Dighanikaya 20.331

20.331

Evaṃ me sutanti mahāsamayasuttaṃ. Tatrāyamapubbapadavaṇṇanā – sakkesūti ambaṭṭhasutte vuttena uppattinayena ‘‘sakyā vata, bho kumārā’’ti udānaṃ paṭicca sakkāti laddhanāmānaṃ rājakumārānaṃ nivāso ekopi janapado ruḷhīsaddena ‘‘sakkā’’ti vuccati, tasmiṃ sakkesu janapade. Mahāvaneti sayaṃjāte aropite himavantena saddhiṃ ekābaddhe mahati vane. Sabbeheva arahantehīti imaṃ suttaṃ kathitadivaseyeva pattaarahattehi.

"Thus have I heard" introduces the Mahāsamaya Sutta. Here is the explanation of the unfamiliar words: "Among the Sakyans": according to the account of origin stated in the Ambaṭṭha Sutta, through the joyful utterance, "Capable (sakyā) indeed are the princes, good sirs!", princes acquired the name "Sakyans"; a single country, as their residence, is called "Sakyans" by conventional usage; thus, "among the Sakyans" means in that country of the Sakyans. "In the Great Forest": in a large forest that grew naturally, was not planted, and was contiguous with the Himālaya. "With all arahants": with those who had attained arahantship on the very day this sutta was spoken.