāpans together with a large Community of monks, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, has arrived at Āpaṇa. And concerning that Master Gotama, such a good reputation has arisen - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' He, having realised by direct knowledge himself, proclaims this world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans. He teaches the Teaching, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, with meaning and with phrasing; he reveals the holy life that is complete in its entirety and pure. Good indeed is the seeing of such Worthy Ones.'"
Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. The Blessed One instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya seated to one side with a talk on the Teaching. Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, having been instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a talk on the Teaching, said this to the Blessed One - "May Master Gotama consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow together with the Community of monks." When this was said, the Blessed One said this to the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya - "The Community of monks is large, Keṇiya, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, and you are devoted to the brahmins." For the second time the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya said this to the Blessed One - "Although, Master Gotama, the Community of monks is large, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, and I am devoted to the brahmins; may Master Gotama consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow together with the Community of monks." For the second time the Blessed One said this to the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya - "The Community of monks is large, Keṇiya, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, and you are devoted to the brahmins." For the third time the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya said this to the Blessed One - "Although, Master Gotama, the Community of monks is large, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, and I am devoted to the brahmins; may Master Gotama consent to accept a meal from me tomorrow together with the Community of monks." The Blessed One consented by silence. Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, having learned of the Blessed One's acceptance, rose from his seat and approached his own hermitage; having approached, he addressed his friends and colleagues, relatives and blood-relations - "Let my venerable friends and colleagues, relatives and blood-relations hear me; the ascetic Gotama has been invited by me for tomorrow for a meal together with the Community of monks. You should render me bodily service." "Yes, sir," the friends and colleagues, relatives and blood-relations of the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya replied to the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, and some dug ovens, some split firewood, some washed vessels, some set up a water jar, some prepared seats. But the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya himself prepared the circular pavilion.
397. Now at that time the brahmin Sela was dwelling at Āpaṇa, who had mastered the three Vedas together with their vocabularies and rituals, phonology and etymology, and the histories as a fifth, learned in verse, a grammarian, fully versed in worldly knowledge and the marks of a great man, and he taught the sacred verses to three hundred young men. Now at that time the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya was devoted to the brahmin Sela. Then the brahmin Sela, surrounded by three hundred young men, walking up and down for leg exercise, wandering about, approached the hermitage of the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya. The brahmin Sela saw at the hermitage of the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya some digging ovens, some splitting firewood, some washing vessels, some setting up a water jar, some preparing seats, and the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya himself preparing the circular pavilion. Having seen the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, he said this - "What now, will there be a marriage arrangement from the bride's side for the venerable Keṇiya, or a marriage arrangement from the groom's side, or has a great sacrifice been prepared, or has King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha been invited for tomorrow together with his army?" "There will be no marriage arrangement from the bride's side for me, dear Sela, nor a marriage arrangement from the groom's side, nor has King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha been invited for tomorrow together with his army; and yet a great sacrifice has been prepared for me. There is, my dear, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, wandering on a journey among the Aṅguttarāpans together with a large Community of monks, one thousand two hundred and fifty monks, has arrived at Āpaṇa. And concerning that Master Gotama, such a good reputation has arisen - 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, the Fortunate One, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' He has been invited by me for tomorrow for a meal together with the Community of monks."
"A Buddha - my dear Keṇiya, you say?"
"A Buddha - my dear Sela, I say."
"A Buddha - my dear Keṇiya, you say?"
"A Buddha - my dear Sela, I say."
398. Then this occurred to the brahmin Sela: "This sound is rare in the world - namely 'Buddha'. There have come down in our sacred hymns the thirty-two characteristics of a great man, possessed of which a great man has only two destinations, no other. If he dwells in a house, he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a righteous king of righteousness, ruler of the four quarters, victorious, who has established the security of his realm, possessed of the seven treasures. He has these seven treasures, as follows - the wheel treasure, the elephant treasure, the horse treasure, the jewel treasure, the woman treasure, the householder treasure, and the adviser treasure as the seventh. And he has more than a thousand sons, brave, heroic in form, crushers of enemy armies. He dwells having conquered this earth bounded by the ocean, without rod, without sword, by righteousness. But if he goes forth from home into homelessness, he becomes a Worthy One, a One Enlightened by himself, one who removes the veil in the world."
"But where, dear Keṇiya, is that Master Gotama dwelling now, the Worthy One, the One Enlightened by himself?" When this was said, the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, having raised his right arm, said this to the brahmin Sela: "Where that blue line of forest is, dear Sela." Then the brahmin Sela together with three hundred young men approached the Blessed One. Then the brahmin Sela addressed those young men: "Let the venerable ones come quietly, placing foot after foot; for those Blessed Ones are difficult to approach, like lions wandering alone. And when I, sirs, am conversing with the ascetic Gotama, do not, sirs, interrupt my discussion now and then. Let the sirs wait for the end of my discussion." Then the brahmin Sela approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the brahmin Sela examined the thirty-two characteristics of a great man on the Blessed One's body.
The brahmin Sela saw on the Blessed One's body the thirty-two characteristics of a great man for the most part, except for two. Regarding two characteristics of a great man he was uncertain, he doubted sceptically, he was not resolved, he was not confident - regarding the sheathed private parts and the broad tongue. Then this occurred to the Blessed One: "This brahmin Sela sees the thirty-two characteristics of a great man on me for the most part, except for two. Regarding two characteristics of a great man he was uncertain, he doubted sceptically, he was not resolved, he was not confident - regarding the sheathed private parts and the broad tongue." Then the Blessed One performed such a feat of supernormal power that the brahmin Sela saw the Blessed One's sheathed private parts. Then the Blessed One, having put out his tongue, stroked back and forth both ear-holes; stroked back and forth both nostrils; and covered the entire circle of his forehead with his tongue. Then this occurred to the brahmin Sela: "The ascetic Gotama is endowed with the thirty-two characteristics of a great man, complete, not incomplete; but I do not know whether he is a Buddha or not. I have heard this from brahmins who are senior, elderly, teachers and teachers' teachers, when they speak - 'Those who are Worthy Ones, Fully Enlightened by themselves, they reveal themselves when their own praise is being spoken.' What if I were to praise the ascetic Gotama face to face with fitting verses."
399. Then the brahmin Sela praised the Blessed One face to face with fitting verses:
You are golden-coloured, Blessed One, with very white teeth, energetic.
All those marks of a great man are in your body.
In the midst of the Community of ascetics, you shine like the sun.
What is the use of the ascetic life for you, of such excellent beauty?
Ruler of the four quarters, victorious, lord of the rose-apple grove.
As king of kings, lord of men, exercise kingship, Gotama."
By righteousness I turn the wheel, the wheel that cannot be turned back."
'By righteousness I turn the wheel,' thus you speak, Gotama.
Who continues to turn for you the wheel of the Teaching that has been set in motion?"
Sāriputta continues to turn it, born after the Truth-finder.
What should be abandoned has been abandoned by me, therefore I am the Buddha, brahmin.
Rare is the seeing of Fully Enlightened by themselves repeatedly.
I am that one, brahmin, the One Enlightened by himself, the unsurpassed surgeon.
Having brought all enemies under control, I rejoice, free from fear from any quarter."
The surgeon, the great hero, roars like a lion in the forest.
Who, having seen him, would not be pleased, even one of dark birth?
Here I shall go forth, in the presence of the one of excellent wisdom."
We too shall go forth, in the presence of the one of excellent wisdom."
We shall live the holy life, Blessed One, in your presence."
Wherein the going forth is not fruitless, for the diligent one who trains."
The brahmin Sela together with his retinue received the going forth in the presence of the Blessed One, he received full ordination.
400. Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, after that night had passed, having had superior solid and soft food prepared at his own hermitage, announced the time to the Blessed One - "It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready." Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the hermitage of the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat together with the Community of monks. Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya with his own hand satisfied and served the Community of monks headed by the Buddha with superior solid and soft food. Then the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, having taken a certain low seat, sat down to one side. The Blessed One gave thanks to the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya seated to one side with these verses -
The king is the foremost of humans, the ocean is the foremost of rivers.
For those desiring merit, the Community is indeed the foremost for those who sacrifice."
Then the Blessed One, having given thanks to the matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya with these verses, rose from his seat and departed.
Then the Venerable Sela together with his retinue, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, before long - that unsurpassed final goal of the holy life, for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from home into homelessness - the final goal of the holy life, in this very life, having realised by direct knowledge himself, having attained, he dwelt. He directly knew: "Birth is eliminated, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being." And the Venerable Sela together with his retinue became one of the Worthy Ones. Then the Venerable Sela together with his retinue approached the Blessed One; having approached, having arranged his robe on one shoulder, having extended joined palms in salutation towards the Blessed One, he addressed the Blessed One in verses -
In seven nights, Blessed One, we have been tamed in your teaching.
Having cut off the underlying tendencies, you who have crossed over help this generation to cross.
Like a lion without clinging, fear and dread have been abandoned.
Stretch out your feet, O hero, let the serpents pay homage to the Teacher."
The Discourse on Sela is concluded as second.