SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 9 Connected Discourses in the Woods – Vanasaṁyutta > SN 9.10 Recitation

Linked Discourses 9.10 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.10

1. In the Woods – 1. Vanavagga

SN 9.10 Recitation – Sajjhāyasutta

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

Ekaṁ samayaṁ aññataro bhikkhu kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

Now at that time that bhikkhu had previously been spending too much time in recitation. But some time later they adhered to passivity and silence.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu yaṁ sudaṁ pubbe ativelaṁ sajjhāyabahulo viharati so aparena samayena appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyati.

Not hearing the teaching, the deity haunting that forest approached that bhikkhu, and addressed them in verse:

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

“Bhikkhu, why don’t you recite passages of the teaching,

“Kasmā tuvaṁ dhammapadāni bhikkhu,

living together with other bhikkhū?

Nādhīyasi bhikkhuhi saṁvasanto;

When you hear the teaching confidence grows;

Sutvāna dhammaṁ labhatippasādaṁ,

and the reciter is praised in the present life.”

Diṭṭheva dhamme labhatippasaṁsan”ti.

“I used to be enthusiastic about passages of the teaching,

“Ahu pure dhammapadesu chando,

so long as I’d not realized dispassion.

Yāva virāgena samāgamimha;

But then I realized dispassion, which the good call

Yato virāgena samāgamimha,

the laying to rest by completely understanding

Yaṁ kiñci diṭṭhaṁva sutaṁ mutaṁ vā;

whatever is seen, heard, and thought.”

Aññāya nikkhepanamāhu santo”ti.