Conduct

THUS have I heard.
The Exalted One was once staying at Rājagaha
on the hill Vulture's Peak.
Now at that time the venerable Sāriputta
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Mahā-Moggallāna
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Mahā-Kassapa
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Anuruddha
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Puṇṇa Mantānī's son
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Upāli
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Ānanda
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
And the venerable Devadatta
with many brethren
was walking to and fro
not far from the Exalted One.
Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren:[2] -
"Do ye see Sāriputta, brethren,
walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren are of great wisdom."
"Do ye see Moggallāna, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren are of great will-potency."
"Do ye see Kassapa, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren keep the stricter observances."[3]
"Do ye see Anuruddha, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren have the deva-sight."[4]
"Do ye see Puṇṇa Mantānī's son, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren are of righteous converse."
"Do ye see Upāli, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren know the Vinaya by heart."[5]
"Do ye see Ānanda, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren have learnt much."[6]
"Do ye see Devadatta, brethren,
so walking to and fro with many brethren?"
"Even so, lord."
"All of those brethren have evil wants.
Through an element it is, brethren,
that beings flow together,
meet together.
Beings of low tastes
flow together,
meet together
with them of low tastes.
They of virtuous tastes
flow together,
meet together
with them of virtuous tastes.
In the past, brethren, through an element it was,
that beings flowed together,
met together.
Beings of low tastes
flowed together,
met together
with them of low tastes.
Beings of virtuous tastes
flowed together,
met together
with them of virtuous tastes.
In the future, brethren, through an element it will be,
that beings flow together,
meet together.
Beings of low tastes
will flow together,
meet together
with them of low tastes.
Beings of virtuous tastes
will flow together,
meet together
with them of virtuous tastes.
In the present, brethren, through an element it is,
that beings flow together,
meet together.
Beings of low tastes
flow together,
meet together
with them of low tastes.
Beings of virtuous tastes
flow together,
meet together
with them of virtuous tastes.