Saṁyutta Nikāya:
III. Khandhā Vagga:
28: Sāriputta Saṁutta

Kindred Sayings on Sāriputta

Sutta 1

Viveka Suttaṁ

Solitude

Thus have I heard:

Once the venerable Sāriputta was staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the venerable Sāriputta,
rising at early dawn,
robed himself,
took bowl and robe
and entered Sāvatthī to beg for alms.

After going his begging-rounds in Sāvatthī
and returning from begging
he ate his meal
and drew near Dark Grove
for noonday rest.

Plunging into Dark Grove,
he sat down at the foot of a tree
for noonday rest.

Then the venerable Sāriputta,
rising at eventide from his solitude,
went to Jeta Grove
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Now the venerable Ānanda
saw the venerable Sāriputta coming,
while yet he was far off,
and beholding the venerable Sāriputta
he thus spake to him:

"Calm are your senses, friend Sāriputta,
clear and translucent
the colour of your face.

In what mood
has the venerable Sāriputta
been spending this day?"

"Friend, I have been dwelling aloof from passions,
aloof from things evil,
with my thought applied and sustained
in first Jhāna
which is born of solitude
and full of zest and happiness.¹

To me thus, friend,
the thought never came:

'It is I
who am attaining first Jhāna,'

'It is I
who have attained first Jhāna."

'It is I
who have emerged from first Jhāna.'".

"Surely for a long time
have leanings to I-making,²
to mine-making
and to vanity
been well rooted out from the venerable [187] Sāriputta.

That is why it occurs not
to the venerable Sāriputta: