Reading guide
The vagga's own name, finally explained
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own setting — “on the Vulture's Peak Mountain, in the Boar's Cave” — is the literal source of this vagga's own name, “Sūkarakhatavagga.” This project's own SN 48.51 explicitly declined to guess at this vagga's own name in advance; this discourse confirms it directly, by its own setting rather than by any doctrinal content.
Why an arahant still shows deference: the supreme sanctuary
Confirmed by direct reading, Sāriputta's own first answer explains that an arahant continues showing utmost deference to the Buddha “considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke” (anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ) — and this sanctuary IS the development of the five faculties, which lead “to peace and to awakening” (upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ), the identical phrase this project's own SN 48.19 already met.
Utmost deference, defined as fivefold reverence
Confirmed by direct reading, Sāriputta's own second answer defines “utmost deference” itself as maintaining respect and reverence toward five things: the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion — a specific, fivefold structure of ongoing reverence that an arahant maintains even after full liberation.
Key terms
The text
§1 — the Buddha's own opening questionAt one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain in the Boar’s Cave. Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta: “Sāriputta, considering what benefit does a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, roll forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions?” “Sir, it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.” “Good, good, Sāriputta! For it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant whose defilements are ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.
§2 — the supreme sanctuary from the yokeAnd what is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke?” “It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended develops the faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom, which lead to peace and awakening. It is considering this supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.” “Good, good, Sāriputta! For this is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke.
§3 — utmost deference, defined as fivefold reverenceAnd what is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows towards the Realized One or his instructions?” “It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended maintains respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion. This is that utmost deference.” “Good, good, Sāriputta! For this is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows towards the Realized One or his instructions.”
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