SN2:4 Magadha
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the young deva Magadha addressed the Blessed One in verse:
2v.259 "How many sources of light are in the world
By means of which the world is illumined?
We’ve come to ask the Blessed One this:
How are we to understand it?"
3v.260 "There are four sources of light in the world;
A fifth one is not found here.
The sun shines by day,
The moon glows at night,
4v.261 And fire flares up here and there
Both by day and at night.
But the Buddha is the best of those that shine:
He is the light unsurpassed."
1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgadho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
2"Kati lokasmiṁ pajjotā,
yehi loko pakāsati;
Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,
kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan"ti.
3"Cattāro loke pajjotā,
pañcamettha na vijjati;
Divā tapati ādicco,
rattimābhāti candimā.
4Atha aggi divārattiṁ,
tattha tattha pakāsati;
Sambuddho tapataṁ seṭṭho,
esā ābhā anuttarā"ti.