Numbered Discourses 4.172

18. Intention

Sāriputta’s Attainment of Textual Analysis

There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants:
 “Reverends, mendicants!”
“Reverend,” they replied.
Sāriputta said this:
 “Reverends, I realized the textual analysis of the meaning—piece by piece and expression by expression—a fortnight after I ordained.
 In many ways I explain, teach, assert, establish, clarify, analyze, and reveal it.
 Whoever has any doubt or uncertainty, let them ask me,
 I will answer. Our teacher is present, he who is so very skilled in our teachings.
 I realized the textual analysis of the text—piece by piece and expression by expression—a fortnight after I ordained. …
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 I realized the textual analysis of terminology—piece by piece and expression by expression—a fortnight after I ordained. …
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 I realized the textual analysis of eloquence—piece by piece and expression by expression—a fortnight after I ordained.
 In many ways I explain, teach, assert, establish, clarify, analyze, and reveal it.
 If anyone has any doubt or uncertainty, let them ask me,
 I will answer. Our teacher is present, he who is so very skilled in our teachings.”