savittha

In the Aṅguttara AN.i.118f. he is represented as saying, in the course of a conversation between him, Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita, that he preferred the person who obtains relief by faith, to one who testifies to the truth with the body or one who has won view.

The Saṃyutta SN.ii.115 contains two conversations of Savittha, both of which took place at the Ghositārāma in Kosambī. The first is with Musila and deals with the paṭiccasamuppāda. Musila, in answer to Savittha’s questions, says that he has realized the truth of the paṭiccasamuppāda as his very own. “Then you are an arahant,” says Savittha, and Musila remains silent. In the other conversation, Nārada, present at the discussion, in the company of Ānanda, requests that the same questions be put to him. This Savittha does, and he tells Savittha that he has realized the truth of the Paṭiccasamuppāda by right insight and that, yet, he is not an arahant. He is like a man who sees a well containing water, but who has neither rope nor vessel. “Now, what will you say of Nārada?” asks Ānanda. “Nothing that is not lovely and good,” answers Savittha.