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SN 47.12 
Saṁyutta Nikāya 
The Connected Discourses 
 
Mahāvagga Saṁyutta 
The Great Section of the Connected Discourses 
Satipaṭṭhāna Saṁyutta 
Connected Discourses on the Four Bases of Mindfulness 
Nāḷandā Vagga 
The Section on Nāḷandā 
 
Nāḷandā Sutta 
“Discourse at Nālandā” (Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar) 
 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2025 
 
Once, The Blessed One had traveled to and taken up residence at Nāḷandā, while staying 
at Pāvārika’s mango grove.  
 
It was during that time, when the Venerable Sāriputta went to The Blessed One, and after 
respectfully paying homage to The Teacher, sat down at one side, and spoke the following 
words:  
 
“Bhante, I have such faith, such confidence in The Blessed One, that I declare that there has 
never been, there can never be, nor could there be in the present, any other recluse or brahmin 
more exalted and superior in his Awakening than The Blessed One.” 
 
“Sāriputta, now that indeed is quite a lofty declaration for you to be making!  
 
“For, Sāriputta, that is truly a bold statement and an assertion, a bona fide and genuine sounding 
of the lion’s roar!  
 
“But, how is it, Sāriputta, that you make such a categorical declaration? After all, have you had 
the direct experience of knowing the Fully Awakened Buddhas from the past, those Arahants 
from bygone eras? Do you have direct and personal understanding of the quality of the Heart of 
all those Tathāgatas from the past, or have you gained personal knowledge of the level of their 
virtue, their meditation, their level of wisdom, their inner state, and their freedom from 
defilements and from future rebirths?”

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“No, Blessed Lord.” 
 
“And how about those Arahants, Sāriputta? Do you have the direct experience of knowing the 
Fully Awakened Buddhas that are to appear in the future? Do you have direct and personal 
understanding of the quality of the Heart of all those Tathāgatas who have not yet appeared, or 
have you gained personal knowledge of the level of their virtue, their meditation, their level of 
wisdom, their inner state, and their freedom from defilements and from future rebirths?” 
 
“No, Blessed Lord.” 
 
“And how about me, Sāriputta? Do you have the direct experience of knowing The Fully 
Awakened Buddha sitting in front of you at this present moment? Do you have direct and 
personal understanding of the quality of the Tathāgata’s Heart, here and now, or have you gained 
personal knowledge of the level of My virtue, My meditation, My level of wisdom, My inner 
state, and My freedom from defilements and from any future rebirths?” 
 
“No, Blessed Lord.” 
 
“Then, Sāriputta, it seems that you do not have the direct personal knowledge or understanding 
of the quality of the Heart of all those Tathāgatas from the past, those to appear in the future, or 
The Tathāgata at the present. Therefore, how is it that you dare to set forth a proclamation, such 
a lofty and bold utterance, a veritable sounding of the lion’s roar, by stating:  
 
‘Bhante, I have such faith, such confidence in The Blessed One, that I declare that there has 
never been, there can never be, nor could there be in the present, any other recluse or brahmin 
more exalted and superior in his Awakening than the Blessed One?’ 
 
“Blessed Lord, indeed, I do not possess the direct experience of knowing the Heart of the Fully 
Awakened Buddhas from the past, those Arahants from bygone eras, those to come in the future, 
nor of the Tathāgata Himself, in the present. Nevertheless, I have personally come to know and 
see the Truth of The Dhamma, and it is this realization itself, which is giving me the confidence 
to make such a proclamation.  
 
“Suppose, Bhante, a king’s frontier fortress was strongly fortified, with strong ramparts and 
turrets, all of which were accessible only through a single gate, where there was positioned a 
gatekeeper who was intelligent, alert, experienced, and very cautious; keeping all strangers out, 
while permitting the entry of only those, who are genuinely friendly.  
 
“Now, as the gatekeeper carefully monitors and patrols the path that leads all around the fortress, 
he does not observe there being even a tiny hole or crack in the thick walls, that would be big 
enough to allow even a tiny house kitten to slip through. In this way, he comes to the conclusion:  
 
‘Whatever decent sized living beings wanting to enter or leave this city, they will all have to do 
so by going through this gate, and this gate only!'

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“In the same way, Bhante, I have personally come to know and see the Truth of The Dhamma, 
and it is this realization itself which allows me to infer and make such a proclamation.   
 
“This is because, Bhante, all the Arahants, all the Fully Awakened Buddhas of the past had 
already abandoned the five hindrances, the corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom; having 
well established their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness, they had duly cultivated the 
Seven Factors of Awakening, and thus had liberated themselves by waking up to the 
Unsurpassed, Supreme, and Perfect Enlightenment.  
“Similarly, Bhante, all the Arahants, all the Fully Awakened Buddhas that will appear in the 
future will have abandoned the five hindrances, the corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom; 
well establishing their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness, while duly cultivating the 
Seven Factors of Awakening, and thus they will liberate themselves by waking up to the 
Unsurpassed, Supreme, and Perfect Enlightenment.  
“And similarly, Bhante, at present, all the Arahants, starting with The Blessed One Himself, all 
have already abandoned the five hindrances, the corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom; 
having well established their minds in the four foundations of mindfulness and duly cultivated 
the Seven Factors of Awakening, and thus they have liberated themselves by waking up to the 
Unsurpassed, Supreme, and Perfect Enlightenment.”  
“Sādhu, Sādhu indeed, Sāriputta!” exclaimed The Blessed One, while confirming the heartfelt 
declaration uttered by Sāriputta, the Chief Disciple. 
 
Then, The Teacher continued instructing: 
 
“In this manner, Sāriputta, you must therefore continue to teach and share This Beautiful 
Dhamma as you instruct and encourage your fellow Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, as well as the 
Upāsakas and Upāsikās, the male and female lay disciples.  
 
“For, in doing so, those listening to your words who might be of a lesser capacity of 
understanding or faith, still lacking that strong trust and confidence in their heart towards The 
Tathāgata, on being exposed to your explanation and sharing of This Beautiful Dhamma, they 
too, will indeed come out of their delusion; abandoning at last and leaving behind their 
perplexities and doubts, along with whatever wrong views that once plagued them.” 
 
 
Sādhu  
Sādhu  
Sādhu
