Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.12 2.

Pañcarājasutta

Dutiyavagga Pañcarājasutta Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

Tena kho pana samayena pañcannaṁ rājūnaṁ pasenadipamukhānaṁ pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitānaṁ samaṅgībhūtānaṁ paricārayamānānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi: “kiṁ nu kho kāmānaṁ aggan”ti? Tatrekacce evamāhaṁsu: “rūpā kāmānaṁ aggan”ti. Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: “saddā kāmānaṁ aggan”ti. Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: “gandhā kāmānaṁ aggan”ti.

At that time, the five kings led by Pasenadi were enjoying the five strands of sensual pleasures and were equally endowed and engaged in their service. A discussion arose among them: What is the highest form of sensual pleasures?

Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: “rasā kāmānaṁ aggan”ti. Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: “phoṭṭhabbā kāmānaṁ aggan”ti.

Some said, Form is the highest of sensual pleasures.

Yato kho te rājāno nāsakkhiṁsu aññamaññaṁ saññāpetuṁ.

Others said, Sound is the highest of sensual pleasures.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo te rājāno etadavoca: “āyāma, mārisā, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamissāma; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchissāma. Yathā no bhagavā byākarissati tathā naṁ dhāressāmā”ti.

Some said, Smell is the highest of sensual pleasures.

“Evaṁ, mārisā”ti kho te rājāno rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paccassosuṁ.

Others said, Taste is the highest of sensual pleasures.

Atha kho te pañca rājāno pasenadipamukhā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.

Some said, Tangible objects are the highest of sensual pleasures.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha, bhante, amhākaṁ pañcannaṁ rājūnaṁ pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitānaṁ samaṅgībhūtānaṁ paricārayamānānaṁ ayamantarākathā udapādi: ‘kiṁ nu kho kāmānaṁ aggan’ti?

Since the kings could not convince each other, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to them, Let us go to the Blessed One and ask him about this matter.

Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘rūpā kāmānaṁ aggan’ti.

We will accept whatever the Blessed One explains.

Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘saddā kāmānaṁ aggan’ti.

Indeed, the kings agreed to King Pasenadi's proposal.

Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘gandhā kāmānaṁ aggan’ti. Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘rasā kāmānaṁ aggan’ti.

Then the five kings, led by Pasenadi, went to the Blessed One.

Ekacce evamāhaṁsu: ‘phoṭṭhabbā kāmānaṁ aggan’ti.

After paying homage, they sat on one side.

King Pasenadi of Kosala then addressed the Blessed One, explaining the discussion that had arisen among them about the highest form of sensual pleasures, with some advocating for form, others for sound, smell, taste, or tangible objects as the highest.

Kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kāmānaṁ aggan”ti? “Manāpapariyantaṁ khvāhaṁ, mahārāja, pañcasu kāmaguṇesu agganti vadāmi.

What, venerable sir, is the highest of sensual pleasures?

Teva, mahārāja, rūpā ekaccassa manāpā honti, teva rūpā ekaccassa amanāpā honti. Yehi ca yo rūpehi attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo, so tehi rūpehi aññaṁ rūpaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.

The Blessed One replied, Great king, I declare the highest of the five strands of sensual pleasures to be whatever is most pleasing to someone.

Te tassa rūpā paramā honti. Te tassa rūpā anuttarā honti. Teva, mahārāja, saddā ekaccassa manāpā honti, teva saddā ekaccassa amanāpā honti.

For some, certain forms are pleasing, while those same forms are displeasing to others.

Yehi ca yo saddehi attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo, so tehi saddehi aññaṁ saddaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti. Te tassa saddā paramā honti. Te tassa saddā anuttarā honti.

For one who is satisfied and content with certain forms, he does not seek any other form that is superior or more sublime.

Teva, mahārāja, gandhā ekaccassa manāpā honti, teva gandhā ekaccassa amanāpā honti.

Those forms are the highest for him.

Yehi ca yo gandhehi attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo, so tehi gandhehi aññaṁ gandhaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.

Similarly, this applies to sounds, smells, tastes, and tangible objects.

Te tassa gandhā paramā honti. Te tassa gandhā anuttarā honti. Teva, mahārāja, rasā ekaccassa manāpā honti, teva rasā ekaccassa amanāpā honti.

Whatever is most pleasing in each category is considered the highest for that individual.

Yehi ca yo rasehi attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo, so tehi rasehi aññaṁ rasaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.

At that time, a lay follower named Candanaṅgalika was sitting in the assembly.

Te tassa rasā paramā honti. Te tassa rasā anuttarā honti. Teva, mahārāja, phoṭṭhabbā ekaccassa manāpā honti, teva phoṭṭhabbā ekaccassa amanāpā honti. Yehi ca yo phoṭṭhabbehi attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo, so tehi phoṭṭhabbehi aññaṁ phoṭṭhabbaṁ uttaritaraṁ vā paṇītataraṁ vā na pattheti.

Rising from his seat, he adjusted his robe on one shoulder, raised his joined palms towards the Blessed One, and said, It appears to me, Blessed One, it appears to me, Well-Gone One.

Te tassa phoṭṭhabbā paramā honti. Te tassa phoṭṭhabbā anuttarā hontī”ti. Tena kho pana samayena candanaṅgaliko upāsako tassaṁ parisāyaṁ nisinno hoti.

Let it appear to you, Candanaṅgalika, the Blessed One replied.

Atha kho candanaṅgaliko upāsako uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.

Then Candanaṅgalika, in the presence of the Blessed One, recited a verse in praise: Just as a lotus, a water lily, fragrant and delightful,

“Paṭibhātu taṁ, candanaṅgalikā”ti bhagavā avoca.

Blooms in the morning, untouched by water;

Atha kho candanaṅgaliko upāsako bhagavato sammukhā tadanurūpāya gāthāya abhitthavi: “Padumaṁ yathā kokanadaṁ sugandhaṁ, Pāto siyā phullamavītagandhaṁ; Aṅgīrasaṁ passa virocamānaṁ, Tapantamādiccamivantalikkhe”ti. Atha kho te pañca rājāno candanaṅgalikaṁ upāsakaṁ pañcahi uttarāsaṅgehi acchādesuṁ.

See the Radiant One shining forth,

Like the blazing sun in the sky.

Then the five kings covered Candanaṅgalika, the lay follower, with five upper robes.

Atha kho candanaṅgaliko upāsako tehi pañcahi uttarāsaṅgehi bhagavantaṁ acchādesīti.

Candanaṅgalika then covered the Blessed One with those five upper robes.