SA-2 46（四六）

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī. At that time, the Buddha told the bhikṣus, "On the eighth day of the month, the Four Heavenly Kings send messengers to inspect the world, to observe who in the world is filial to their parents, respectful to elders, and serves śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, practicing good dharmas, and who commits evil. Therefore, one should practice good dharmas, eliminate all evil, and restrain one's emotions to keep the precepts. On the fourteenth day, the Four Heavenly Kings again send their princes to inspect the world. On the fifteenth day, the Four Heavenly Kings themselves inspect and observe, also like this. When the Four Heavenly Kings have inspected, they go to the Hall of Good Dharma of Śakra, the Lord of the Devas, and inform Śakra, saying, 'In the world of humans, there are many who are not filial to their parents, who do not respect śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, who do not serve teachers and elders in the family, and who do not keep the precepts.' When Śakra, the Lord of the Devas, and the devas hear this, they are saddened and unhappy. The devas all say, 'This will diminish the devas and increase the asuras.' If in the world, there are always people who are filial to their parents, who make offerings to śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, and who keep the precepts, the Four Heavenly Kings will inform Śakra, the Lord of the Devas. Then the devas will be extremely joyful and say, 'The people in the world practice good deeds, are extremely virtuous, do what should be done, increase the devas, and diminish the asuras.' Śakra, the Lord of the Devas, joyfully spoke a verse:

On the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the month
and also on the full moon days, those who uphold
pure precepts will be reborn in heaven, with merit like mine.

The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "What Śakra said is not a good explanation. Why is that? If an arhat who has ended the taints and accomplished what was to be done were to speak a verse,

On the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the
month, and also on the full moon days, those
who uphold pure precepts will attain victory and merit like mine.

"The Buddha and the arhats should speak this verse. To speak with a true name is called good speech."

Having spoken thus, the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha had said and joyfully upheld it.