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Saɱyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
9. Vana-Saɱyutta

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
I. Kindred Sayings with Verses
9. The Forest Suttas

Sutta 7

Nāgadatta Suttaɱ

Nāgadatta

Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by Sūriyagoḍa Sumangala Thera
Copyright The Pali Text Society. Public Domain.

 


[255]

[7.1] THUS HAVE I HEARD: —

The venerable Nāgadatta[1] was once staying among the Kosalese
in a certain forest-tract.

Now at that time the venerable Nāgadatta
went too early to the village
and returned in the afternoon.

Then a deva who haunted [256] that forest,
moved by compassion,
desiring his welfare,
and wishing to agitate him,
drew near and addressed him in the verses: —

"[Into the town] betimes, 0 Nāgadatta,
Thou hiest thee, erst after noon[2] returning,
Too long a time with laymen thou consortest,
[Spending thyself] in pleasure and in sorrow.[3]
And much I fear lest this same Nāgadatta,
So reckless, in society entangled,
May fall into the clutches of the Death-king,
The Ender [of so many hopes and chances]."

Then the venerable Nāgadatta, agitated by that deva, was greatly moved.

 


[1] We have not met with him elsewhere.

[2] Divā. Comy.; majjhantike.

[3] B. gives no comment on this unfamiliar compound, samānasu-khadukkho.


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