At Sāvatthī.
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Ānanda, do you endorse Sāriputta?”
“Sir, who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged? Venerable Sāriputta is astute, he has great wisdom, widespread wisdom, laughing wisdom, swift wisdom, sharp wisdom, and penetrating wisdom. He has few wishes, he’s content, secluded, aloof, and energetic. He is a preacher, and he accepts advice; he accuses and criticizes wickedness. Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?”
“That’s so true, Ānanda! That’s so true! Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?” And the Buddha repeated all of Ānanda’s terms of praise.
While this praise of Sāriputta was being spoken, the godling Susīma approached the Buddha, escorted by a large assembly of godlings. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:
“That’s so true, Blessed One! That’s so true, Holy One! Who on earth would not endorse Venerable Sāriputta unless they’re a fool, a hater, delusional, or mentally deranged?” And he too repeated all the terms of praise of Sāriputta, adding, “For I too, sir, whenever I go to an assembly of godlings, frequently hear the same terms of praise.”
While this praise of Sāriputta was being spoken, the godlings of Susīma’s assembly—uplifted and overjoyed, full of rapture and happiness—displayed a rainbow of bright colors.
Suppose there was a beryl gem that was naturally lustrous, eight-faceted, well-worked. When placed on a cream rug it would sine and glow and dazzle. In the same way, the godlings of Susīma’s assembly displayed a rainbow of bright colors.
Suppose there was a pendant of Black Plum River gold, fashioned by a deft smith, well wrought in the forge. When placed on a cream rug it would shine and glow and dazzle. In the same way, the godlings of Susīma’s assembly displayed a rainbow of bright colors.
Suppose that in the autumn the heavens were clear and cloudless. At the crack of dawn, the morning star shines and glows and dazzles. In the same way, the godlings of Susīma’s assembly displayed a rainbow of bright colors.
Suppose that in the autumn the heavens were clear and cloudless. As the sun is rising to the firmament, having dispelled all the darkness of space, shines and glows and dazzles. In the same way, the godlings of Susīma’s assembly displayed a rainbow of bright colors.
Then the godling Susīma spoke this verse about Venerable Sāriputta in the Buddha’s presence:
“He’s considered astute, Sāriputta, free of anger. Few in wishes, gentle, tamed, the seer shines in the Teacher’s praise!”
Then the Buddha replied to Susīma with this verse about Venerable Sāriputta:
“He’s considered astute, Sāriputta, free of anger. Few in wishes, gentle, tamed; developed and well-tamed, he awaits his time.”