[195] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Now on that occasion some five hundred Licchavis were attending upon the Blessed One. Some Licchavis were blue, of blue complexion, with blue garments and blue adornments; some Licchavis were yellow, of yellow complexion, with yellow garments and yellow adornments; some Licchavis were red, of red complexion, with red garments and red adornments; some Licchavis were white, of white complexion, with white garments and white adornments. Yet the Blessed One outshone them all in beauty and in glory.
Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī rose from his seat, arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, extended his joined palms in reverence toward the Blessed One, and said to the Blessed One: "It occurs to me, Blessed One! It occurs to me, Sublime One!" "Let it occur to you, Piṅgiyānī," said the Blessed One. Then the brahmin Piṅgiyānī extolled the Blessed One to his face with a fitting verse:
As the fragrant red kokanada lotus
blooms in the morning, its fragrance not yet faded,
behold Aṅgīrasa, the Radiant One,
shining like the sun blazing in the sky.
Then those Licchavis presented the brahmin Piṅgiyānī with five hundred upper garments. And the brahmin Piṅgiyānī presented those five hundred upper garments to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One said to those Licchavis: "Licchavis, the appearance of five gems is rare in the world. Of which five? The appearance of a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Fully Self-Enlightened One, is rare in the world. A person who teaches the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata is rare in the world. A person who understands the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata when it has been taught is rare in the world. A person who, having understood the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata when it has been taught, practices in accordance with the Dhamma is rare in the world. A person who is grateful and repays the favour done (kataññū-katavedī) is rare in the world. The appearance of these five gems, Licchavis, is rare in the world."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.