SA-2 101（一〇一）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was in the village of Uļūka, on the banks of the Nairañjanā River, under the Bodhi tree, not long after attaining Buddhahood. At that time, the World-Honored One was sitting alone in meditation, and had this thought: "If people are disrespectful, do not obey their elders, do not accept instruction, are not afraid of anything, and indulge themselves, they will lose all benefit and be bound by suffering. If people are filial, serve their elders, respect and fear them, follow them without going against them, they will fulfill their wishes and gain great benefit. If they do so, they will be at ease in all they do." He further thought: "In the entire world, whether gods, humans, the world of gods, the world of humans, the world of demons, the world of Brahmā, śramaṇas, or brahmins, among all the beings in the world, if there is anyone with superior morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, or knowledge and insight of liberation than me, I should approach them, rely on them, make offerings to them, and respect them." Having thoroughly observed, he did not see anyone in the world, whether gods, humans, demons, Brahmā, śramaṇas, or brahmins, who was superior to him in morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, or knowledge and insight of liberation, whom he could rely on. He further thought: "The Dharma I have realized, I should now approach, make offerings to, respect, and sincerely revere. Because all the Buddhas of the past have all approached, relied on, made offerings to, respected, and revered this Dharma. The Buddhas of the future and present will also approach, rely on, make offerings to, and respect this Dharma, and give rise to a mind of reverence. I should now also be like the Buddhas of the past, future, and present, approaching, relying on, making offerings to, respecting, and revering the Dharma."

At that time, the Lord of the Brahmas, the Heavenly King, knew from afar that the World-Honored One was in the village of Uļūka, on the banks of the Nairañjanā River, under the Bodhi tree. He thought: "Observing the world, whether gods, humans, demons, Brahmā, śramaṇas, or brahmins, all beings, if there is anyone superior to me in morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, or knowledge and insight of liberation, I should rely on them. But I do not see anyone who can surpass me. Moreover, observing the Buddhas of the past, future, and present, they all have approached, relied on, made offerings to, respected, and given rise to a mind of reverence for the Dharma. I should now also follow the Buddhas of the three times and do what is appropriate, approaching, relying on, making offerings to, respecting, and revering the Dharma." At that time, the Lord of the Brahmas further thought: "I should disappear from here and go to where the Buddha is." At that time, the Lord of the Brahmas, in the time it takes a strong man to bend and stretch his arm, came to where the Buddha was. He said to the Buddha: "World-Honored One! It is indeed as you have thought, it is indeed as you have thought." He then spoke a verse:

The Tathāgatas of the past and present, and all the Buddhas of the future, these Perfectly
Enlightened Ones who can remove afflictions, all rely on the Dharma as their teacher. Approaching the
Dharma, relying on it and abiding in it, this is the Dharma of the Buddhas of
the three times. Therefore, those who wish to honor themselves should first respect and honor that
Dharma. One should remember the teachings of the Buddha and respect and make offerings to the unsurpassed Dharma.

At that time, the Brahma King praised the World-Honored One, deeply rejoicing, paid homage, and departed.