1 So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, late at night, the glorious godling Shiva, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the Buddha’s presence:
1 Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho sivo devaputto abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇo kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sivo devaputto bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo abhāsi:
2 “Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, things get better, not worse.
2 “Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo.
3 Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, wisdom is gained—but not from anyone else.
3 Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, paññā labbhati nāññato.
4 Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you grieve not among the grieving.
4 Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sokamajjhe na socati.
5 Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you dazzle among your relatives.
5 Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, ñātimajjhe virocati.
6 Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, sentient beings go to a good place.
6 Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sattā gacchanti suggatiṁ.
7 Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, sentient beings live happily.”
7 Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sattā tiṭṭhanti sātatan”ti.
8 Then the Buddha replied to Shiva in verse:
8 Atha kho bhagavā sivaṁ devaputtaṁ gāthāya paccabhāsi:
9 “Associate only with the virtuous! Try to get close to the virtuous! Understanding the true teaching of the good, you’re released from all suffering.”
9 “Sabbhireva samāsetha, sabbhi kubbetha santhavaṁ; Sataṁ saddhammamaññāya, sabbadukkhā pamuccatī”ti.
Mark SN 2.21 as studied Keeps a dated record in My Study and a ✓ in the library
SN 2.20 SN 2.22 English — SuttaCentral English (Bhikkhu Sujato; Vinaya: Bhikkhu Brahmali) (2018). CC0 (public domain dedication). Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato and Bhikkhu Brahmali, dedicated to the public domain (CC0), SuttaCentral. Source
Pāli — Tipiṭaka (Pāli, Mahāsaṅgīti edition) (Pāli canon; Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka edition). CC0 (public domain dedication). Pāli text (Mahāsaṅgīti edition) via SuttaCentral, CC0. Source
Numbers in the margin count the paragraphs of each discourse; SuttaCentral’s own segment numbering is the same in every language, so the versions line up exactly.
