SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 9 Connected Discourses in the Woods – Vanasaṁyutta > SN 9.13 Undisciplined Faculties

Linked Discourses 9.13 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.13

1. In the Woods – 1. Vanavagga

SN 9.13 Undisciplined Faculties – Pākatindriyasutta

At one time several bhikkhū were staying in the Kosalan lands in a certain forest grove. They were restless, insolent, fickle, scurrilous, loose-tongued, unmindful, lacking situational awareness and samādhi, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ sambahulā bhikkhū kosalesu viharanti aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe uddhatā unnaḷā capalā mukharā vikiṇṇavācā muṭṭhassatino asampajānā asamāhitā vibbhantacittā pākatindriyā.

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

Atha kho yā tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe adhivatthā devatā tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anukampikā atthakāmā te bhikkhū saṁvejetukāmā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

“The bhikkhū used to live happily,

“Sukhajīvino pure āsuṁ,

as disciples of Gotama.

bhikkhū gotamasāvakā;

Desireless they sought alms;

Anicchā piṇḍamesanā,

desireless they used their lodgings.

anicchā sayanāsanaṁ;

Knowing that the world was anicca

Loke aniccataṁ ñatvā,

they made an end of suffering.

dukkhassantaṁ akaṁsu te.

But now they’ve made themselves hard to look after,

Dupposaṁ katvā attānaṁ,

like chiefs in a village.

gāme gāmaṇikā viya;

They eat and eat and then lie down,

Bhutvā bhutvā nipajjanti,

unconscious in the homes of others.

parāgāresu mucchitā.

Having raised my joined palms to the Saṅgha,

Saṅghassa añjaliṁ katvā,

I speak here only about certain people.

idhekacce vadāmahaṁ;

They’re rejects, with no protector,

Apaviddhā anāthā te,

just like those who have passed away.

yathā petā tatheva te.

I’m speaking about

Ye kho pamattā viharanti,

those who live negligently.

te me sandhāya bhāsitaṁ;

To those who live diligently

Ye appamattā viharanti,

I pay homage.”

namo tesaṁ karomahan”ti.

Impelled by that deity, those bhikkhū were struck with a sense of urgency.

Atha kho te bhikkhū tāya devatāya saṁvejitā saṁvegamāpādunti.