SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 9 Connected Discourses in the Woods – Vanasaṁyutta > SN 9.9 A Vajji

Linked Discourses 9.9 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.9

1. In the Woods – 1. Vanavagga

SN 9.9 A Vajji – Vajjiputtasutta

At one time a certain Vajjian bhikkhu was staying near Vesālī in a certain forest grove.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro vajjiputtako bhikkhu vesāliyaṁ viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Now at that time the Vajjis were holding an all-night event in Vesālī.

Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ vajjiputtako sabbaratticāro hoti.

Then that bhikkhu, groaning at the noise of musical instruments being beaten and played, on that occasion recited this verse:

Atha kho so bhikkhu vesāliyā tūriyatāḷitavāditanigghosasaddaṁ sutvā paridevamāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

“We dwell alone in the wilderness,

“Ekakā mayaṁ araññe viharāma,

like a cast-off log in the forest.

Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;

On a night like this,

Etādisikāya rattiyā,

who’s worse off than me?”

Ko su nāmamhehi pāpiyo”ti.

The deity haunting that forest had compassion for that bhikkhu, and wanted what’s best for them. So they approached that bhikkhu wanting to stir them up, and addressed them in verse:

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tassa bhikkhuno anukampikā atthakāmā taṁ bhikkhuṁ saṁvejetukāmā yena so bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

“You dwell alone in the wilderness,

“Ekakova tvaṁ araññe viharasi,

like a cast-off log in the forest.

Apaviddhaṁva vanasmiṁ dārukaṁ;

Lots of people are jealous of you,

Tassa te bahukā pihayanti,

like beings in hell of those going to heaven.”

Nerayikā viya saggagāminan”ti.

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

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.