At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Then Princess Cundī, escorted by five hundred chariots and five hundred royal maidens, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: Atha kho cundī rājakumārī pañcahi rathasatehi pañcahi ca kumārisatehi parivutā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho cundī rājakumārī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, my brother, Prince Cunda, says this: “Amhākaṁ, bhante, bhātā cundo nāma rājakumāro, so evamāha: ‘Take a woman or man who goes for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and doesn’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or consume intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. Only then do they get reborn in a good place, not a bad place, when their body breaks up, after death.’ ‘yadeva so hoti itthī vā puriso vā buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato, pāṇātipātā paṭivirato, adinnādānā paṭivirato, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato, musāvādā paṭivirato, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato, so kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁyeva upapajjati, no duggatin’ti. And so I ask the Buddha: Sāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pucchāmi: Sir, what kind of teacher should you have confidence in so as to be reborn in a good place, not a bad place, when the body breaks up, after death? ‘kathaṁrūpe kho, bhante, satthari pasanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁyeva upapajjati, no duggatiṁ? Sir, what kind of teaching should you have confidence in so as to be reborn in a good place, not a bad place, when the body breaks up, after death? Kathaṁrūpe dhamme pasanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁyeva upapajjati, no duggatiṁ? Sir, what kind of Saṅgha should you have confidence in so as to be reborn in a good place, not a bad place, when the body breaks up, after death? Kathaṁrūpe saṅghe pasanno kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁyeva upapajjati, no duggatiṁ? Sir, what kind of ethics should you fulfill so as to be reborn in a good place, not a bad place, when the body breaks up, after death?” Kathaṁrūpesu sīlesu paripūrakārī kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁyeva upapajjati, no duggatin’”ti?

“Cundī, the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, is said to be the best of all sentient beings—be they footless, with two feet, four feet, or many feet; with form or formless; with perception or without perception or with neither perception nor non-perception. “Yāvatā, cundi, sattā apadā vā dvipadā vā catuppadā vā bahuppadā vā rūpino vā arūpino vā saññino vā asaññino vā nevasaññināsaññino vā, tathāgato tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Those who have confidence in the Buddha have confidence in the best. Ye kho, cundi, buddhe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

The noble eightfold path is said to be the best of all conditioned things. Yāvatā, cundi, dhammā saṅkhatā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati. Those who have confidence in the noble eightfold path have confidence in the best. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Ye, cundi, ariye aṭṭhaṅgike magge pasannā, agge te pasannā, agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

Fading away is said to be the best of all things whether conditioned or unconditioned. Yāvatā, cundi, dhammā saṅkhatā vā asaṅkhatā vā, virāgo tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—That is, the quelling of vanity, the removing of thirst, the uprooting of clinging, the breaking of the round, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. madanimmadano pipāsavinayo ālayasamugghāto vaṭṭupacchedo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ. Those who have confidence in the teaching of fading away have confidence in the best. Ye kho, cundi, virāge dhamme pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

The Saṅgha of the Realized One’s disciples is said to be the best of all communities and groups. Yāvatā, cundi, saṅghā vā gaṇā vā, tathāgatasāvakasaṅgho tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā, esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Those who have confidence in the Saṅgha have confidence in the best. Ye kho, cundi, saṅghe pasannā, agge te pasannā. Having confidence in the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana pasannānaṁ aggo vipāko hoti.

The ethical conduct loved by the noble ones is said to be the best of all ethics. Yāvatā, cundi, sīlāni, ariyakantāni sīlāni tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—It is intact, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, liberating, praised by sensible people, not mistaken, and leading to immersion. akhaṇḍāni acchiddāni asabalāni akammāsāni bhujissāni viññuppasatthāni aparāmaṭṭhāni samādhisaṁvattanikāni. Those who fulfill the ethics loved by the noble ones fulfill the best. Ye kho, cundi, ariyakantesu sīlesu paripūrakārino, agge te paripūrakārino. Fulfilling the best, the result is the best. Agge kho pana paripūrakārīnaṁ aggo vipāko hotīti.

For those who, knowing the best teaching, Aggato ve pasannānaṁ, base their confidence on the best—aggaṁ dhammaṁ vijānataṁ; confident in the best Awakened One, Agge buddhe pasannānaṁ, supremely worthy of a religious donation; dakkhiṇeyye anuttare.

confident in the best teaching, Agge dhamme pasannānaṁ, the bliss of fading and stilling; virāgūpasame sukhe; confident in the best Saṅgha, Agge saṅghe pasannānaṁ, the supreme field of merit—puññakkhette anuttare.

giving gifts to the best, Aggasmiṁ dānaṁ dadataṁ, the best of merit grows: aggaṁ puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati; the best lifespan, beauty, Aggaṁ āyu ca vaṇṇo ca, fame, reputation, happiness, and strength. yaso kitti sukhaṁ balaṁ.

An intelligent person gives to the best, Aggassa dātā medhāvī, settled on the best teaching. aggadhammasamāhito; When they become a god or human, Devabhūto manusso vā, they rejoice at reaching the best.” aggappatto pamodatī”ti.