1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood. Now on that occasion five hundred Licchavis were visiting the Blessed One. Some Licchavis were blue, with a blue complexion, clothed in blue, wearing blue ornaments. Some Licchavis were yellow, with a yellow complexion, clothed in yellow, wearing yellow ornaments. Some Licchavis were red, with a red complexion, clothed in red, wearing red ornaments. Some Licchavis were white, with a white complexion, clothed in white, wearing white ornaments. Yet the Blessed One outshone them all with his beauty and glory.

2Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, and having reverently saluted the Blessed One, he said: "An inspiration has come to me, Blessed One! An inspiration has come to me, Fortunate One!"

"Then express your inspiration, Piṅgiyānī," the Blessed One said. [n.1197] Paṭibhātu taṁ piṅgiyānī. Lit., "Let it shine upon you, Piṅgiyānī." Then, in the presence of the Blessed One, the brahmin Piṅgiyānī extolled him with an appropriate verse: [n.1198] At SN 3:12, I 81, this verse is spoken by the lay follower Candanaṅgalika, who also recites it after being moved by a sudden surge of inspiration. In the verse, Angīrasa is an epithet of the Buddha.

3"As the fragrant red kokanada lotus
blooms in the morning, its fragrance unspent,
behold Angīrasa radiant
like the sun beaming in the sky."

4Then those Licchavis presented the brahmin Piṅgiyānī with five hundred upper robes. The brahmin Piṅgiyānī presented those five hundred upper robes to the Blessed One. The Blessed One then said to those Licchavis:

5"Licchavis, the manifestation of five gems is rare in the world. [n.1199] The following as at AN5.143 above. What five? (1) The manifestation of a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Perfectly Enlightened One is rare in the world. (2) A person who can teach 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 can understand it is rare in the world. (4) When the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by a Tathāgata has been taught, a person who can understand it and practice 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. Tena kho pana samayena pañcamattāni licchavisatāni bhagavantaṁ payirupāsanti. Appekacce licchavī nīlā honti nīlavaṇṇā nīlavatthā nīlālaṅkārā, appekacce licchavī pītā honti pītavaṇṇā pītavatthā pītālaṅkārā, appekacce licchavī lohitakā honti lohitakavaṇṇā lohitakavatthā lohitakālaṅkārā, appekacce licchavī odātā honti odātavaṇṇā odātavatthā odātālaṅkārā. Tyassudaṁ bhagavā atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā ca.

2Atha kho piṅgiyānī brāhmaṇo uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā"ti.

"Paṭibhātu taṁ piṅgiyānī"ti bhagavā avoca. Atha kho piṅgiyānī brāhmaṇo bhagavato sammukhā sāruppāya gāthāya abhitthavi:

3"Padmaṁ yathā kokanadaṁ sugandhaṁ,
Pāto siyā phullamavītagandhaṁ;
Aṅgīrasaṁ passa virocamānaṁ,
Tapantamādiccamivantalikkhe"ti.

4Atha kho te licchavī pañcahi uttarāsaṅgasatehi piṅgiyāniṁ brāhmaṇaṁ acchādesuṁ. Atha kho piṅgiyānī brāhmaṇo tehi pañcahi uttarāsaṅgasatehi bhagavantaṁ acchādesi.

5Atha kho bhagavā te licchavī etadavoca: "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.

Pañcamaṁ.