Reading guide
A feat entirely silent and invisible
Unlike SN 8.9's physically demonstrative devotion, this discourse's central action produces no visible sign at all; Moggallāna's mind-scanning happens purely internally, and only Vaṅgīsa's attentive noticing brings it into the discourse at all.
An assembly matching SN 8.7's scale, without its ceremony
Five hundred arahants gather here as in SN 8.7's Pavāraṇā, but without any formal ritual occasion structuring the scene; the size alone doesn't require ceremony to be significant.
Praise built around a specific, observed act
Vaṅgīsa's verses don't praise Moggallāna's psychic power as a general reputation; they describe the specific act just witnessed — encompassing with his mind, scrutinizing minds that are liberated and free of attachment — grounding the tribute in what actually happened.
A scene built in layers: the sage, the disciples, the scrutiny
The verse structures itself in distinct layers — the Buddha seated on the mountainside, the disciples with the three knowledges revering him, and Moggallāna's mind moving through their minds in turn — a nested picture rather than a single flat image.
A closing return to the Buddha as the scene's true center
Despite honoring Moggallāna specifically, the verse's final lines return to the Buddha himself — ‘perfect in every respect’ — making clear that even this praise of a specific disciple's power ultimately orbits the Teacher at the center of the whole scene.
Key terms
The text
§1At one time the Buddha was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock, together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants, all of whom were perfected ones. Thereupon, with his mind, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna checked to see whose mind was liberated and free of attachments. Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa thought, “The Buddha is staying on the slopes of Isigili … with five hundred perfected ones. Mahāmoggallāna is checking to see whose mind is liberated and free of attachments. Why don’t I extoll him in the Buddha’s presence with fitting verses?”
§2Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said, “I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!” “Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha. Then Vaṅgīsa extolled Mahāmoggallāna in his presence with fitting verses:
§3“As the sage, who has gone beyond suffering, sits upon the mountain slope, he is revered by disciples with the three knowledges, conquerors of death.
§4Moggallāna, of great psychic power, encompasses with his mind, scrutinizing their minds, liberated, free of attachments.
§5That is how those endowed with many fine qualities revere Gotama, the sage gone beyond suffering, perfect in every respect.”
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