42.7 （七）众

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "There are eight groups of beings. You should know them. What are the eight? They are the kṣatriya group, the brāhmaṇa group, the householder group, the śramaṇa group, the four heavenly kings group, the thirty-three heavens group, the māra group, and the brahmā group. Bhikṣus should know that in the past, I have gone among the kṣatriya group, exchanged greetings, and discussed matters. No one is equal to me. I walk alone without a companion or match. I am content with few desires, my mindfulness is undisturbed, I have accomplished the precepts, samādhi, wisdom, liberation, and learning, and I am diligent.

"I also remember going among the brāhmaṇa group, householder group, śramaṇa group, four heavenly kings group, thirty-three heavens group, māra group, and brahmā group, exchanging greetings, and discussing matters. I walked alone without a companion or match. I was the most honored among them, and there was no one equal to me. I was content with few desires, my mind was undisturbed, I had accomplished the precepts, samādhi, wisdom, liberation, learning, and diligence. At that time, I walked alone among the eight groups of beings without a companion or match, providing great shelter for so many beings. At that time, the eight groups of beings could not see the top of my head, and they did not dare to look at my face, let alone discuss matters with me. Because I also did not see anyone in the heavens, among humans, māras, or gods, śramaṇas, or brāhmaṇas who had accomplished these eight dharmas, except for the Tathāgata. Therefore, bhikṣus! You should seek means to practice these eight dharmas. Thus, bhikṣus! You should train in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and practiced it.