[211] Thereupon, venerable sir, the gods of Tāvatiṃsa became delighted beyond measure, gladdened, filled with rapture (pīti) and joy, saying: "The heavenly hosts indeed swell, sirs, while the hosts of the asuras dwindle!"
Then, venerable sir, Sakka, lord of the gods, knowing the gladness of the gods of Tāvatiṃsa, addressed the gods of Tāvatiṃsa: "Would you wish, dear sirs, to hear eight genuine praises (yathābhucce vaṇṇe) of that Blessed One?" "We do wish, dear sir, to hear eight genuine praises of that Blessed One."
Then, venerable sir, Sakka, lord of the gods, proffered to the gods of Tāvatiṃsa eight genuine praises of the Blessed One:
"What do the good gods of Tāvatiṃsa think of this? To what extent has that Blessed One practiced for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of gods and humans! A Teacher endowed with this factor, who has thus practiced for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, the welfare, and the happiness of gods and humans, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, well proclaimed by that Blessed One is the Dhamma — visible here and now (sandiṭṭhiko), timeless (akāliko), inviting one to come and see (ehipassiko), onward-leading (opanayiko), to be personally realized by the wise. A Teacher endowed with this factor, a proclaimer of a Dhamma thus onward-leading, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, 'This is skillful' has been well made known by that Blessed One; 'This is unskillful' has been well made known; 'This is blameworthy; this is blameless; this is to be cultivated; this is not to be cultivated; this is inferior; this is superior; this has its counterpart in the dark and the bright' has been well made known. A Teacher endowed with this factor, one who makes known dhammas as skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, to be cultivated and not to be cultivated, inferior and superior, having their counterpart in the dark and the bright, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, well made known by that Blessed One to his disciples is the practice leading to Nibbāna; and Nibbāna and the practice flow together. Just as the water of the Gaṅgā flows together and meets with the water of the Yamunā, even so has that Blessed One well made known to his disciples the practice leading to Nibbāna, and Nibbāna and the practice flow together. A Teacher endowed with this factor, one who thus makes known the practice leading to Nibbāna, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, that Blessed One has gained companions — both trainees who are on the practice and those whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, who have lived the life to its end; and therefore the Blessed One, having set them aside (apanujja), dwells devoted to delight in solitude. A Teacher endowed with this factor, thus devoted to delight in solitude, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, gain has accrued to that Blessed One, and fame has accrued, to such an extent that, one would suppose, the khattiyas dwell showing him their affection; yet that Blessed One takes his food free of vanity. A Teacher endowed with this factor, thus taking his food free of vanity, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, that Blessed One acts as he speaks and speaks as he acts; thus he is one who acts as he speaks and speaks as he acts. A Teacher endowed with this factor, thus practicing the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One.
"Moreover, that Blessed One has crossed over doubt (vicikicchā), is rid of uncertainty, his intention consummated with respect to his aspiration, the fundamental holy life. A Teacher endowed with this factor, who has thus crossed over doubt, is rid of uncertainty, his intention consummated with respect to his aspiration, the fundamental holy life, we behold not in times past, nor do we behold now, apart from that Blessed One."
These, venerable sir, were the eight genuine praises of the Blessed One that Sakka, lord of the gods, proffered to the gods of Tāvatiṃsa.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.