I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta's grove in Sāvatthi. At that time venerable Sāriputta was living in the Pubba monastery offered by the mother of Migara, in Sāvatthi. Then venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: Friends, bhikkhus, who is the person with internal bonds? Here bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is virtuous observing the higher code of rules and practising good conduct seeing fear in the slightest fault. After death he is born with a certain company of gods. Disappearing from there he returns here, to be born. Bhikkhus, this is the person with internal bonds who is a returner.

Friends, bhikkhus, who is the person with external bonds? Here bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is virtuous observing the higher code of rules and practising good conduct seeing fear in the slightest fault.

He abides enjoying a certain peaceful release of mind. After death he is born with a certain company of gods. Disappearing from there does not return here. Bhikkhus, this is the person with external bonds who is a non returner.

Again, friends, bhikkhus, the bhikkhu is virtuous observing the higher code of rules and practising good conduct seeing fear in the slightest fault. He follows the method of getting wearied, detaching and ceasing from sensual desires and from thinking. He follows the method of putting an end to craving. After death he is born with a certain company of gods. Disappearing from there, he does not return here. Bhikkhus, this is the person with external bonds he is a non returner.

Then many gods who had developed equanimity approached the Blessed One, worshipping the and standing on a side they said to the Blessed One :

Venerable sir, venerable Sāriputta in the Pubba monastery is explaining to the bhikkhus, the person with internal bonds and the person with external bonds. The gathering is excited. Good, if the Blessed One would approach venerable Sāriputta out of compassion. The Blessed One accepted in silence.

Then the Blessed One, like a strong man who would stretch his bent arm or bend his stretched arm disappering from Jeta's grove appeared before venerable Sāriputta in the Pubba monastery. Then the Blessed One sat on the prepared seat and venerable Sāriputta too worshipped the Blessed One and sat on a side The Blessed One said: Sāriputta, many gods who have developed equanimity approached me worshipped me and standing on a side they said: Venerable sir, venerable Sāriputta in the Pubba monastery is explaining to the bhikkhus, the person with internal bonds and the person with external bonds. The gathering is excited. Good, if the Blessed One would approach venerable Sāriputta out of compassion. Sāriputta, those gods stand as though fixed to the tip of a sword clustered together in tens, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and seventies. They do not hurt each other thus standing.

Sāriputta, that training should be done here itself. Our mental faculties should be pacified and our mind should be appeased. Our bodily, verbal, and mental actions will be appeasing towards co-associates in the holy life. Sāriputta, you should train in this manner. Sāriputta, those gone forth in other faiths should not hear this discourse, if they have not heard it.