SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 9 Connected Discourses in the Woods – Vanasaṁyutta > SN 9.14 The Thief of Scent

Linked Discourses 9.14 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 9.14

1. In the Woods – 1. Vanavagga

SN 9.14 The Thief of Scent – Gandhatthenasutta

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, after the meal, on their return from almsround, that bhikkhu plunged into a lotus pond and sniffed a pink lotus.

Tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto pokkharaṇiṁ ogāhetvā padumaṁ upasiṅghati.

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:

“This water flower has not been given.

“Yametaṁ vārijaṁ pupphaṁ,

When you sniff it,

adinnaṁ upasiṅghasi;

this is one factor of theft.

Ekaṅgametaṁ theyyānaṁ,

Good sir, you are a thief of scent!”

gandhatthenosi mārisā”ti.

“I do not take, nor do I break;

“Na harāmi na bhañjāmi,

I sniff the water flower from afar.

ārā siṅghāmi vārijaṁ;

So based on what evidence

Atha kena nu vaṇṇena,

do you call me a thief of scent?

gandhatthenoti vuccati.

Why don’t you accuse someone

Yvāyaṁ bhisāni khanati,

who does such vandalizing

puṇḍarīkāni bhañjati;

as digging up the roots,

Evaṁ ākiṇṇakammanto,

or breaking off the flowers?”

kasmā eso na vuccatī”ti.

“I have nothing to say

“Ākiṇṇaluddo puriso,

to a person who is a crude vandal,

dhāticelaṁva makkhito;

soiled like a used nappy.

Tasmiṁ me vacanaṁ natthi,

You’re the one who deserves to be spoken to.

tvañcārahāmi vattave.

To the man who has not a blemish

Anaṅgaṇassa posassa,

who is always seeking purity,

niccaṁ sucigavesino;

even a hair-tip of evil

Vālaggamattaṁ pāpassa,

seems as big as a cloud.”

abbhāmattaṁva khāyatī”ti.

“Indeed, O spirit, you understand me,

“Addhā maṁ yakkha jānāsi,

and you empathize with me.

atho me anukampasi;

Please speak to me again,

Punapi yakkha vajjāsi,

whenever you see something like this.”

yadā passasi edisan”ti.

“I’m no dependent of yours,

“Neva taṁ upajīvāma,

nor am I your servant.

napi te bhatakāmhase;

You yourself should know, bhikkhu,

Tvameva bhikkhu jāneyya,

the way that leads to a good place.”

yena gaccheyya suggatin”ti.

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

Atha kho so bhikkhu tāya devatāya saṁvejito saṁvegamāpādīti.

Vanavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Vivekaṁ upaṭṭhānañca,

Kassapagottena sambahulā;

Ānando anuruddho ca,

Nāgadattañca kulagharaṇī.

Vajjiputto ca vesālī,

Sajjhāyena ayoniso;

Majjhanhikālamhi pākatindriya—

The Linked Discourses in the Forest are completed.

Padumapupphena cuddasa bhaveti.