1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood. Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed, took his bowl and robe, and entered Vesālī for alms. Now on that occasion five hundred Licchavis had assembled at the Sārandada Shrine and were sitting together when this conversation arose: "The manifestation of five gems is rare in the world. What five? The elephant-gem, the horse-gem, the jewel-gem, the woman-gem, and the stewardgem. The manifestation of these five gems is rare in the world."

2Then the Licchavis stationed a man on the road and told him: "Good man, when you see the Blessed One coming, you should inform us." The man saw the Blessed One coming in the distance, went to the Licchavis, and told them: "Sirs, this Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One is coming. You may go at your own convenience."

3Then the Licchavis approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and stood to one side. Standing there, they said to him:

4"Please, Bhante, let the Blessed One go to the Sārandada Shrine out of compassion." The Blessed One silently consented. He went to the Sārandada Shrine, sat down on a seat that was prepared, and said to the Licchavis:

"What discussion were you engaged in just now as you were sitting together here? What was the conversation that was underway?"

"Here, Bhante, when we had assembled and were sitting together, this conversation arose … He here repeats the entire conversation above. … ‘The manifestation of these five gems is rare in the world.’"

5"Intent on sensual pleasures, the Licchavis were engaged in a conversation about sensual pleasures! Licchavis, the manifestation of five gems is rare in the world. What five? (1) The manifestation of a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One is rare in the world. (2) A person who teaches the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by a Tathāgata is rare in the world. (3) When the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by a Tathāgata has been taught, a person who understands it is rare in the world. (4) When the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by a Tathāgata has been taught and understood, a person who practices in accordance with the Dhamma is rare in the world. (5) A grateful and thankful person is rare in the world. Licchavis, the manifestation of these five gems is rare in the world."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Tena kho pana samayena pañcamattānaṁ licchavisatānaṁ sārandade cetiye sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi: "pañcannaṁ ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Katamesaṁ pañcannaṁ? Hatthiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, assaratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, maṇiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, itthiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, gahapatiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ pañcannaṁ ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmin"ti.

2Atha kho te licchavī magge purisaṁ ṭhapesuṁ: "yadā tvaṁ, ambho purisa, passeyyāsi bhagavantaṁ, atha amhākaṁ āroceyyāsī"ti. Addasā kho so puriso bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ; disvāna yena te licchavī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te licchavī etadavoca: "Ayaṁ so, bhante, bhagavā gacchati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho; yassadāni kālaṁ maññathā"ti.

3Atha kho te licchavī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho te licchavī bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

4"Sādhu, bhante, yena sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā"ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho bhagavā yena sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā te licchavī etadavoca:

"kāya nuttha, licchavī, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā"ti?

"Idha, bhante, amhākaṁ sannisinnānaṁ sannipatitānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi: ‘pañcannaṁ ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Katamesaṁ pañcannaṁ? Hatthiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, assaratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, maṇiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, itthiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, gahapatiratanassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ pañcannaṁ ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmin’"ti.

5"Kāmādhimuttānaṁ vata bho licchavīnaṁ kāmaṁyeva ārabbha antarākathā udapādi. Pañcannaṁ, licchavī, ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Katamesaṁ pañcannaṁ? Tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmiṁ, tathāgatappaveditassa dhammavinayassa desetā puggalo dullabho lokasmiṁ, tathāgatappaveditassa dhammavinayassa desitassa viññātā puggalo dullabho lokasmiṁ, tathāgatappaveditassa dhammavinayassa desitassa viññātā dhammānudhammappaṭipanno puggalo dullabho lokasmiṁ, kataññū katavedī puggalo dullabho lokasmiṁ. Imesaṁ kho, licchavī, pañcannaṁ ratanānaṁ pātubhāvo dullabho lokasmin"ti.

Tatiyaṁ.