Once, the Lord was staying near Vesali, at the Gabled Hall in the great forest. And at that time, the brahmin Karanapalin constructed a building for the Licchavis. And Karanapalin saw the brahmin Pingiyanin coming in the distance, and as he approached, he said: “Pray, now, from where comes your honour Pingiyanin so early in the day?”
“I come from the presence of the monk Gotama.”
“Well, what do you think of his clarity of wisdom? Do you think he is a wise man?”
“But what am I compared to him? Who am I to judge his clarity? Is it not only one like him who could judge the monk Gotama’s clarity of wisdom?”
“High indeed is the praise that you give the monk Gotama.”
“But what am I compared to him? Who am I to praise the monk Gotama? Truly he is praised by the praised. He is the highest amongst gods and humans.”
“But what good do you see in him that you have such faith in him?”
“Just as when a man is completely satisfied with some delicious flavour, and longs not for other flavours that are poor - even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, one longs not for the talk of others, the crowd, other recluses or Brahmins. Just as a man overcome by hunger and weakness may come across a honey cake, and whenever he tastes it, he enjoys the sweet, delicious flavour - even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, one experiences sweetness and serenity of mind. Just as a man may come across a stick of yellow or red sandalwood, and wherever he smells it, at the root, in the middle or at the top, he comes across an exceedingly fair, delicious fragrance - even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, all grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation and despair just vanish away. Just as a man tortured by heat, overcome by heat, wearied, craving and thirsty, might come to a pool of clear, sweet, cool, limpid water, a lovely resting place, and might plunge in, bathe, drink, and allay all woe, fatigue and fretting - even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, all woe, fatigue and fretting is wholly allayed.”
When he had said this, the Brahmin Karanapalin arose from his seat, arranged his upper robe on his shoulder, set his right knee on the ground and bending forth his outstretched hands towards where the Lord was, said three times: “Homage to the Lord, the Noble One, the fully enlightened Buddha. Wonderful is it, Pingiyanin, truly wonderful. Just as if one had set upright a thing toppled over, revealed something covered, showed a blind man the way, brought a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see - in the same way, you have illuminated this Dhamma in many a way. I too will go to the good Gotama, the Dhamma and the Sangha as my refuge. Look upon me as a lay disciple gone for refuge from now until as long as life lasts.”