At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!” “bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this: Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Once upon a time, mendicants, there was a poor person, destitute and pitiful. “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, aññataro puriso imasmiṁyeva rājagahe manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko. They took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One. So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi. After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three. So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajji devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ. There they outshone the other gods in beauty and glory. So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā ca.

But the gods of the thirty-three complained, grumbled, and objected, Tatra sudaṁ, bhikkhave, devā tāvatiṁsā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: ‘Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! ‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho. For when this godling was a human being in their past life they were poor, destitute, and pitiful. Ayañhi devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno manussadaliddo ahosi manussakapaṇo manussavarāko; And when their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three. so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ. Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’ So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, addressed the gods of the thirty-three, Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse āmantesi: ‘Good fellows, don’t complain about this god. ‘mā kho tumhe, mārisā, etassa devaputtassa ujjhāyittha. When this godling was a human being in their past life they took up faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One. Eso kho, mārisā, devaputto pubbe manussabhūto samāno tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyi, sīlaṁ samādiyi, sutaṁ samādiyi, cāgaṁ samādiyi, paññaṁ samādiyi. After undertaking these things, when their body broke up, after death, they’ve been reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm, in the company of the gods of the thirty-three. So tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye saddhaṁ samādiyitvā sīlaṁ samādiyitvā sutaṁ samādiyitvā cāgaṁ samādiyitvā paññaṁ samādiyitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapanno devānaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ sahabyataṁ. Here they outshine the other gods in beauty and glory.’ So aññe deve atirocati vaṇṇena ceva yasasā cā’ti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, guiding the gods of the thirty-three, spoke this verse: Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo deve tāvatiṁse anunayamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

‘Whoever has faith in the Realized One, ‘Yassa saddhā tathāgate, unwavering and well grounded; acalā suppatiṭṭhitā; whose ethical conduct is good, Sīlañca yassa kalyāṇaṁ, praised and loved by the noble ones; ariyakantaṁ pasaṁsitaṁ.

who has confidence in the Saṅgha, Saṅghe pasādo yassatthi, and correct view: ujubhūtañca dassanaṁ; they’re said to be prosperous, Adaliddoti taṁ āhu, their life is not in vain. amoghaṁ tassa jīvitaṁ.

So let the wise devote themselves Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca, to faith, ethical behaviour, pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ; confidence, and insight into the teaching, Anuyuñjetha medhāvī, remembering the instructions of the Buddhas.’” saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan’”ti.