The Buddha also gave a discourse here shortly after the deaths of Sāriputta and Moggallāna (SN 47.14:1.1).

Thus illustrating the need to “know the ford” in the previous sutta (MN 33:2.3). | The Suvidehans are not mentioned anywhere else, and the commentary simply treats them as Videhans. But Videha lay to the north-east of Vajjī, and since the expansion of Vajjī and contraction of Videha before the Buddha’s time, it is unlikely that it bordered the Ganges opposite Magadha. Perhaps this story stems from a time when Videha did expand to the river, or perhaps there were folks who called themselves “good Videhans” after the eclipse of the kingdom.

Typically bhūtapubbaṁ is used for fables (“once upon a time”), but see also MN 36:4.3.

While commonly found elsewhere, this tag line is only used three times in the Majjhima Nikāya (MN 130:30.2, MN 142:14.2).

This echoes Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 3.7.1 (ayaṁ ca lokaḥ paraśca lokaḥ).

Compare MN 26:20.12.

Read patthetha (“set your heart”).