SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 10 Connected Discourses with Spirits – Yakkhasaṁyutta > SN 10.9 With the Nun Sukkā (1st)

Linked Discourses 10.9 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 10.9

1. With Indaka – 1. Indakavagga

SN 10.9 With the Nun Sukkā (1st) – Paṭhamasukkāsutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

Now, at that time the nun Sukkā was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly.

Tena kho pana samayena sukkā bhikkhunī mahatiyā parisāya parivutā dhammaṁ deseti.

Then a native spirit was so devoted to Sukkā that he went from street to street and from square to square, and on that occasion recited these verses:

Atha kho sukkāya bhikkhuniyā abhippasanno yakkho rājagahe rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ upasaṅkamitvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“What’s up with these people in Rājagaha?

“Kiṁ me katā rājagahe manussā,

They sleep like they’ve been drinking mead!

Madhupītāva seyare;

They don’t attend on Sukkā

Ye sukkaṁ na payirupāsanti,

as she’s teaching the deathless state.

Desentiṁ amataṁ padaṁ.

But the wise—

Tañca pana appaṭivānīyaṁ,

it’s as if they drink it up,

Asecanakamojavaṁ;

so irresistible, delicious, and nutritious,

Pivanti maññe sappaññā,

like travelers enjoying a cool cloud.”

Valāhakamiva panthagū”ti.