The discourse deals with the Buddha’s visit to a group of three senior monks who live in harmony in the Cow-horn Grove (G Gos̱igaśalavaṇadag̱a, P Gosiṅgasālavanadāya, Skt. Gośṛṅgaśālavanadāgha). The monks are Aṇarudha (P Anuruddha, Skt. Aniruddha), Ṇadia (P Nandiya, Skt. Nandika) and Kibhira (P Kimbhila, Skt. Kimbhira). The discourse opens with a description of the cooperative mealtime activities of the three monks. The Buddha questions the three monks about their wellbeing and harmonious living situation and the monks each outline the compassion and respect they show their fellows. The Buddha continues with his questioning, asking whether the monks have other attainments that surpass the human state (G utari maṇuśadharma, Skt. uttari mānuṣyadharma), while living in such a harmonious way. The Buddha engages in a round of progressive questioning, moving by each step to the next higher attainment. Aṇarudha elucidates their higher attainments following the progression of the nine meditative states, the four dhyānas, the four ārūpyasamapattis, “formless attainments,” and cessation. The Buddha departs the Gos̱iga Grove accompanied for a short while by the three monks out of respect. When the three monks have returned and are alone together, Ṇadia and Kibhira ask Aṇarudha how he knew of the extent of their attainments. Aṇarudha explains he has the ability to understand their thoughts and attainments directly with his mind, and that spirits had also informed him. The Buddha, on his path away from the Gos̱iga Grove, is approached by the spirit Driga, who issues an acclamation about the three Aṇarudha monks, that their presence in the Vaji country (P Vajji, Skt. Vṛji) is a benefit for, and will bring advantage to, the local population. The Buddha confirms that all those associated with the monks, and who remember them, obtain such benefit. The sūtra concludes with the spirit Driga’s acclamation about the Aṇarudha monks passing through the heavenly realms, starting with the bhuma deva (P bhumma deva, Skt. bhūmya deva), “earth spirits,” and reaching as far as the bramaloa (P/Skt. brahmaloka), “Brahmā-world.”
