Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
14. Rāja Vaggo
The Book of Fives
Sutta 137
Appaṃ-Supati Suttaṃ
Wakeful
Translated from the Pali
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time The Lucky Man Sāvatthī-town revisiting.
There then he addressed the beggars:
"Beggars!"
"Bhante!," they responded.
And the Bhagava said:
"Beggars! These five sleep little and are highly alert.
What five?
A woman yearning for a man
sleeps little and is highly alert.
■
A man yearing for a woman
sleeps little and is highly alert.
■
A thief on the prowl for loot
sleeps little and is highly alert.
■
A king bent on conquest
sleeps little and is highly alert.
■
A Beggar determined to attain freedom from the bonds
sleeps little and is highly alert.
Indeed, Beggars, these five sleep little and are highly alert.