Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1927

v2.c31.1927

Though Moggallāna’s pre-eminence was in *iddhi*-power, yet in wisdom, too, he was second only to Sāriputta. These two could answer questions within the range of no other disciple of the Buddha.¹⁸ The Buddha paid a compliment to Moggallāna’s powers of preaching, when, having preached himself to the Sākyans in their new Mote Hall at Kapilavatthu, he asked Moggallāna, after their departure, to talk to the monks, as he himself was weary. And Moggallāna spoke to them of lusts and of the means of getting rid of them. At the end of the sermon the Buddha praised him warmly.¹⁹ Mention is made elsewhere²⁰ of eloquent sermons preached by him on the *jhānas*, on qualities which lead to true emancipation,²¹ and of visits paid to him by Sakka in company with numerous other gods in order to hear him preach. Other devas also went to hear him—*e.g.*, Candana, Suyāma, Santusita, Sunimitta and Vasavatti.²² He was also consulted by those, such as Vacchagotta,²³ and Vappa,²⁴ eager to learn from him the teachings of the Buddha. When the Buddha went to preach the Abhidhamma in Tāvatiṃsa, it was to Moggallāna that he entrusted the task of preaching to the people who were waiting for his return. Moggallāna, therefore, provided for these people spiritually, while Anāthapiṇḍika looked after their bodily needs.²⁵ When the time drew near for the Buddha’s return, Moggallāna, at the request of the people, went to Tāvatiṃsa, diving into the earth and climbing Sineru, in full view of them all, in order to find out what the Buddha intended doing, so that the people might be kept informed.²⁶ No task, which he might be told by the Buddha to perform, seemed to Moggallāna too insignificant. Thus we find him employed by the Buddha as messenger to the arahant Uggasena, telling him that the Buddha wished to see him.²⁷ He was also sent to Sakkhara, to Macchariya-Kosiya, to check his miserliness and bring him to Jetavana²⁸; and to Sīlavā, whom Ajātasattu was plotting to kill.²⁹ When Visakhā was building the Migārāmātupāsāda and the Buddha was away on one of his journeys, Moggallāna, because of his iddhi-power, and five hundred monks were left to supervise the work, which was carried through without difficulty.³⁰