SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 9 Connected Discourses in the Woods – Vanasaṁyutta > SN 9.7 With Nāgadatta

Linked Discourses 9.7 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.7

1. In the Woods – 1. Vanavagga

SN 9.7 With Nāgadatta – Nāgadattasutta

At one time Venerable Nāgadatta was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā nāgadatto kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Now at that time Venerable Nāgadatta had been entering the village too early and returning late in the day.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgadatto atikālena gāmaṁ pavisati, atidivā paṭikkamati.

Then the deity haunting that forest had compassion for Nāgadatta, wanting what’s best for him. So they approached him wanting to stir him up, and recited these verses:

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā āyasmato nāgadattassa anukampikā atthakāmā āyasmantaṁ nāgadattaṁ saṁvejetukāmā yenāyasmā nāgadatto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāgadattaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“Entering too early,

“Kāle pavisa nāgadatta,

and returning after spending too much of the day,

Divā ca āgantvā ativelacārī;

Nāgadatta socializes with lay people,

Saṁsaṭṭho gahaṭṭhehi,

sharing their joys and sorrows.

Samānasukhadukkho.

I’m afraid for Nāgadatta; he’s so reckless

Bhāyāmi nāgadattaṁ suppagabbhaṁ,

in his attachment to families.

Kulesu vinibaddhaṁ;

May he not come under the King of Death’s power,

Mā heva maccurañño balavato,

under the sway of the terminator!”

Antakassa vasaṁ upesī”ti.

Impelled by that deity, Venerable Nāgadatta was struck with a sense of urgency.

Atha kho āyasmā nāgadatto tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.