At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Then Venerable Bhaddaji went up to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho āyasmā bhaddaji yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and Venerable Ānanda said to him: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ bhaddajiṁ āyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“Reverend Bhaddaji, what is the best sight, the best sound, the best happiness, the best perception, and the best state of existence?” “kiṁ nu kho, āvuso bhaddaji, dassanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti?

“Reverend, there is this Divinity, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. When you see the Divinity, that’s the best sight. “Atthāvuso, brahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī, yo taṁ brahmānaṁ passati, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ. There are the gods called ‘of streaming radiance’, who are drenched and steeped in pleasure. Atthāvuso, ābhassarā nāma devā sukhena abhisannā parisannā. Every so often they feel inspired to exclaim: Te kadāci karahaci udānaṁ udānenti: ‘Oh, what bliss! Oh, what bliss!’ ‘aho sukhaṁ, aho sukhan’ti. When you hear that, it’s the best sound. Yo taṁ saddaṁ suṇāti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ. There are the gods called ‘of universal beauty’. Atthāvuso, subhakiṇhā nāma devā. Since they’re truly content, they experience pleasure. This is the best happiness. Te santaṁyeva tusitā sukhaṁ paṭivedenti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ. There are the gods reborn in the dimension of nothingness. This is the best perception. Atthāvuso, ākiñcaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ. There are the gods reborn in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is the best state of existence.” Atthāvuso, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.

“So, Venerable Bhaddaji, do you agree with what most people say about this?” “Sameti kho idaṁ āyasmato bhaddajissa, yadidaṁ bahunā janenā”ti?

“Well, Venerable Ānanda, you’re very learned. “Āyasmā kho ānando bahussuto. Why don’t you clarify this yourself?” Paṭibhātu āyasmantaṁyeva ānandan”ti.

“Well then, Reverend Bhaddaji, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Tenahāvuso bhaddaji, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Yes, reverend,” Bhaddaji replied. “Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā bhaddaji āyasmato ānandassa paccassosi. Ānanda said this: Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:

“What you see when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sight. “Yathā passato kho, āvuso, anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ. What you hear when the defilements are ended without delay is the best sound. Yathā suṇato anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ. The happiness you feel when the defilements are ended without delay is the best happiness. Yathā sukhitassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ. What you perceive when the defilements are ended without delay is the best perception. Yathā saññissa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ. The state of existence in which the defilements are ended without delay is the best state of existence.” Yathā bhūtassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Āghātavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve āghātavinayā, sākacchā sājīvato pañhaṁ; Pucchā nirodho codanā, sīlaṁ nisanti bhaddajīti.