Sopāka (2nd)

Thag 7.4 · Sopākattheragāthā

A modest yellow wildflower grows from a crack in a weathered stone.

I saw the supreme man walking mindfully in the shade of the terrace, so I approached, and bowed to the supreme among men.
Arranging my robe over one shoulder and clasping my hands together, I walked alongside that stainless one, supreme among all beings.
The wise one, expert in questions, questioned me. Brave and fearless, I answered the Teacher.
When all his questions were answered, the Realized One congratulated me. Looking around the mendicant Saṅgha, he said the following:
“It is a blessing for the people of Aṅga and Magadha that this person enjoys their robe and almsfood, requisites and lodgings, their respect and service—it’s a blessing for them,” he declared.
“Sopāka, from this day on you are invited to come and see me. And Sopāka, let this be your ordination.”
At seven years old I received ordination. I bear my final body—oh, the clear rightness of the teaching!

Connections

Collection & context

TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.