1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the bank of the Sappinī river.

Then, late at night, the beautiful Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, lighting up the entire Sappinī riverbank, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2“The aristocrat is best of those people
who take clan as the standard.
But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct
is best of gods and humans.”

3That’s what Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra said, and the teacher approved. Then Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra, knowing that the teacher approved, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe vihārati sappinītīre.

tha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ sappinītīraṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi: 

2"Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ,
ye gottapaṭisārino;
Vijjācaraṇasampanno,
so seṭṭho devamānuse"ti.

3Idamavoca brahmā sanaṅkumāro. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho brahmā sanaṅkumāro "samanuñño me satthā"ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.