[53] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Then, when the night was far advanced, two deities (devatā) of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Gijjhakūṭa, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, these bhikkhunīs are liberated." The other deity said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, these are well liberated, without residue remaining (anupādisesa)." Thus those deities spoke, and the Teacher approved. Then those deities, [knowing,] "The Teacher approves," paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him with their right side towards him, and vanished right there.
Then, when that night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, this night, when the night was far advanced, two deities of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Gijjhakūṭa, approached me; having approached and paid homage to me, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, bhikkhus, one deity said this to me: 'Venerable sir, these bhikkhunīs are liberated.' The other deity said this to me: 'Venerable sir, these are well liberated, without residue remaining.' So spoke those deities, bhikkhus, and having said this, they paid homage to me, circumambulated me with their right side towards me, and vanished right there."
Now on that occasion the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was seated not far from the Blessed One. Then it occurred to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Which devas, indeed, have knowledge (ñāṇa) of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining'?"
Now on that occasion a bhikkhu named Tissa had recently died and had been reborn in a certain Brahmā world, and 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 Mount Gijjhakūṭa and appeared in that Brahmā world. Tissa the Brahmā saw the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming from afar; having seen him, he said this to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Come, dear sir Moggallāna! Welcome, dear sir Moggallāna! It has been long, dear sir Moggallāna, since you made this journey, that is to say, for coming here. Sit down, dear sir Moggallāna; this seat has been prepared." The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the prepared seat. And Tissa the Brahmā, having paid homage to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sat down to one side. As he was seated to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this to Tissa the Brahmā:
"Which devas, Tissa, have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining'?"
"The devas of Brahmā's retinue, dear sir Moggallāna, have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining.'"
"Do all the devas of Brahmā's retinue, Tissa, have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining'?"
"Not all the devas of Brahmā's retinue, dear sir Moggallāna, have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining.' Those devas of Brahmā's retinue, dear sir Moggallāna, who are content with the brahmā life-span, content with brahmā beauty, with brahmā happiness, with brahmā fame, with brahmā sovereignty, and who do not understand as it really is (yathābhūta) the escape beyond that — they do not have knowledge thus of one with residue remaining: 'with residue remaining,' or of one without residue remaining: 'without residue remaining.' But those devas of Brahmā's retinue, dear sir Moggallāna, who are not content with the brahmā life-span, not content with brahmā beauty, with brahmā happiness, with brahmā fame, with brahmā sovereignty, and who understand as it really is the escape beyond that — they have knowledge thus of one with residue remaining: 'with residue remaining,' and of one without residue remaining: 'without residue remaining.'
"Here, dear sir Moggallāna, a bhikkhu is one liberated in both ways (ubhatobhāgavimutta). Those devas know him thus: 'This venerable one is liberated in both ways. As long as his body shall remain, devas and humans will see him; with the breaking up of the body, devas and humans will see him no more.' In this way too, dear sir Moggallāna, those devas have knowledge of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining.'
"Here again, dear sir Moggallāna, a bhikkhu is one liberated by wisdom (paññāvimutta). Those devas know him thus: 'This venerable one is liberated by wisdom. As long as his body shall remain, devas and humans will see him; with the breaking up of the body, devas and humans will see him no more.' In this way too, dear sir Moggallāna, those devas have knowledge of one without residue remaining thus: 'without residue remaining.'
"Here again, dear sir Moggallāna, a bhikkhu is a body-witness (kāyasakkhī). Those devas know him thus: 'This venerable one is a body-witness. Perhaps this venerable one, making use of suitable lodgings, associating with good friends (kalyāṇamitta), harmonizing his faculties, may realize for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā), in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life (brahmacariya) for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it may dwell therein.' In this way too, dear sir Moggallāna, those devas have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining.'
"Here again, dear sir Moggallāna, a bhikkhu is one attained to right view (diṭṭhippatta) … is one liberated by faith (saddhāvimutta), is a truth-devotee (dhammānusārī). Those devas know him thus: 'This venerable one is a truth-devotee. Perhaps this venerable one, making use of suitable lodgings, associating with good friends, harmonizing his faculties, may realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it may dwell therein.' In this way too, dear sir Moggallāna, those devas have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining.'"
Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having delighted and rejoiced in 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 on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna reported to the Blessed One the whole of the conversation he had had with Tissa the Brahmā.
"But, Moggallāna, did Tissa the Brahmā not teach you the seventh person, the one who dwells in the signless (animittavihārī)?"
"It is the time for that, Blessed One! It is the time for that, Fortunate One (Sugata)! Let the Blessed One teach the seventh person, the one who dwells in the signless. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Then listen, Moggallāna, and attend carefully; I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "Here, Moggallāna, a bhikkhu, through non-attention to all signs (nimitta), enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind (animitta cetosamādhi). Those devas know him thus: 'This venerable one, through non-attention to all signs, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind. Perhaps this venerable one, making use of suitable lodgings, associating with good friends, harmonizing his faculties, may realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, that unsurpassed consummation of the holy life for the sake of which sons of good family rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness, and having entered upon it may dwell therein.' In this way, Moggallāna, those devas have knowledge of one with residue remaining thus: 'with residue remaining.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.