E’er intent on concentration,
joyful in peace of letting go,
mindful, wise, the perfect Buddhas,
to even devas they are dear.
Explanation: Those noble and wise ones are intent on meditation. They are bent on conquering defilements – that is achieving Nibbana. They are mindful; and such enlightened ones are beloved by everyone.
The Story of the Buddha’s Return from the Tavatimsa Deva World (Verse 181)
On return from the Tavatimsa deva world, the Buddha spoke this verse at Sarikassanagara, in reply to Venerable Sariputta’s words of welcome.
On one occasion, while at Savatthi, the Buddha displayed the miracle of synchro-emanation in answer to the challenge of the ascetics of various sects. After this, the Buddha went to the Tavatimsa deva worlds; his mother who had been reborn in the Tusita deva world as a deva known as Santusita also came to the Tavatimsa deva world. There the Buddha expounded the Abhidhamma to the devas and the brahmas throughout the three months of the vassa. As a result, Santusita deva attained sotapatti fruition; so did numerous other devas and brahmas.
When the Buddha was gone, the folks asked Moggallana, ” Where has the Buddha gone?” Although Venerable Moggallana himself knew perfectly well where the Buddha had gone, he thought to himself, “Of others also let the wondrous powers become known,” and therefore answered, “Ask the Venerable Anuruddha.” So they asked Venerable Anurud-dha, “Venerable, where has the Buddha gone?” Venerable Anuruddha replied, “He has entered upon residence in the world of the thirty-three, seated upon the Yellowstone Throne; he went thither to expound the Abhidhamma Pitaka to his mother.”
During that period Venerable Sariputta spent the vassa at Sarikassanagara, thirty yojanas away from Savatthi. During his stay there, as regularly instructed by the Buddha, he taught the Abhidhamma to the huge group of monks staying with him and covered the whole course by the end of the vassa.
Towards the end of the vassa, Venerable Moggallana went to the Tavatimsa deva world to see the Buddha. Then, he was told that the Buddha would return to the human world on the full moon day at the end of the vassa to the place where Venerable Sariputta was spending the vassa.
As promised, the Buddha came with the six coloured rays shining forth from his body to the city-gate of Sankassanagara, on the night of the full moon day of the month of Assayuja when the moon was shining brightly. He was accompanied by a large following of devas on one side and a large following of brahmas on the other. A large gathering headed by Venerable Sariputta welcomed the Buddha back to this world; and the whole town was lit up. Venerable Sariputta was awed by the grandeur and glory of the whole scene of the Buddha’s return. He respectfully approached the Buddha and said, ” Venerable! We have never seen or even heard of such magnificent and resplendent glory. Indeed, Venerable you are loved, respected and revered alike by devas, brahmas and men!” To him the Buddha said, “My son Sariputta, the sages who are endowed with unique qualities are truly loved by men and devas alike.”
At the end of the discourse, the group of monks, who were the pupils of Venerable Sariputta, attained arahatship and a great many from the congregation attained sotapatti fruition.