32(2)Cundī
This includes an expanded parallel of 4:34.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove,the squirrel sanctuary.
Then Princess Cundī,
Mp,commenting on the preceding sutta,says she was a daughter of King Bimbisara. accompanied by five hundred chariots and five hundred court girls,approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,and sat down to one side.
Princess Cundi then said to theBlessed One:
"Bhante,my brother is Prince Cunda.He says thus:
'Whenever a man or a woman has gone for refuge to the Buddha,the Dhamma,and the Sangha,and abstains from the destruction of life,from taking what is not given,from sexual misconduct,from false speech,and from indulging in liquor,wine,and intoxicants,the basis for heedlessness,with the breakup of the body,after death,he is reborn only in a good destination,not in a bad destination.'
I ask the Blessed One:
'What kind of teacher,Bhante,should one have confidence in,so that,with the breakup of the body,after death,one is reborn only in a good destination,not in a bad destination?
What kind of Dhamma should one have confidence in,so that,with the breakup of the body,after death,one is reborn only in a good destination,not in a bad destination?
What kind of Sangha should one have confidence in,so that,with the breakup of the body,after death,one is reborn only in a good destination,not in a bad destination?
What kind of virtuous behavior should one fulfill so that,with the breakup of the body,after death,one is reborn only in a good destination,not in a bad destination?"
(1)"Cundi,to whatever extent there are beings,whether foot-
less or with two feet,four feet,or many feet,whether having
form or formless,whether percipient,non-percipient,or neither percipient nor non-percipient,the Tathagata,the Arahant,
the Perfectly Enlightened One is declared the foremost among
them.
Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the foremost,
and for those who have confidence in
the foremost,the result is foremost.
(2)"To whatever extent,Cundi,there are phenomena that are
conditioned,the noble eightfold path is declared the foremost
among them.
Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold
path have confidence in the foremost,and for those who have
confidence in the foremost,the result is foremost.
Strangely,neither Ce nor Ee contains this paragraph,which is in Be.It seems necessary to complete the set of five items.The paragraph is found in all three editions of the Fours.The parallel It S90,88,does not include this paragraph,but It S90 is included in the Threes and thus must limit itself to three objects of faith.(3)"To whatever extent,Cundi,there are phenomena
whether conditioned or unconditioned,dispassion is declared
the foremost among them,that is,the crushing of pride,the
removal of thirst,the uprooting of attachment,the termination
of the round,the destruction of craving,dispassion,cessation,
nibbāna.
Those who [36]have confidence in the Dhamma,in
dispassion,
Virage dhamme.The parallel statement at 4:34 has only virage,but It S90 has viragedhamme. have confidence in the foremost,and for those
who have confidence in the foremost,the result is foremost.
(4)"To whatever extent,Cundi,there are Sanghas or groups,
the Sangha of the Tathāgata's disciples is declared the fore-
most among them,that is,the four pairs of persons,the eight
types of individuals--this Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples
is worthy of gifts,worthy of hospitality,worthy of offerings,
worthy of reverential salutation,the unsurpassed field of merit
for the world.
Those who have confidence in the Sangha have
confidence in the foremost,
and for those who have confidence
in the foremost,the result is foremost.
(5)"To whatever extent,Cundi;there is virtuous behavior,the virtuous behavior loved by the noble ones is declared the foremost among them,that is,when it is unbroken,flawless,unblemished,unblotched,freeing,praised by the wise,ungrasped,leading to concentration.
Those who fulfill the virtuous behavior loved by the noble ones fulfill the foremost,
and for those who fulfill the foremost,the result is foremost."
For those confident in regard to the foremost,
These verses are also at 4:34. knowing the foremost Dhamma,
confident in the Buddha-—the foremost—unsurpassed,worthy of offerings;
for those confident in the foremost Dhamma,in the blissful peace of dispassion;
for those confident in the foremost Sangha,the unsurpassed field of merit;
for those giving gifts to the foremost,the foremost kind of merit increases:
the foremost life span,beauty,and glory,good reputation,happiness,and strength.
The wise one who gives to the foremost,concentrated upon the foremost Dhamma,
having become a deva or human being,rejoices having attained the foremost.