Dighanikaya 2.162

2.162

Bhikkhusaṅghassa añjaliṃ paṇāmetvāti evaṃ kirassa ahosi bhagavantaṃ vanditvā itocito ca gantvā bhikkhusaṅghaṃ vandantena ca bhagavā piṭṭhito kātabbo hoti, garukāropi cesa na hoti. Rājānaṃ vanditvā uparājānaṃ vandantenapi hi rañño agāravo kato hoti. Tasmā bhagavantaṃ vanditvā ṭhitaṭṭhāneyeva bhikkhusaṅghassa añjaliṃ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Kañcideva desanti kañci okāsaṃ.

"Having saluted the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with joined palms": for it occurred to him thus: 'Having venerated the Blessed One, if one goes here and there to venerate the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, one must turn one's back to the Blessed One, and this is not showing respect. For even when one has venerated the king, if one venerates the viceroy, disrespect is shown to the king.' Therefore, having venerated the Blessed One, right from the place where he stood, he saluted the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with joined palms and sat down to one side. "A certain place": a certain spot.