[460] 21. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the Venerable Saviṭṭha and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita approached the Venerable Sāriputta; having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta, and when they had concluded their courteous and amiable talk, they sat down to one side. As the Venerable Saviṭṭha sat to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to him: "Friend Saviṭṭha, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness (kāyasakkhī), the one attained to view (diṭṭhippatta), and the one liberated by faith (saddhāvimutta). These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, which one appears to you the more excellent and the more sublime?"
"Friend Sāriputta, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness, the one attained to view, and the one liberated by faith. These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, it is the person liberated by faith who appears to me the more excellent and the more sublime of these three persons. For what reason? Because in this person, friend, the faith faculty (saddhindriya) is predominant."
Then the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita: "Friend Koṭṭhita, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness, the one attained to view, and the one liberated by faith. These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, which one appears to you the more excellent and the more sublime?"
"Friend Sāriputta, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness, the one attained to view, and the one liberated by faith. These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, it is the person who is a body-witness who appears to me the more excellent and the more sublime of these three persons. For what reason? Because in this person, friend, the concentration faculty (samādhindriya) is predominant."
Then the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita said this to the Venerable Sāriputta: "Friend Sāriputta, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness, the one attained to view, and the one liberated by faith. These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, which one appears to you the more excellent and the more sublime?"
"Friend Koṭṭhita, there are these three persons found existing in the world. Which three? The body-witness, the one attained to view, and the one liberated by faith. These, friend, are the three persons found existing in the world. Of these three persons, friend, it is the person attained to view who appears to me the more excellent and the more sublime of these three persons. For what reason? Because in this person, friend, the wisdom faculty (paññindriya) is predominant."
Then the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Venerable Saviṭṭha and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita: "Friends, we have all answered each according to his own inspiration. Come, friends, let us approach the Blessed One and, having approached, report this matter to the Blessed One. As the Blessed One answers us, so shall we bear it in mind." "Yes, friend," the Venerable Saviṭṭha and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. Then the Venerable Sāriputta, the Venerable Saviṭṭha, and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita approached the Blessed One; having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta reported to the Blessed One the entire conversation that had taken place between himself and the Venerable Saviṭṭha and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita.
"It is not easy, Sāriputta, to declare definitively in this matter: 'Of these three persons, this one is the more excellent and the more sublime.' For it is possible, Sāriputta, that the person liberated by faith is one practicing for arahantship, while the person who is a body-witness is a once-returner (sakadāgāmī) or a non-returner (anāgāmī), and the person attained to view is likewise a once-returner or a non-returner. It is not easy, Sāriputta, to declare definitively in this matter: 'Of these three persons, this one is the more excellent and the more sublime.' For it is possible, Sāriputta, that the person who is a body-witness is one practicing for arahantship, while the person liberated by faith is a once-returner or a non-returner, and the person attained to view is likewise a once-returner or a non-returner. It is not easy, Sāriputta, to declare definitively in this matter: 'Of these three persons, this one is the more excellent and the more sublime.' For it is possible, Sāriputta, that the person attained to view is one practicing for arahantship, while the person liberated by faith is a once-returner or a non-returner, and the person who is a body-witness is likewise a once-returner or a non-returner. It is not easy, Sāriputta, to declare definitively in this matter: 'Of these three persons, this one is the more excellent and the more sublime.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.