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Linked Discourses 11.9 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 11.9

Chapter One – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 11.9 Hermits in the Wilderness – Araññāyatanaisisutta

 

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthiyaṁ.

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, several hermits who were ethical, of good character, settled in leaf huts in a wilderness region.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sambahulā isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā araññāyatane paṇṇakuṭīsu sammanti.

Then Sakka, lord of gods, and Vepacitti, lord of demons, went to those hermits.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko ca devānamindo vepacitti ca asurindo yena te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.

Vepacitti put on his boots, strapped on his sword, and, carrying a sunshade, entered the hermitage through the main gate. He walked right past those hermits, keeping them at a distance.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, vepacitti asurindo paṭaliyo upāhanā ārohitvā khaggaṁ olaggetvā chattena dhāriyamānena aggadvārena assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme apabyāmato karitvā atikkami.

Sakka took off his boots, gave his sword to others, and, putting down his sunshade, entered the hermitage through a gate he happened upon. He stood downwind of those hermits, revering them with joined palms.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakko devānamindo paṭaliyo upāhanā orohitvā khaggaṁ aññesaṁ datvā chattaṁ apanāmetvā dvāreneva assamaṁ pavisitvā te isayo sīlavante kalyāṇadhamme anuvātaṁ pañjaliko namassamāno aṭṭhāsi.

Then those hermits addressed Sakka in verse:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, te isayo sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsiṁsu:

‘When hermits have been long ordained,

‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ,

the odor of their bodies goes with the wind.

Kāyā cuto gacchati mālutena;

You’d better leave, O thousand-eyed!

Ito paṭikkamma sahassanetta,

The odor of the hermits is unclean, king of gods.’

Gandho isīnaṁ asuci devarājā’ti.

‘When hermits have been long ordained,

‘Gandho isīnaṁ ciradikkhitānaṁ,

let the odor of their bodies go with the wind.

Kāyā cuto gacchatu mālutena;

We yearn for this odor, sirs,

Sucitrapupphaṁ sirasmiṁva mālaṁ,

like a colorful crown of flowers.

Gandhaṁ etaṁ paṭikaṅkhāma bhante;

The gods don’t see it as repulsive.’”

Na hettha devā paṭikūlasaññino’”ti.