Linked Discourses 2.4 Chapter One With Maghada (SN2.4)

1.1

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

1.2

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māgadho devaputto bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

Standing to one side, the godling Maghada addressed the Buddha in verse:

2.1

“Kati lokasmiṁ pajjotā,

“How many lamps are there

2.2

yehi loko pakāsati;

that light up the world?

2.3

Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,

We’ve come to ask the Buddha;

2.4

kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

how are we to understand this?”

3.1

“Cattāro loke pajjotā,

“There are four lamps in the world,

3.2

pañcamettha na vijjati;

a fifth is not found.

3.3

Divā tapati ādicco,

The sun blazes by day,

3.4

rattimābhāti candimā.

the moon radiates at night,

4.1

Atha aggi divārattiṁ,

while a fire illuminates both

4.2

tattha tattha pakāsati;

by day and by night.

4.3

Sambuddho tapataṁ seṭṭho,

But a Buddha is the best of blazes:

4.4

esā ābhā anuttarā”ti.

this is the supreme radiance.”