Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.2399

v2.c36.2399

1. **Sāriputta Sutta.**—The sixteenth sutta of the **Aṭṭhakavagga** of the **Sutta Nipāta**. Sāriputta asks the Buddha how a monk should conduct himself in order to achieve his goal. The Buddha explains that a monk must avoid the five dangers, endure heat and cold and other discomforts, and must not be guilty of theft, anger, lying or arrogance. He should be guided by wisdom and moderation.¹ The Commentary explains² that the sutta is also called the Therapañha Sutta, and that it was preached on the occasion of the Buddha's descent from Tāvatiṃsa to Saṅkassa. The Buddha desired that Sāriputta's wisdom should be adequately recognized, for Moggallāna's iddhi, Anuruddha's clairvoyance and Puṇṇa's eloquence were already famous, but Sāriputta's skill remained unknown. The Buddha therefore related the Parosahassa Jātaka in order to show Sāriputta's wisdom in a past life. At the end of the story, Sāriputta questioned the Buddha in eight stanzas, and the rest of the sutta was spoken by the Buddha in answer to these questions.