[305] [34] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Then, while the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna had gone into seclusion, into solitary retreat, this reflection arose in his mind: "Which gods have such knowledge (ñāṇa): 'We are stream-enterers (sotāpannā), no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'?"
Now on that occasion a bhikkhu named Tissa had recently died and been reborn in a certain Brahmā world (brahmaloka). There too they knew him thus: "Tissa the Brahmā, of great psychic power, of great might."
Then, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, so the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna vanished from Jeta's Grove and appeared in that Brahmā world. Tissa the Brahmā saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming in the distance, and having seen him, said to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Come, dear sir Moggallāna! Welcome, dear sir Moggallāna! It has been long indeed, dear sir Moggallāna, since you found occasion to come here. Sit down, dear sir Moggallāna; this seat has been prepared." The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the prepared seat. Tissa the Brahmā, having paid homage to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sat down to one side. When Tissa the Brahmā was seated to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said to him:
"Which gods, Tissa, have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'?"
"The gods of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā), dear sir Moggallāna, have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.'"
"But, Tissa, do all the gods of the Four Great Kings have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'?"
"Not all the gods of the Four Great Kings, dear sir Moggallāna, have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.' Those gods of the Four Great Kings, dear sir Moggallāna, who do not possess unwavering confidence (aveccappasāda) in the Buddha, who do not possess unwavering confidence in the Dhamma, who do not possess unwavering confidence in the Saṅgha, and who do not possess the virtues dear to the noble ones — they do not have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.' But those gods of the Four Great Kings, dear sir Moggallāna, who possess unwavering confidence in the Buddha, who possess unwavering confidence in the Dhamma, who possess unwavering confidence in the Saṅgha, and who possess the virtues dear to the noble ones — they have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.'"
"But, Tissa, is it only the gods of the Four Great Kings who have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'? Or do the Tāvatiṃsa gods too … the Yāma gods too, the Tusita gods too, the Nimmānaratī gods too, the Paranimmitavasavattī gods too have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'?"
"The Paranimmitavasavattī gods too, dear sir Moggallāna, have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.'"
"But, Tissa, do all the Paranimmitavasavattī gods have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening'?"
"Not all the Paranimmitavasavattī gods, dear sir Moggallāna, have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.' Those Paranimmitavasavattī gods, dear sir Moggallāna, who do not possess unwavering confidence in the Buddha, who do not possess unwavering confidence in the Dhamma, who do not possess unwavering confidence in the Saṅgha, and who do not possess the virtues dear to the noble ones — those gods do not have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.' But those Paranimmitavasavattī gods, dear sir Moggallāna, who possess unwavering confidence in the Buddha, who possess unwavering confidence in the Dhamma, who possess unwavering confidence in the Saṅgha, and who possess the virtues dear to the noble ones — they have such knowledge: 'We are stream-enterers, no longer subject to the lower realms, fixed in destiny, bound for awakening.'"
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having delighted in and rejoiced at the words of Tissa the Brahmā, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm or bend his extended arm, vanished from the Brahmā world and appeared in Jeta's Grove.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.