So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.

At that time the Koliyan named Kakudha—Venerable Mahāmoggallāna’s supporter—had recently passed away and been reborn in a certain host of mind-made gods. Tena kho pana samayena kakudho nāma koliyaputto āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa upaṭṭhāko adhunākālaṅkato aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno. His incarnation was two or three times the size of a Magadhan village with its fields. Tassa evarūpo attabhāvapaṭilābho hoti—seyyathāpi nāma dve vā tīṇi vā māgadhakāni gāmakkhettāni. But with that incarnation he didn’t obstruct himself or others. So tena attabhāvapaṭilābhena neva attānaṁ no paraṁ byābādheti.

Then the godling Kakudha went up to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, Atha kho kakudho devaputto yenāyasmā mahāmoggallāno tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kakudho devaputto āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ etadavoca: “Sir, this fixed desire arose in Devadatta: “devadattassa, bhante, evarūpaṁ icchāgataṁ uppajji: ‘I shall lead the mendicant Saṅgha.’ ‘ahaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pariharissāmī’ti. And as that thought arose, Devadatta lost that psychic power.” Sahacittuppādā ca, bhante, devadatto tassā iddhiyā parihīno”ti.

That’s what the godling Kakudha said. Idamavoca kakudho devaputto. Then he bowed and respectfully circled Mahāmoggallāna, keeping him on his right side, before vanishing right there. Idaṁ vatvā āyasmantaṁ mahāmoggallānaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then Mahāmoggallāna went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Kakudho nāma, bhante, koliyaputto mamaṁ upaṭṭhāko adhunākālaṅkato aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapanno hoti. Tassa evarūpo attabhāvapaṭilābho—seyyathāpi nāma dve vā tīṇi vā māgadhakāni gāmakkhettāni. So tena attabhāvapaṭilābhena neva attānaṁ no paraṁ byābādheti. Atha kho, bhante, kakudho devaputto yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhante, kakudho devaputto maṁ etadavoca: ‘devadattassa, bhante, evarūpaṁ icchāgataṁ uppajji—ahaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pariharissāmīti. Sahacittuppādā ca, bhante, devadatto tassā iddhiyā parihīno’ti.

Idamavoca, bhante, kakudho devaputto. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyī”ti.

“But Moggallāna, did you encompass the godling Kakudha’s mind, and know that “Kiṁ pana te, moggallāna, kakudho devaputto cetasā ceto paricca vidito: everything he says is correct and not otherwise?” ‘yaṁ kiñci kakudho devaputto bhāsati sabbaṁ taṁ tatheva hoti, no aññathā’”ti?

“Indeed I did, sir.” “Cetasā ceto paricca vidito me, bhante, kakudho devaputto: ‘yaṁ kiñci kakudho devaputto bhāsati sabbaṁ taṁ tatheva hoti, no aññathā’”ti.

“Mark these words, Moggallāna! “Rakkhassetaṁ, moggallāna, vācaṁ. Mark these words! Rakkhassetaṁ, moggallāna, vācaṁ. Now that futile man Devadatta will expose himself by his own deeds. Idāni so moghapuriso attanāva attānaṁ pātukarissati.

Moggallāna, there are these five teachers found in the world. Pañcime, moggallāna, satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. What five? Katame pañca?

Firstly, some teacher with impure conduct claims: ‘I am pure in ethics. My ethical conduct is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Idha, moggallāna, ekacco satthā aparisuddhasīlo samāno ‘parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. But their disciples know: Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘This teacher has impure ethical conduct, but claims to be ethically pure. ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhasīlo samāno parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; They themselves will be recognized by their own deeds.’ yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s conduct, Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā sīlato rakkhanti; and the teacher expects them to do so. evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi sīlato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure livelihood claims: ‘I am pure in livelihood. My livelihood is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhājīvo samāno ‘parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. But their disciples know: Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘This teacher has impure livelihood, but claims to have pure livelihood. ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhājīvo samāno parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; They themselves will be recognized by their own deeds.’ yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s livelihood, Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā ājīvato rakkhanti; and the teacher expects them to do so. evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi ājīvato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure teaching claims: ‘I am pure in teaching. My teaching is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhadhammadesano samāno ‘parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. But their disciples know: Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘This teacher has impure teaching, but claims to have pure teaching. ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhadhammadesano samāno parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; They themselves will be recognized by their own deeds.’ yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s teaching, Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā dhammadesanato rakkhanti; and the teacher expects them to do so. evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi dhammadesanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure answers claims: ‘I am pure in how I answer. My answers are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno ‘parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. But their disciples know: Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘This teacher has impure answers, but claims to have pure answers. ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; They themselves will be recognized by their own deeds.’ yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s answers, Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā veyyākaraṇato rakkhanti; and the teacher expects them to do so. evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi veyyākaraṇato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati.

Furthermore, some teacher with impure knowledge and vision claims: ‘I am pure in knowledge and vision. My knowledge and vision are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Puna caparaṁ, moggallāna, idhekacco satthā aparisuddhañāṇadassano samāno ‘parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. But their disciples know: Tamenaṁ sāvakā evaṁ jānanti: ‘This teacher has impure knowledge and vision, but claims to have pure knowledge and vision. ‘ayaṁ kho bhavaṁ satthā aparisuddhañāṇadassano samāno parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāti ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. They wouldn’t like it if we were to tell the laypeople. Mayañceva kho pana gihīnaṁ āroceyyāma, nāssassa manāpaṁ. And how could we treat them in a way that they don’t like? Yaṁ kho panassa amanāpaṁ, kathaṁ naṁ mayaṁ tena samudācareyyāma: But they consent to robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. ‘sammannati kho pana cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena; They themselves will be recognized by their own deeds.’ yaṁ tumo karissati tumova tena paññāyissatī’ti. The disciples of such a teacher cover up their teacher’s knowledge and vision, Evarūpaṁ kho, moggallāna, satthāraṁ sāvakā ñāṇadassanato rakkhanti; and the teacher expects them to do so. evarūpo ca pana satthā sāvakehi ñāṇadassanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsati. These are the five teachers found in the world. Ime kho, moggallāna, pañca satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

But Moggallāna, I have pure ethical conduct, and I claim: ‘I am pure in ethical conduct. My ethical conduct is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Ahaṁ kho pana, moggallāna, parisuddhasīlo samāno ‘parisuddhasīlomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me sīlaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. My disciples don’t cover up my conduct, and I don’t expect them to. Na ca maṁ sāvakā sīlato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi sīlato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. I have pure livelihood, and I claim: ‘I am pure in livelihood. My livelihood is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Parisuddhājīvo samāno ‘parisuddhājīvomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddho me ājīvo pariyodāto asaṅkiliṭṭho’ti. My disciples don’t cover up my livelihood, and I don’t expect them to. Na ca maṁ sāvakā ājīvato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi ājīvato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. I have pure teaching, and I claim: ‘I am pure in teaching. My teaching is pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Parisuddhadhammadesano samāno ‘parisuddhadhammadesanomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhā me dhammadesanā pariyodātā asaṅkiliṭṭhā’ti. My disciples don’t cover up my teaching, and I don’t expect them to. Na ca maṁ sāvakā dhammadesanato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi dhammadesanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. I have pure answers, and I claim: ‘I am pure in how I answer. My answers are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Parisuddhaveyyākaraṇo samāno ‘parisuddhaveyyākaraṇomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me veyyākaraṇaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. My disciples don’t cover up my answers, and I don’t expect them to. Na ca maṁ sāvakā veyyākaraṇato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi veyyākaraṇato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmi. I have pure knowledge and vision, and I claim: ‘I am pure in knowledge and vision. My knowledge and vision are pure, bright, uncorrupted.’ Parisuddhañāṇadassano samāno ‘parisuddhañāṇadassanomhī’ti paṭijānāmi ‘parisuddhaṁ me ñāṇadassanaṁ pariyodātaṁ asaṅkiliṭṭhan’ti. My disciples don’t cover up my knowledge and vision, and I don’t expect them to.” Na ca maṁ sāvakā ñāṇadassanato rakkhanti, na cāhaṁ sāvakehi ñāṇadassanato rakkhaṁ paccāsīsāmī”ti.

Kakudhavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve sampadā byākaraṇaṁ, phāsu akuppapañcamaṁ; Sutaṁ kathā āraññako, sīho ca kakudho dasāti.

Dutiyo paṇṇāsako samatto.