[111] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Gable. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus … "Bhikkhus, you should remember Ugga the householder of Vesālī as one possessed of eight wonderful and marvellous qualities (acchariyā abbhutadhammā)." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Sublime One (Sugata) rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Then, in the morning, a certain bhikkhu dressed, took his bowl and robe, and approached the residence of Ugga the householder of Vesālī; having approached, he sat down on a seat that had been prepared. Then Ugga the householder of Vesālī approached that bhikkhu; having approached, he paid homage to that bhikkhu and sat down to one side. As Ugga the householder of Vesālī was sitting to one side, that bhikkhu said this to him: "Householder, you have been declared by the Blessed One to be one possessed of eight wonderful and marvellous qualities. What, householder, are the eight wonderful and marvellous qualities with which you have been declared by the Blessed One to be possessed?"
"Venerable sir, I do not know with which eight wonderful and marvellous qualities I have been declared by the Blessed One to be possessed. But, venerable sir, as to the eight wonderful and marvellous qualities that are found in me — listen to them and attend carefully; I shall speak." "So be it, householder," that bhikkhu replied to Ugga the householder of Vesālī. Ugga the householder of Vesālī said this:
"Venerable sir, when I first saw the Blessed One from afar, together with that very seeing my mind (citta) gained confidence in the Blessed One. This, venerable sir, is the first wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"With a confident mind, venerable sir, I attended upon the Blessed One. The Blessed One gave me a progressive discourse (anupubbikathā), that is: he made known talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on heaven; the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual pleasures, and the benefit in renunciation. When the Blessed One knew that my mind was ready, pliant, free from the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), uplifted, and confident, then he made known that Dhamma teaching special to the Buddhas: suffering (dukkha), its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth, free from stains, would take dye evenly, even so, in that very seat, there arose in me the dustless, stainless eye of the Dhamma: 'Whatever is subject to origination, all that is subject to cessation.' Then, venerable sir, having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma, understood the Dhamma, fathomed the Dhamma, having crossed beyond doubt, with perplexity gone, having attained self-confidence, independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation, right there I went for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saṅgha, and I undertook the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. This, venerable sir, is the second wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"Venerable sir, I had four young wives. Then, venerable sir, I approached those wives; having approached, I said this to those wives: 'Sisters, I have undertaken the training rules with celibacy as the fifth. Let her who wishes enjoy these riches and do meritorious deeds, or go to her own family of relatives; or, if there is desire for a man, to whom shall I give you?' When this was said, venerable sir, the eldest wife said this to me: 'Give me, dear husband, to the man of such-and-such a name.' Then, venerable sir, having had that man summoned, taking my wife with my left hand and taking the ceremonial water-vessel with my right hand, I bestowed her upon that man. And, venerable sir, while giving away my young wife as a gift, I recall no alteration of mind. This, venerable sir, is the third wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"There are riches in my family, venerable sir, and they are not withheld from those who are virtuous and of good character. This, venerable sir, is the fourth wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"Whatever bhikkhu I attend upon, venerable sir, I attend upon him respectfully indeed, not disrespectfully. This, venerable sir, is the fifth wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"If that venerable one teaches me the Dhamma, I listen respectfully indeed, not disrespectfully; and if that venerable one does not teach me the Dhamma, I teach him the Dhamma. This, venerable sir, is the sixth wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"It is not wonderful, venerable sir, that deities approach me and announce: 'Householder, the Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.' When this is said, venerable sir, I say to those deities: 'Whether you deities say so or not, still the Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One.' Yet, venerable sir, I recall no elation of mind on that account — that deities approach me, or that I converse with deities. This, venerable sir, is the seventh wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"Of those five lower fetters taught by the Blessed One, venerable sir, I do not see any in myself that is unabandoned. This, venerable sir, is the eighth wonderful and marvellous quality found in me.
"These, venerable sir, are the eight wonderful and marvellous qualities found in me; but I do not know with which eight wonderful and marvellous qualities I have been declared by the Blessed One to be possessed."
Then that bhikkhu, having received almsfood in the residence of Ugga the householder of Vesālī, rose from his seat and departed. Then, after the meal, when he had returned from his almsround, that bhikkhu approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu reported to the Blessed One the entire conversation he had had with Ugga the householder of Vesālī.
"Good, good, bhikkhu! Ugga the householder of Vesālī declared it just as one declaring rightly would declare. Bhikkhu, it is with these very eight wonderful and marvellous qualities that Ugga the householder of Vesālī has been declared by me to be possessed; and, bhikkhu, you should remember Ugga the householder of Vesālī as one possessed of these eight wonderful and marvellous qualities."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.