Thus have I heard:
At one time, Budha was staying in the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove near Raajagṛha, together with a great assembly of five hundred bhikshus. Surrounded by them, he was expounding the Dharma.
At that time, Devadata, accompanied by five hundred bhikshus, passed by not far from the Tathaagata. Budha, seeing Devadata leading his disciples from a distance, spoke this verse:
“Do not associate with bad friends,
Nor foolishly follow their ways.
Associate with good friends,
The best among people.
Originally, people have no evil,
But by associating with bad friends,
They will surely plant evil roots,
And remain forever in darkness.”
At that time, the five hundred disciples of Devadata, hearing Budha speak this verse, went to Budha, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side. After a short while, they rose from their seats and repented before Budha, saying, “We were foolish and deluded, lacking understanding. We beseech Budha to accept our repentance.”
At that time, Budha accepted the repentance of the five hundred Bhikshus and expounded the Dharma to them, enabling them to develop the root of faith.
At that time, the five hundred bhikshus, in a quiet place, contemplated the profound Dharma. As noble youths who had left home to practice the path, with firm faith, they cultivated the supreme noble life.
Then, those five hundred bhikshus became Arhats: they had exhausted birth and death, completed what needed to be done, established the noble life, and would no longer be subject to rebirth. They knew this as it truly was. At that time, the five hundred became Arhats.
The bhikshus, hearing Budha’s words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.